Woolite - yes or no?

[SR500]

DH washes all the bike stuff and only uses Woolite. He washes everytime either of us ride, and hasn't had any problems. He's very picky and has some very expensive Assos bike stuff that he treats like gold. Machine wash, hang to air dry.

[KnottedYet]

Used to use BioKleen (good stuff!) but now pretty much use nothing but Dr. Bronner's castile soap in either peppermint, lavender, or eucalyptus. I've always used Dr. Bronner's on me, but it does just fine on my hand wash clothes. Haven't seen BioKleen around in a long time. There is an unscented version.

for the machine I use Trader Joe's powder detergent.

Edit: oops, I meant the Dr. Bronner's comes in an unscented version! Sorry!

[Eden]

I got my bottle of Biokleen up at the Central Co-op's Madison Market a few months ago (you only use an ounce at a time, so it lasts a looooong time). It's not really scented, but it has some citrus cleaning components so it has a pleasant vaugely citrusy smell to it. I don't think it really leaves any scent on the clothing.
I also have a front loader and I can tell you it is much, much gentler on clothing. Even rough and tumble stuff like jeans last a whole lot longer using this machine.
I could get Dr. Bonners up at Trader Joes, but I wonder if it would be too sudsy to put in my washing machine?

[silver]

My shebeast top is the smelliest! Only this will get the stink out of it...

http://www.windetergent.com/index.html

[KnottedYet]

I miss BioKleen. I'll look at our local Central Market and see if they have it. It was very nice on the machine washables. And I'm just about out of Trader Joe's powder. Could be synchronicity here...

I've used Dr. Bronner's in my top-loader many times (about the same amount as I would use of BioKleen) and it works just fine, no over sudsing.

Edit: I read somewhere that one run through the washing machine is equivalent to wearing the garment 60 times.

[violette]

I use baby shampoo. Works great, is gentle and has barely any fragrance.

[badger]

I realize this is a pretty old thread and nobody probably reads it anymore, but I thought I'd add my two cents. I also haven't read the whole thread so forgive me if it's strayed from where the conversations have gone.

Regarding the stink on clothes, has anyone here tried merino wool? I've recently been making a concerted effort to switch my workout gear to as much natural fibres as possible, as I find synthetics hold the stink and even seem to magnify it.

Merino wool is light, itch free, controls body temperature, wicks like crazy, and doesn't hold any stink (really!!). Most of my shirts and all my socks are now merino wool, and I honestly can't find anything to complain about, maybe that they might pill more.

there might be issues with the mistreatment of some of the sheep may go through, called muelsing (much like a male circumcision, a cutting of flap of skin over their tail to prevent fly infestation). But come 2010, muelsing will be banned, and some companies already carry non-muelsing merino wool.

I might just be talking out of my butt because I hate wearing jerseys, but if it's for just training purposes and you don't care what you look like, then I highly recommend looking into merino wool. Not cheap, but if you look through ebay or sometimes cheap stuff come up on steepandcheap.com.

[SouthernBelle]

Badger,

If you go to the apparel section, there is a 56 page thread on wool and those who love it.

[Brandi]

Used to use BioKleen (good stuff!) but now pretty much use nothing but Dr. Bronner's castile soap in either peppermint, lavender, or eucalyptus. I've always used Dr. Bronner's on me, but it does just fine on my hand wash clothes. Haven't seen BioKleen around in a long time. There is an unscented version.

for the machine I use Trader Joe's powder detergent.

Edit: oops, I meant the Dr. Bronner's comes in an unscented version! Sorry!

Ditto that. Trader joes is really nice. And the scent is very natural. I hate fake smells and tastes.

[indigoiis]

I just go into the shower, shorts, jersey and all.
I shampoo me all down, then strip off the wet jersey, shorts, socks, and rinse them out while my hair is being conditioned, and hang them on hooks in the shower with me. When I am done, I take them out and hang to dry in a sunny window.

[sundial]

There's a product called Nature's Miracle Stain and Odor Remover that takes odors out of pretty much everything. You can find this product at Petco, Petsmart, or most pet supply stores. The label states: Removes all organic stains and odors, including food, blood, vomit, feces, grease, dirt, grass, smoke, and perspiration.

It uses nature's enzymes to remove the offending odors. Here are the directions for laundering:

Laundry prewash: Saturate stained odor areas with Stain and Odor Remover at full strength, wash as usual.

Ingredients: Water, Nature's Enzymes, Isopropryl Alcohol, Natural Citrus Scent.

[Bklynmom]

I wash my bras in this organic stuff called "Forever New". It gets them very clean and washes everything out. I occasionally use it on bike shorts and expensive jerseys - they do seem to last much longer, and they feel truly clean. Shampoo is good for removing body residue too, but it's hard to rinse out.

[onimity]

We use 'penguin sport wash' ... they have it at our grocery store & rei. I've never had an odor stick around with it... it did get some seriously nasty smells out of a north face shirt that i had with me for 5 odorous weeks hiking, biking & camping in south america. I thought that shirt would never be odor-free...

Anne