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.