Written By: Tania Tarafdar | Published : October 9, 2017 1:45 PM IST
You need to hit the gym in the evening but you haven t washed yesterday's workout clothes yet. So you dig them out, spray some perfume and wear again. You are wearing the T-shirt for the second time to the gym. But is your T-shirt good to go for round two? Probably not.
What happens when you do not wash your workout clothes
Wearing sweaty gym clothes can be nothing less than a gamble because you will have a strong body odour. The T-shirt may look fine and pass the sniff test before you leave the house but that isn t going to stay that way when you leave the gym. Your body sweat is actually odourless but the bacteria and the oily sebum that your sweat picks from the skin causes the entire odour. The more bacteria in your sweat, the stronger gets the odour and your workout provides the warm, moist environment for the bacteria to grow. This means that a lot of stinky sweat can seep through your clothing, leaving you dripping with sweat during your workout. If you do not wash your clothes right away, the bacteria can continue to grow even after the workout making your T-shirt stink even more. So, wearing your workout clothes for the second or the third time to the gym can be a very bad idea. Here's when you should replace your workout gear.
What s more the dried sweat and excess dirt in your T-shirt can react with the oxygen in the air, leaving difficult-to-remove stains on your T-shirt. Putting back your workout clothes in your closet can also make the fabric rougher. So you can get bad chafing during any physical activity along with some itchy skin rashes and skin irritation. Re-wearing-clothes can also provide the perfect environment for acne.
How many times should you wash your workout clothes?
You must wash your workout clothes after every use. Use hot water with enough laundry detergent to wash your gear. Sports fabric like Spandex and polyester collect the most odour causing bacteria. So try to wear only cotton fabrics while working out. Here's your guide to choose the right workout clothes.
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