Clean Shorts

Hello everyone! I'm new to cycling and this forum. I've been reading through many of the threads on here to see if I can get my initial questions answered. I've been successful with some (I'll be buying a Diva-cup or Moon-cup soon) but, one remains. Everything I've read online speaks to the importance of wearing clean cycling shorts. Obviously, I would think it's important to avoid allowing too much bacteria to grow. I recently got my first pair of cycling shorts ever, and I'm still getting used to wearing them (and commando at that). Here's the issue. I change my underwear everyday, that's what we're supposed to do. But, my cycling shorts get used and thereby exposed to dainty parts that release certain fluids and I don't throw them in the laundry? It's not like I have lots of pairs of them, or can afford any others right now. How many times do I wear them before I wash them? (1) And, how do I wash them to keep them in good condition? (2) I like my bras, they aren't cheap...so I wash by hand so as to keep them around as long as possible. Do I have to do the same for cycling shorts? (3) Finally, how long are they supposed to last...how long does the padding in them stay good? (4) Sorry this is so long and if it's stupid. I asked my bf and he didn't see why my shorts would be treated any differently than his. Maybe I'm totally wrong, but I figured that the biology of a woman (discharge and cycles) might impact how often to clean or how to clean. ???

I will only wear them once then wash; however, I have 3 pairs of shorts. At my Women's Cycling Seminar last week, our Sugoi rep suggested to the group to take the shorts into the shower and wash them out while you shower. She said that she has done this for years and will then wash them every 3 rides or so. Hope this helps.

I'm a shower washer. I don't have a W/D and don't trust my laundry service with things like this. :)

I think it's good to have at least two pairs of good shorts, but yes it does get expensive to have more than that. I often handwash a pair in the sink if I don't want to do a full load of laundry.

As for bacterial stuff, well... I have a little bit of a theory on that which may sound a little kooky. As we all know, healthy woman should have a good flora balance which has beneficial bacteria that fight off bad bacteria and yeast. Well, I figure that my shorts probably have their own healthy flora culture that develops over time.

I never bleach or completely sanitize my shorts because residues from these cleansers invariably affects my own flora. So I just use a very mild unscented detergent and water to clean my shorts and rinse very well. If I'm fighting a yeast infection and have to ride, I'll use a bunch of miconazole cream on the chamois pad instead of just running dry or using the typical chamois butter.

Also, I often carry wet wipes on long rides to make sure that I've thoroughly wiped especially if I've had to go #2 - since I don't want any of that culture growing in my shorts!

I have three pairs and wash them after every wearing. I just wash on delicate with Tide and put in dryer on low (no fabric softener as this screws up the wicking properties of these fabrics). All three pairs are at least 1 1/2 years old and are fine.

I wash mine in the shower, unless I have a full load of laundry. But, I always air dry them. I rotate between three favorite pairs, so there is always one on the shower bar for Mr. Tater to take down in the morning before his shower! :rolleyes:

I only have one pair at the moment so I wash after every wear. If I have other delicates that need washing at the same time then I use the washing machine (I have a front loading washing machine which is more gentle on clothing than a top loader) and I use the wool cycle with liquid detergent. If I don't have anything else to wash, then I soap the pad with a bar of pure laundry soap, then put the shorts in a bucket of water to soak for about 30mins then rinse and hang out to dry.

I like the shower idea, very efficient.

After every ride. One nasty yeast infection and you'll see the value in having several pair of shorts so you'll always have one pair clean.

For the longest time I only had one pair of shorts.

So, after a ride... right when I got home... I would pop them in the washing machine. Detergent only... no fabric softner... hang dry.

They dry overnight just fine.

You can own only 1 pair and wash them everytime... easy.

I have 3 pr bike shorts. I just throw them in the washing machine and rationalize they are black so they can go with darks, or they are light weight, throw them in with the whites. No special soap I use unscented All for everything (except wool sweaters). I do mostly hang them to dry, but if time is an issue, they might go into the dryer once in a while. I figure I'll wear em out way sooner than the washing machine can hurt them. My time is worth way more than another pair of shorts. Even the oldest pair which almost always has been machine dried shows no signs of wear after 3 yrs. Then again I don't hand wash anything!

I wash mine everytime, in the machine with my usual biodegradable natural non-irritationg CHEAP Trader Joe's laundry soap and usually with other clothes, too. I let them airdry overnight. Even my $19 Nashbar shorts have survived that treatment. They're almost 9 years old now, and just starting to fall apart enough that I'll only wear them as "liners". I have 3 pairs of shorts that I rotate through, so there is always a dry clean pair when I need them. (all different brands) I plan to get a pair of Ibex knickers next, and they will get the same treatment, too.

I have four pairs of knickers and wait until they've all been worn (once) and then throw them, socks, and jerseys into a front-loader on a gentle cycle. I use Assos cleaning liquid, which has a really clean and nice scent, and a little goes a very long way. It is one of my indulgences.

can someone explain shower washing shorts. I get the feeling that this could save me some time. I wash my shorts by hand, and I hate it!

hey there shadon,

I have a pretty decent setup for washing and item or two out in the shower. I keep a dishwashing type tub in the shower (I have a bathtub-shower setup. One could get a small bucket and it would serve the same purpose. That would work better in a single shower setup). If I'm going to wash my shorts out in the shower, I'll sometimes prefill that tub with warm water and soap and let the shorts (or what I am washing) soak a bit. Then I hop into the shower, get clean, agitate my hand washable and rinse it off under the shower head. I also keep a few plastic hangers handy, so that I can either hang my items on the shower head, or just outside on the towel rack. Then I rinse. :D

That is a great idea! This summer's laundry just got easier! I pay $1.00 in quarters to wash a load of laundry, so I make sure I've got a load to do before I shell out the quarters. Like others, I don't want to wear biking shorts twice (don't wear my undies twice, and I don't sweat as much in my undies as I do my biking shorts!). But it means I'm often "creating" a load just to get the shorts clean. I like the bottle of Penguin sport wash I got at the running store. I'll try a dishpan in the tub and a splash of soap. Thanks, ladies!