The Dirty Secret of Exercise Pants

Women have a dirty secret: Their exercise pants might look good, but they don’t smell good. A spin cycle of odor blame surrounds the surging popularity of athleisure apparel. These garments have synthetic fabric that quickly wicks away sweat, making it comfortable to wear during a workout and then to lunch and maybe even dinner. But, the fabric also makes it difficult to keep them from stinking. Fault also lies with the wearer’s laundry habits, the detergent and possibly the washing machine. Clothing and personal-care companies are trying to solve the problem as athletic wear sales climb. There’s this perception that because it’s dry it’s also clean, and it’s not.  The sweat is still there, and you really need a deeper clean to remove that bacteria, which causes the odor.  The weave of synthetic fabrics include what is called “moisture channels,” which allow perspiration to pass through quickly. The channels also create extra nooks and crannies that allow dirt and odor molecules to settle in and hide, leading to the odor.

Some say the right fabric can solve the smell problem. Athleta developed what it calls “Unstinkable,” an anti-odor fabric technology that promises to keep clothing smelling good enough for multiple workouts. The fabric’s testers logged five workouts in the same Unstinkable shirt and then wore it for a day at work.  Lululemon has Silverescent® technology powered by X-STATIC® which inhibits the growth of odor-causing bacteria on the top.  These are just two  examples of what’s out there. 

If body soils don’t come out in the wash, their odor molecules can be released when the garment’s fibers are exposed to slight humidity, such as when it is worn again.  Poor-quality laundry detergents tend to simply mask odor with short-lived perfumes.  High-efficiency washing machines are also at fault. As the drums of these machines get larger, people aren’t washing smaller loads. They let laundry sit there for longer, then the odors settle in and permeate through the whole laundry basket.  Odors  stick around because people also put in too much detergent. Too much can build up in the garment, reduce wicking capabilities and also leave residue.   That can then start a cycle of odors.  The sooner an item is washed after a workout, the more likely odors come out.  A good solution is to spritz your exercise clothes after wearing with a solution that is one-part white vinegar and two parts Febreze then lets it all dry completely before tossing in the hamper.  If it’s really funky, just add more vinegar. This acts as a kind of pre-treating prior to washing. 

Many thanks to Susan M. for this sharing this most enlightening article!