New here! Cycling shorts & undies question

[trista]

You can certainly wash them by hand, even without a spin cycle they'll dry pretty quickly. If you want to speed them up roll them in a towel and stomp on them to get more water out.

When they get smelly wash them by hand in dandruff shampoo. The chemicals in dandruff shampoo cut the odor in man-made fabric. Another TE'er mentioned this, I tried it, and it really works.

The UnderArmour shorts I ride in are $27 a pair (women's ultra compression shorts with 7 inch inseam) and I'm quite thrilled that as I've been gradually building my collection over the years I have enough now that there's one for every day of the week.

Interesting! I have the same question as Pam - dandruff shampoos vary in ingredients i think...DH uses head & shoulders, maybe I'll try that. For years I've used Oxyclean on my running clothes, and it takes out the stink.

Thanks for the advice on UA shorts - I will check out some of our local sporting goods stores and look for them.

[zoom-zoom]

Interesting! I have the same question as Pam - dandruff shampoos vary in ingredients i think...DH uses head & shoulders, maybe I'll try that. For years I've used Oxyclean on my running clothes, and it takes out the stink.

We're big fans of Tide w/Febreeze and borax (which also helps soften our horribly hard water). I have found no combo that cuts the stink better than this.

[indysteel]

Thanks for the dandruff shampoo tip. I usually don't handwash my cycling stuff, but when I'm on a week-long tour, it's sometimes necessary. In the past, the lasting "stink," has grossed me out, but I'd be happy to try your suggestion.

[Rebecca19804]

We're big fans of Tide w/Febreeze and borax (which also helps soften our horribly hard water). I have found no combo that cuts the stink better than this.

+1 for Febreeze coupled with a good laundry detergent, whether you apply each product to your gear separately or use a detergent with Febreeze already added to it. (In the UK, you can get Ariel liquid gel w/Febreeze added.)

I'd just add, don't bother with store-own-brand odour neutralisers that claim to be equivalent to Febreeze -they just don't cut it.

[OakLeaf]

One of the things I really noticed when I started using the crystal deodorant is that my clothes don't retain odors any more.

Something to think about....

I do put some baking soda in the wash. It boosts the detergent as well as neutralizing odors.

[trista]

Vinegar in the rinse cycle can also really help.

[Crankin]

I have never had an issue with odor staying in my cycling clothes. Nor has my DH, or either of my sons. I wonder if it's the detergent I use, Arm and Hammer Free and Clear. It's interesting to read about all the different things people use to wash their clothes.
I did use Febreeze spray to get the smell out of my younger son's room when he was in HS and he would leave his dirty cycling clothes in his laundry basket too long, necessitating de-fumigation.