Your running gear requires special upkeep to remain functional — and fresh-smelling, too. For instance, you'll get better results spiffing up your stinky clothes by washing them in a small load that lets sudsy water swish around them. Here are a few more guidelines to help care for your running wear, as well as five apparel picks you might want to add to your running laundry list.
More: How Calculating Sweat Loss Can Boost Your Performance
Tech Tees
Special Care: Skip the fabric softener. It can leave a coating that blocks your shirt's ability to wick sweat.
Make It Last: If you want your shirts to stay fresh-smelling, hang 'em to dry. A dryer's heat can bake off-putting odors into the fabric.
Clothes Call: The grid construction of the Saucony Hydralite Short Sleeve ($30) wicks sweat but can also trap odor if not washed frequently. See our full list of Best Value in Running Shirts for more ideas.
More: 6 Tips to Tackle an Obstacle Course
Shorts/Skirts
Special Care: Wash shorts and skirts in cold water. Hot water can set nasty smells into the material.
Make It Last: Throw them in the wash immediately after each run to stop odor-causing bacteria from settling in and spreading.
Clothes Call: The Skirt Sport Gym Girl Ultra Skirt ($65) is made of polyester and Lycra, so it dries quickly when laid out.
Sports Bras
Special Care: Don't put your bra in the dryer, as heat will accelerate the demise of the elastic threads.
Make It Last: Your bra losing its shape? After every run, give it a day off so its materials have time to regain their original shape.
Clothes Call: The Moving Comfort Juno($52) offers an excellent hold as long as the elastic in its key components is properly cared for. For more options, see our list of Top 11 Sports Bras.
More: 5 Hot Weather Running Gear Tips
Wool Socks
Special Care: Avoid fabric softeners and dryer sheets. They make socks less odor-resistant.
Make It Last: Socks may look sharper, but don't wash them in a detergent that contains bleach; it can dissolve and weaken the wool fibers.
Clothes Call: The Merino wool in socks like the Smartwool PhD Running Ultra Light Micro ($13) won't shrink when put in the dryer.
More: 2012 Summer Shoe Guide
Shoes
Special Care: Spruce up with a toothbrush. A machine wash can leave shoes with less bounce.
Make It Last: To maintain optimal cushioning, give shoes 48 hours to recover from a run. Use a second pair on alternating days.
Clothes Call: The exception to the no-washing-machine rule: the Vibram Five-Fingers ($90) due to its minimal foam cushioning. For the latest and best in running shoes, read the Runner's World Summer 2012 Shoe Guide.
Sign up for your next race.Get ACTIVE on the Go
Couch to 5K®
The best way to get new runners off the couch and across the finish line of their first 5K.
Available for iOS | Android
Discuss This Article