What Every Cyclist Should Know About Washing Cycling Apparel
Coming home from your bike ride and throwing your cycling apparel into the washing machine unthinkingly isn’t a particularly good idea. With the right preparation, the proper detergent, and Bioracer’s washing instruction, you can enjoy your (clean) cycling clothes for a very long time. in this blog you will learn what every cyclist should know about washing cycling apparel.
If you don’t have a lot of cycling apparel and/or are cycling several days in a row, it can be tempting to dry your jersey and cycling shorts to put them back on. Don’t do that: re-wearing the same bibs or shorts for a second day could result in irritations or even infections since used chamois pads are a breeding ground for bacteria. Wash your cycling apparel, certainly bibshorts and other bottoms, after every single ride. You may make an exception for raincoats, wind gilets, and jackets. If you don’t have the time to wash your garments right away when you come home, hang them. This is more hygienic than throwing them in a pile (loved by bacteria).
Preparation is key
Check your pockets before throwing your kit in the washing machine. This way, you can easily avoid a drowned smartphone, a big mess caused by accidentally opened snacks, or damage to your clothing by forgotten keys.
An unzipped zipper can destroy the fabric of other garments in the washing machine, so zip them up! The same goes for Velcro. Make sure all Velcro on gloves and other accessories is closed. For safety, you can put these items in a washing bag or wash them separately.
Turning your cycling apparel inside out to wash it limits abrasion on the face fabrics. It is also extra hygienic for padded cycling (bib)shorts and (bib)tights. If the chamois pad is on the outside, it is cleaned more thoroughly. Logical, right?! The washing labels contain specific instructions for each garment, so read them carefully.
Be careful
Just because your cycling clothes smell more like sweat than your regular clothes, doesn’t mean you should use a more aggressive detergent. You don’t need to use a special ‘sport wash’. Use a mild detergent and portion it out well. In fact, here it is better to have too little than too much to prevent irritations from residues.
Avoid fabric softeners when washing sports apparel. It can interfere with moisture-wicking and absorption properties. Furthermore, fabric softener holds odors in your clothes and that’s just not what you want with your sweaty cycling apparel. Bleaches and whiteners are also forbidden.
To hand wash or not to hand?
Cold water (30º C at most), a short wash cycle, and low spin are your cycling apparel’s best friends. Your washing machine’s hand wash cycle or delicate cycle is ideal. If you opt for ‘real’ hand washing, rinse your clothes well afterwards to wash away detergent residue.
Always wash your cycling gear separately, or with other light sports clothes. Regular clothes may ruin the delicate fabric of your cycling kit. Using an iron or dryer could ruin your cycling apparel. Hang dry your clothing on a laundry rack without direct sunshine, so you can keep the colors longer. Now that you know how best to wash your cycling apparel, we hope you enjoy many years of riding with it.
