Washing Kits

[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.

[witeowl]

I converted to Charlie's Soap a long time ago, and I've not looked back. I wash all my clothing together (tech, cycling, nontech), all on cold. I hang what musn't be tumble dried, and don't use any fabric softener. (I don't need to anymore! It's soft without any "softener" because I'm not getting detergent build-up!) Nothing smells perfumy, and it all smells fabulously clean. (As the package recommends, if I want to smell flowers, I go pick some. )

And let me tell you, it's not like my sweat don't stink. On top of that, I will often hang something for a couple of days, wear a second time, and let it sit in the hamper until wash day. Charlie's Soap is good enough to conquer even that odorific treatment!

I sound like an ad, don't I? What can I say? I love certain discoveries I've made.

The only caveat is that it's not particularly good at getting out grease stains. For that, I'll use some shout gel when necessary.

(Oh, and if you feel you "need" softener for the anti-static, I find that these work well enough in our desert air.)

[OakLeaf]

It's soft without any "softener" because I'm not getting detergent build-up!

Never use fabric softener on tech wear. (I know you said you don't, just in general. ) It works by putting on a waxy coating that keeps the fabric from breathing.

When you hang your cottons to dry you learn how "hard" water got its name! But they soften up as soon as you use them.