Detergent

[Shaula]

What is the best detergent you guys recommend for cycling clothes? I have a front loader HE washer. Thanks!!!

[Blue_Fedora]

I use Tide TotalCare for all my clothes... including cycling clothes. I skip any kind of fabric softener for the workout clothes as it effects the wicking properties.

After reading various forums I've learned quite a number of people use special detergents for their cycling clothes... but I don't.

[Blueberry]

Charlie's Soap I use it for everything. Of course, it's cheaper at Whole Foods!

[Owlie]

I don't use fabric softener, so I just use the same detergent I use for everything else.

[ny biker]

I use 7th Generation detergent for all laundry.

For cycling clothes I sometimes do a long pre-soak, also with 7th Generation, to make sure I'm getting the sweat and sunscreen out.

[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.

[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.

[sarahspins]

Sportwash

[marni]

I use generic 7th generation type laundry detergent no fabric softener and never in the drier. I did buy some special sports detergent but it didn't do much for the excessive smell so I gave up and went back to general detergent. I can tell if it has been a good bike week by the number of sweaty outfits hanging to dry on the shower rod bedfore washing.

marni