When you sweat in your leggings, they absorb the dead skin cells and oils that you release during exercise, Shape explained. As such, you'll likely need to wash your workout gear more frequently than your other outfits. Yoga leggings cling to the body, which can accumulate yeast spores and other bacteria from your skin, according to The Spruce, so washing them after every wear is next to essential. But when it comes to washing, more detergent isn't always the answer.
According to Shape, washing machines have a set amount of detergent to use for each cycle, no matter the size. Excess soap gets tossed in rather than rinsed out, and can build up in your workout clothes — making way for mildew to grow, the outlet explained. "If you notice a funky smell, that's probably mildew. It feeds off soap as well as dead skin debris," said cleaning expert Jolie Kerr. Choose your detergent and the amount wisely, as not all are created equal. The Spruce recommends opting for a soap that contains enzymes strong enough to remove body oils and stains.
An absolute rule to always follow when washing your yoga leggings involves ditching the fabric softener. Fabric softener leaves behind a thin film that locks odors in your clothes, particularly your workout leggings or yoga pants, Shape said. Who knew such a simple clothing item could come with such a long wash tag? Even though it may be a pain, laundering your leggings the right way will help keep them wearable for much longer.
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