How to Wash Gym Clothes So They Don’t Smell

Gym clothes keep smelling when sweat and bacteria stay trapped in the fibres, especially in polyester. To fix it, air clothes as soon as you take them off, wash them inside out in cold or lukewarm water without fabric softener, soak smelly pieces in diluted white vinegar, and dry them quickly with plenty of airflow.

Why workout clothes smell even after washing

Sweat itself has little smell. The odour comes from bacteria on the skin breaking it down. Those bacteria and the oils from your skin cling to fabric, and some fibres hold on to them more than others.

• Synthetic fabrics such as polyester attract skin oils and are harder to wash clean, so odour builds up over time.
• Fabric softener leaves a coating that traps oils and bacteria inside the fibres.
• Slow drying, common in humid weather, gives bacteria hours to multiply.
• Overloaded machines do not leave enough water and movement to rinse clothes properly.

The routine that works

1. Air immediately. Never leave damp clothes balled up in a gym bag or laundry basket. Hang them over a chair or rail until wash time.
2. Turn inside out. The inside face is where sweat and skin oils collect.
3. Wash cold or lukewarm. Hot water can set some odours and damages elastane and printed logos.
4. Use the right amount of detergent. Too much leaves residue that traps smell. Follow the dose on the pack for your load size.
5. Skip fabric softener for activewear completely.
6. Do not overload the machine. Clothes need room to move.
7. Dry fast, in the shade with good airflow, or near a fan indoors during the monsoon.

For clothes that already smell

• Vinegar soak: soak for 30 minutes in cool water with about a cup of white vinegar per bucket, then wash as usual.
• Baking soda: add a couple of tablespoons to the wash, or make a paste for underarm areas before washing.
• Repeat: long-standing odour may need two or three treatments to clear.

Do not mix vinegar and bleach, and check the care label before trying any treatment on delicate fabrics.

Fabric by fabric

• Cotton: easiest to get clean, but slow to dry. Make sure it dries completely before folding.
• Polyester and nylon: wash after every wear, and use the vinegar soak every few weeks.
• Merino wool: naturally resists odour. Air between wears and hand wash or use a wool cycle.

Our guide to the best workout fabrics for Indian summer compares these fibres in more detail.

In humid weather

During the monsoon, drying is the hardest part. Use the highest spin speed the fabric allows, space clothes out on the line, and dry indoors with a fan or cross-ventilation. Clothes that smell musty after drying were damp for too long; rewash and dry them faster.

Quick answers

Why do my gym clothes smell after washing?

Usually because skin oils and bacteria remain trapped in the fabric, often helped by fabric softener, too much detergent or slow drying.

Should I wash gym clothes after every use?

Yes for anything you sweat in heavily, especially synthetics. Light layers worn briefly can be aired and worn again.

Clothes that age well

PeakPals is designing athletic leisure clothing for Indian weather, made to be worn and washed for years. Join the waitlist to be first to hear when it opens.