Is handwashing shorts okay?

[Irulan]

[i]

And, don't machine wash water-resistent stuff. It takes away the resistancy and then you have to re-coat. Gently rinse or sponge off the mud. [/B]

It's probably better to thoroughly clean fabrics treated with DWR ( Durable Water Repellency) than to let them get too dirty, Dirt and grime will break it down more than the occasisonal toss in the wash. Even on the most expensive shell fabrics, the DWR needs to be renewed once in a while. A toss in the dryer will reactivate it to a certain degree.

From www.goretex.com care:

Gore shell fabrics are treated with an ultra-thin treatment called DWR, a durable water repellent polymer applied to the outermost fabric layer. This treatment penetrates the fibers and lowers the surface tension of the fabric, causing water to bead up and roll off the outer layer of fabric, instead of being absorbed.

Water-repellent outer fabric provides additional insulation and prevents liquid from saturating your garment's outer fabric, a condition known as 'wet out' that can make you feel damp and clammy. Your garment may even feel like it's leaking, although it's not.

Regular wear and tear, plus exposure to dirt, detergents, insect repellant, and other impurities, causes DWR failure. DWR is not permanent on any fabric. Its effective life depends upon how you care for your garment and how rigorously it is used. The most effective way to maintain your Gore garment's water and stain repellency is to wash it, rinse it, and put it in your dryer. The washing removes contaminants and the heat from the dryer helps redistribute the DWR treatment on the fabric surface.

If water fails to bead up on the surface of your cleaned and tumble-dried garment, its DWR treatment has reached the end of its useful life. But don't worry: You can restore a Gore garment's durable water repellency by using a topical DWR revival treatment for outdoor fabrics, available at most outdoor retail shops.

here is another good article on care and maintaning of DWR treatments, from MEC
http://tinyurl.com/4nbrh

~irulan

[caligurl]

i MACHINE wash my shorts every few days... moreso cuz i only have 4 headbands and need to wash them... so hubby's and my shorts get done! i HANG them to dry.. no dryer and no fabric softener...

i think they would take forever to dry if i hand washed them cuz the chamois would hold a lot of water!

(same for our jerseys.. machine wash, hang dry)

[chericef]

I used to wash my lycra shorts on the delicate cycle and line dry. I noticed after a long summer of wearing the same 2 pairs of shorts and hanging them dry, that they started to smell a little strange (AFTER they were washed/dried). I was washing them in cold water and figured that maybe all of the bacteria created by sweating and being a girl wasn't being adequately squelched in the cold water and room temp air. I started drying them on the delicate cycle - and have not had the problem since. They are showing no signs of additional wear from this method.

If I were going to run a small load of anything, I would rather it be something important like my BIKE CLOTHES!!

Cherice

[syklnsoph]

i too noticed a strange smell after washing and line drying the lycra shorts.
so i turn them inside out and spray the chamois with 'spray and wash' letting it soak in a bit before washing. i use the extra-long wash cycle (putting in jerseys, socks, bras, shorts, etc.). if it's an especially dirty day, give it a pre-wash soak too. use softener. then extra spin cycle and line dry everything. Monday's all the door frames are filled with bikin' stuff (both mine and the mr.) i have shorts that are 4 or 5 years old and still in good shape. i can preset my washer for this special cycle, so it's not a lot of extra pushing of buttons.
soph

[smurfalicious]

I found that turning my shorts inside out helps, too. The first time I washed them I noticed the chamois wasn't entirely clean. Dunno about the spray and wash, just turned um. I actually used to take my shorts into the shower with me after my rides. In the summer when my bathroom window was open they dried quick and it kept them tidy between real washes. Now that I'm actually riding trails, by the time I get home, sometimes I just don't feel like showering anymore. *grins* So now I stick with my baby wipes.

love and cookies
-smurf

[doc]

Line dry is a must for anything with lycra. The fibers disintegrate in the heat of a dryer. as for spray and wash, some ladies who are sensitive will need to be careful about that. If you add an extra rinse cycle, then any detergent or extras should be fine and not irritate the sensitive skin down there. I don't know for sure about fabric softeners but they are harmful to many fabrics, especially those with any waterproofing. read your labels because fabric softener might be bad for lycra too.
Who knew washing could be so difficult?!

[CorsairMac]

My jerseys washing instruction specifically said no softeners so - its no softeners on bikie clothes in my house. I don't wash them on cold water tho - coz my washer has 1 setting - wash warm, rinse warm! (thats what happens when you buy used.) I do turn everything inside out though - not sure why - it just seemed the right thing to do. I have 1 older pair of shorts that I used to dry and now they're a tad - ummmm - 'sheer'. I'm guessing the heat must've affected the lycra somehow. I'm trying to decide if I could pass them off as 'summer weight' shorts or just toss em. They aren't see-thru but you can tell what colour my skin is!

