Detergent

[rubywagon]

I use Seventh Generation on regular laundry, but my cycling clothes are extra stinky, so I use WIN detergent on my high tech fabrics.

[Irulan]

Here's my soapbox about WIN etc. I've been a techincal fabric specialist for 15+ years, and I have been asked about it a LOT.

WIN is regular detergent with oxygenators (aka Oxiclean) added, specially packaged and marked up. You can get the exact same results with your regular laundry product and a scoop of Oxiclean. But hey it's your money.

Woolite- is actually very harsh with lots of conditioners added to it which makes everything feel so soft. You are much better off with regular old baby shampoo.

Do not use fabric softener with wicking or technical fabrics of any sort. It actually gums up the fibers so that they won't function properly.

Dryer heat is another thing that will kill your technical fabrics, especially anything with lycra in it.

I know, more than you asked for but I am fairly rabid about this subject.

If your stuff has really nasty stink to it, soak it overnight in Biz and then wash with detergent and oxyclean.

Dawn will get most bike related grease out of clothes.

[Aquila]

I get whatever is for he with no dyes or perfumes, and cold water formulated.

And then I add some baking soda for biking clothes. I don't know if that actually helps, but I try to convince myself it does.

[OakLeaf]

I get whatever is for he with no dyes or perfumes, and cold water formulated.

And then I add some baking soda for biking clothes. I don't know if that actually helps, but I try to convince myself it does.

It does. I didn't always use it.

I do the same as you. I use All Free & Clear, which doesn't come from P&G, is fairly inexpensive, and works just fine. My water is so hard that it doesn't much matter if I use the HE detergent in my front loader or not.

[esmorin]

Thanks for the awesome tips, everyone! Especially about the dry and the fabric softener...which I was doing to my cycling clothes. I am going to immediately discontinue that...and hopefully convince my husband to do the same!

[Irulan]

if you ever have noticed what happens to your nice bras if you put them in the dryer... same thing to anything with a lycra component.

[GLC1968]

I use ECOS or Ecover brands for soap, throw in a scoop of oxy clean (scent free version) and I use white vinegar in the fabric softener cup. My whites are white and my bike clothes don't stink. This is for ALL of our laundry too, not just bike stuff.

[rubywagon]

WIN is regular detergent with oxygenators (aka Oxiclean) added, specially packaged and marked up. You can get the exact same results with your regular laundry product and a scoop of Oxiclean. But hey it's your money.

Good to know. Thanks! I think.

[NbyNW]

I got a bottle of WIN out of curiosity and it works fine, a little goes a long way, but I agree with the above -- there doesn't seem to be any real advantage over regular detergent.

I've successfully gotten out grease stains, even old ones, using Oxy-Clean.

[ny biker]

From a thread on shorts -- apparently hand washing clothes in dandruff shampoo (Head and Shoulders or with the same active ingredient) gets the odors out, too:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...ers#post519536

[lattae]

I found Tide Sport with febreze and it claims that it's specially designed for sports apparel. It does have a nice clean scent.

[zoom-zoom]

I use the Tide w/Febreeze and Borax...the Borax helps soften our HORRIBLY hard well water and seems to help with stink and stains, too.