Washing shorts/jerseys....

[Ana]

I usually use Woolite to wash my bike shorts and jerseys but I just read in another thread that Woolite is not good for Lycra...

What is the best thing to wash my shorts/jerseys with? I'm looking for something that cleans the germs/yeast/whatever off the shorts but is gentle on the material

[alpinerabbit]

Any detergent in a wash cycle up to 40°C (100°F) will do fine - what is lycra: a synthetic material. So it won't take high temperatures.

"Detergent" is Soap,and Soap kills 99% of all bacteria as well as removing dirt, which is basically grease (such as chamois cream). Most regular detergents contain proteases you can use for non-wool/silk fabric to remove stains. (wool&silk = protein which would be degraded)
Woolite is detergent = soap but without the proteases.
Either is fine, I would not use a detergent with bleach though.

Why the worry?

The first thing that will give out is the elastic in the lycra, which will happen way before the fibers break down because of any chemicals you apply to it.

Or you get tired of the item before it wears out. Simple enough, eh?

[bike4ever]

No woolite. I usually wash/rinse in cold water and line dry both.

[sundial]

Try adding white vinegar to your wash. It will gently clean and remove the build up in the synthetics.

[Ana]

Vinegar and soap?

[Mr. SR500]

I used Woolite for years without and problem. I switch to WIN sports detergent last year. WIN is much better at getting rid of any smells, and seems to work great. I buy it from Amazon.

[Becky]

I use my everyday detergent (Sun and Earth- all natural), along with a 1/2 cup of washing soda, and white vineger in the softener cup. The washing soda helps break up the sweat and odor, while the vinegar ensures that all of the soap residue is gone. Cycling clothes generally don't get filthy, just sweaty, so I run the machine on the delicate cycle to save energy and water. Everything gets line-dried to protect the fabric- heat is hard on lycra.

Even Hubby's "man-stinky" cycling clothes smell fresh after washing. I've even noticed that, since I've begun washing this way, his jerseys don't reek after riding either. Just a normal sweaty smell, but not that "what died?" stench that synthetics sometimes get over time.

[Fujichants]

I just use Tide on the warm/cold setting and then line dry my shorts. So far, so good!

[OakLeaf]

Just to clarify, soap and detergent not necessarily the same thing. Soap is salts of fatty acids, like Dr. Bronner's, olive oil soap, or NikWax TechWash. Most laundry products (including Woolite and Mrs. Meyers) are not soap.

Per the dictionary definition, soap is a detergent, but usually when something's called "detergent," it means it is NOT soap.

Gore-Tex and other breathable membranes should only be washed with soap, because detergent residues will prevent water from beading on the outside, which is necessary for the membrane to function.