I have 3 pr bike shorts. I just throw them in the washing machine and rationalize they are black so they can go with darks, or they are light weight, throw them in with the whites. No special soap I use unscented All for everything (except wool sweaters). I do mostly hang them to dry, but if time is an issue, they might go into the dryer once in a while. I figure I'll wear em out way sooner than the washing machine can hurt them. My time is worth way more than another pair of shorts. Even the oldest pair which almost always has been machine dried shows no signs of wear after 3 yrs. Then again I don't hand wash anything!