[Adventure Girl]

Can you believe we have 2 pages (22 posts) about dirty laundry?

[Barb]

Can you believe we have 2 pages (22 posts) about dirty laundry?

OK SUNNY CAL GIRL!!!! Not fair. I'm sitting here reading about laundry cuz I am bored and want to bike. It's 34 out and overcast. It has been spitting rain and threatening ice. I guess I would bike out to grocery shop but I just changed over to clipless, even on the beater and haven't actually tried them on real road (just the trainer). ho hum first day of spring my b***!!!

[Trek420]

Barb, sunny CA gal my a** ;-)

Rained buckets yesterday, my hat's off to all who rode.

No sooner did I step outside for a jog with dog (more like shuffle, stop, sniff, roll, repeat. No, I'm not the one sniffing and rolling) then it started drizzleing, then rain. I come back inside....stops.

I'm sure AG, jobob, V, SadieK and the others are all out there just as many of you are riding through snow hail gloom of night etc. I'm doing my bit.

If I ride the cycleops your day will be sunny, if I saddle up it'll poar. Also; never get behind me in the supermarket line regardless of how short the line is. Whoever is in front of me can't remember their pin code, has no checks or cash.

Irulan, as always you're the best. Shoulda thought of that, like testing cleaners on furniture, doh!

[LBTC]

many years ago I read in a bike magazine that bike shorts should be washed on gentle in cold water, inside out, then hung to dry, preferably in the SUN. the sun would kill any bugs, etc, that might remain in the chamois.

I do always cold water, no dryer, line dry, tho must admit a tiny bit of frabric softener sneaks into everything, but that's balanced because I use purex baby soft for all my clothes because of sensitive skin. Yes, on holidays I hand wash. Every second day I do a load, even in the off season, because of kickboxing clothes - same idea - only 2 bottoms for that , too. In biking season, with 2 of us, I hate having to do a load every second day (or even after each ride) but it still happens. I must admit, this process has a tough time removing that outer bit of evil mud. (you have not seen mud til you've seen cariboo mud it will stain paint!!), but this stuff is to be used, so mud stains get to stain there!!

and, yes, I'm posting about laundry because there is 6 inches of snow outside that fell over the last 2 days and I'm guessing some of it should be shovelled. ICK

Namaste,
~T~

[moonfroggy]

Originally posted by CorsairMac
my washer has 1 setting - wash warm, rinse warm! (thats what happens when you buy used.)

you could turn off teh hot water where it goes into your washing machine, if it is like mine it has a place where cold water goes in and a place where hot water goes in then it will only get cold water

[moonfroggy]

i washed my bike shorts for the first time today and i threw them in the dryer because i wanted to go for a ride today and it was the only way they would be dry in time for my ride, i did it on the lowest heat setting and when i took them out all the clotehs where a bit cool and not warm at all, i am glad for this thread in the futer i will wash them sooner and hang them to dry

[pedalfaster]

Originally posted by Adventure Girl
Can you believe we have 2 pages (22 posts) about dirty laundry?

I am so with Adventure Girl on this one!

Bike gear is...gear. Sports gear (running, swimming, riding, skiing etc etc) is a tool . Tools are meant to be used. Care for them, but don't treat 'em with kid gloves.

Bike shorts are exposed to extreme temperatures all the time. They are also exposed to salt, blood, mud, gravel, bugs, snot, UV rays, sunscreen, pb&j, Cytomax....the list goes on and on. The Lycra breaks down with simple movement and the friction caused by thighs-meeting-bike-seat.

Life is too short and there are way too many trails and roads to explore to waste time worrying about "ruining" bike clothes. A little known fact about bike clothes is that the worst thing you can do to 'em is to leave them stuffed in a drawer; unused and unloved.

[AutumnBreez]

I am so with Adventure Girl on this one!

Bike gear is...gear. Sports gear (running, swimming, riding, skiing etc etc) is a tool . Tools are meant to be used. Care for them, but don't treat 'em with kid gloves.

Bike shorts are exposed to extreme temperatures all the time. They are also exposed to salt, blood, mud, gravel, bugs, snot, UV rays, sunscreen, pb&j, Cytomax....the list goes on and on. The Lycra breaks down with simple movement and the friction caused by thighs-meeting-bike-seat.

Life is too short and there are way too many trails and roads to explore to waste time worrying about "ruining" bike clothes. A little known fact about bike clothes is that the worst thing you can do to 'em is to leave them stuffed in a drawer; unused and unloved.

Wash normally together in regular det. and dry in fluff or low heat dryer. Enjoy the ride, sweat and dirty them all over again then wash and fluff/low heat again. Clean is what matters to me, will not worry about breaking them down. They are used with love!