Washing Kits

[BlueVet11]

So maybe this has been discussed before, so sorry if it has! BUT does anyone have any suggestions on washing kits or a good detergent for washing bike clothes? I feel like even when I wash our kits on heavy with lots of detergent they still aren't "clean".

My husband and I toss our kits straight into the washer after rides and only wash kits with other kits. No regular clothes involved. Either we do it right away or will do 2 days of riding clothes together if we ride 2 days in a row.

Right now I'm just running them through the washer 2x, but this has to put more wear on our precious and expensive bike clothes.

Any tips? Or do I just deal with the residual not so fresh smell?

[kermit]

I normally just wash everything together the way you described. There's always the hand washing/sink option. Mountain bike clothes are another story.
I think the dryer is more damaging on shorts than anything. I usually run them briefly and take them out quick.

[BlueVet11]

Oh, yeah, its against the law to put them in the dryer!

[OakLeaf]

Why do you feel they aren't clean?

Do they have visible stains? If you're on well water, or your incoming water is otherwise very cold, but your washer doesn't have a thermostat, you can fiddle with the warm/cold temperature controls while the washer is filling, to get your wash water temperature up around 70-80°F (20-30°C). Temperatures that high won't harm your clothes, but water below about 65°F won't get them very clean.

Do they have an odor? Baking soda in the laundry works great for me - that, plus a diet low in animal products, and only using the crystal type deodorant.

Is there a buildup of chamois cream in the chamois? Again, slightly warmer water might help, or using a different chamois cream.

Hanging them in the sunshine to dry will help bleach out stains and kill odor-causing bacteria.

ETA: double detergent will just leave more of a residue on the clothes.

[BlueVet11]

Maybe I'm strange... but I sniff them (not the chamois, just get a little whiff) and they just don't smell "fresh and clean" the first time around. They don't necessarily "stink" but just not as fresh as I'd like... but maybe its just cause they are still wet... maybe I should give them a chance to dry before shunning them to the washer again!

[solobiker]

I usually dry mine outside in the sunshine. I have the shorts turned inside out when drying them out to let the sun get to them. That usually works for us. I have never put a jersey or bike shorts in the dryer.

[malaholic]

Assos makes a blue laundry liquid that we get at the bike shop. It's pricey but you only use a couple capfuls per load. It seems to do a good job both of cleaning and of improving the smell of our bike clothes, even if I don't remember to put them in the wash right away.

[witeowl]

I converted to Charlie's Soap (http://www.charliesoap.com/) a long time ago, and I've not looked back. I wash all my clothing together (tech, cycling, nontech), all on cold. I hang what musn't be tumble dried, and don't use any fabric softener. (I don't need to anymore! It's soft without any "softener" because I'm not getting detergent build-up!) Nothing smells perfumy, and it all smells fabulously clean. (As the package recommends, if I want to smell flowers, I go pick some. ;) )

And let me tell you, it's not like my sweat don't stink. On top of that, I will often hang something for a couple of days, wear a second time, and let it sit in the hamper until wash day. Charlie's Soap is good enough to conquer even that odorific treatment!

I sound like an ad, don't I? :o What can I say? I love certain discoveries I've made.

The only caveat is that it's not particularly good at getting out grease stains. For that, I'll use some shout gel when necessary.

(Oh, and if you feel you "need" softener for the anti-static, I find that these (http://www.staticeliminator.ca/page/page/363949.htm) work well enough in our desert air.)

[OakLeaf]

It's soft without any "softener" because I'm not getting detergent build-up!

Never use fabric softener on tech wear. (I know you said you don't, just in general. ;)) It works by putting on a waxy coating that keeps the fabric from breathing.

When you hang your cottons to dry you learn how "hard" water got its name! But they soften up as soon as you use them. :)

[Mr. SR500]

I know there are people here that think WIN is a rip-off, but it is great! Works perfect, no smells, everything is clean, and one bottle last a long time. I sure I could mix up something to do the same thing, but WIN is easy and works great!

[kenyonchris]

Geez. Now I am worried. I wash everything...I mean everything, in Cheer then stick it in the dryer. Shorts and all. Sometimes the chamois is a little crumpled, I stick a book on it and there you go.
Suzy Homemaker I am not. In fact, barely competent at anything domestic. But I would hate to smell funny, and I am sort of germaphobe cleanfreak (a result of handling some really nasty people and really nasty conditions.

[Becky]

There was a really good thread about this not too long ago. I remember that someone recommended Biz, but I haven't found it yet.

Currently, I do our cycling stuff in its own load about once a week. I use my usual detergent and washing soda for the wash, and white vinegar in the rinse to get rid of any soap residues.

It seems to work well enough for stink-busting, even with DH's ripe cycling clothes!

[SheFly]

Geez. Now I am worried. I wash everything...I mean everything, in Cheer then stick it in the dryer. Shorts and all. Sometimes the chamois is a little crumpled, I stick a book on it and there you go.
Suzy Homemaker I am not. In fact, barely competent at anything domestic. But I would hate to smell funny, and I am sort of germaphobe cleanfreak (a result of handling some really nasty people and really nasty conditions.

Not to worry - we have bike clothes in the laundry 5 days out of 7, and I wash them with the regular clothes, in cold, with regular detergent (Tide) and then put them in the dryer. I'm on year 2 of the same kit, and I only have 2 which I wear CONSTANTLY. They don't smell, and they are clean.

SheFly

[crazycanuck]

Hey KC,

Why not just wash your bike stuff then air dry it on hangers? (inside is ok.) We do it all the time.

We don't have a dryer as it's only 3-4 months of the year that we have coolish weather.

[lo123]

I know there are people here that think WIN is a rip-off, but it is great! Works perfect, no smells, everything is clean, and one bottle last a long time. I sure I could mix up something to do the same thing, but WIN is easy and works great!

++ for WIN.

I started using it on my gym wear, especially cotton that would get that funky smell that just wouldn't die. It works wonders on that (as long as the fabric's not beyond the point of no return in the case of cotton).

No dryer for me. I hang my stuff on hangers indoors to dry. no problems there.

[hilldweller]

Wash with other clothes, usually cold wash, occasionally warm, line dry if possible, or on a clothes rack inside, chamois side out. Have to admit I've never actually bothered to smell them, but they always look and feel nice and clean.

[Owlie]

While we're on the topic:
Grease: How do you get rid of it?

[kermit]

For grease I use Goo Gone. Works well.

[Crankin]

I wash my bike stuff in the regular hot water load, with whatever brand of hypoallergenic detergent I am using. I wash them on hot, as it seemed to stop the various infections I was getting. It's caused no problems. Jerseys get washed on cold.
Hang the shorts to dry inside out. My newer jerseys don't get put in the dryer, but I have a couple of Terry jerseys from 5-6 years ago that can go in the dryer.

[SheFly]

While we're on the topic:
Grease: How do you get rid of it?

Shout and OxyClean

SheFly

[WindingRoad]

+1 on the OxyClean :) That stuff really works great to get rid of odor.