Washing your shorts

[ikkin]

okay, this might be totally dumb, but...

i'm confused! i wear undies under my bike shorts...so they get dirty...but not DIRTY, if you know what i mean.

are you supposed to fly sans-undies? help!

[bikerchick68]

ikkin... shorts are meant to be worn commando... no undies as they have seems which can and will creat chafing especially on longer rides!

[chickwhorips]

if i'm not feeling so clean down there and my shorts get dirty, i take antibacterial soap and wash them first by hand, get all the soap out of them then throw them in the washer on cold and hang them to dry.

don't know if your not suppose to do this or not, but i haven't gotten any bad stuff from it yet.

[Grog]

Most of my new shorts say "Tumble dry low setting" now... So I often do just that, although if given the choice I prefer air drying for everything.

Yes, bike shorts are made to be worn sans underwear. Less chafing. Some people don't feel comfortable like that, that's okay. But they are meant to be worn without undies...

[Gray Gato]

I used that Penquin Sport wash stuff that TE has and it works great.
It's anti-bacterial...

Also have used the soap from Asso....(love the name....I know, it's a high- end bike clothing co but I still giggle when I say the name....)

[DeniseGoldberg]

There are some other threads about washing shorts that you might find helpful. They are referenced in this thread: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...ht=wash+shorts

My shorts? In the washer with everything else, cold water. And into the dryer on a low setting. (Per the washing instructions in the shorts...) Honestly I think the sun and wearing the shorts does more damage than the low temp dryer.

--- Denise

[Nanci]

ikkn, you won't _die_ if you wear undies, although 99% of people choose not to. I can't do that- it just gives me the creeps!! But I wear Patagonia seamless technical undies.

[margo49]

I always understood yeast to be a vaginal environment imbalance.

Here is my MacGyver - style solution.
Someone told me on a mountain trail in 1984. I have tried it successfully several times and have recommended it to others who have also found it helpful. I have read it in a Women's Herbal too

Take a garlic clove
take a needle and thread - about as long as a tampon string
Up thru the garlic and down again
Tie ends together
Insert 12 hours
Repeat with another garlic for 12 hours

Voila!

note - you can prick (no pun intended) the garlic too but some people (well women people) find it too strong and burn-y

[chickwhorips]

Take a garlic clove
take a needle and thread - about as long as a tampon string
Up thru the garlic and down again
Tie ends together
Insert 12 hours
Repeat with another garlic for 12 hours

i have heard this too. never tried it but i hear it works great!

[caligurl]

i wash in cold water... in the washing machine.. with no dye... no perfume.... a "free" detergent... as per pearl izumi... do NOT use woolite.. it's actually very harsh for your delicate clothes and not good for lycra types (again.. this is per PI! i wrote them about my deteriorating leg warmers.. and when i mentioned woolite.. they said NO NO NO!)

i hang them to dry.... no dryer!

[mary9761]

I always understood yeast to be a vaginal environment imbalance.

Here is my MacGyver - style solution.
Someone told me on a mountain trail in 1984. I have tried it successfully several times and have recommended it to others who have also found it helpful. I have read it in a Women's Herbal too

Take a garlic clove
take a needle and thread - about as long as a tampon string
Up thru the garlic and down again
Tie ends together
Insert 12 hours
Repeat with another garlic for 12 hours

Voila!

note - you can prick (no pun intended) the garlic too but some people (well women people) find it too strong and burn-y

I don't know about the cure for yeast, but do NOT use garlic in the ear canal for ear infections. How do I know you may ask? I tried this for a sore ear and ended up having to see a doc to have it removed and sheepishly explain how the garlic got into my ear where I couldn't reach it..
Good luck
Mary

[Brina]

I don't know about the cure for yeast, but do NOT use garlic in the ear canal for ear infections. How do I know you may ask? I tried this for a sore ear and ended up having to see a doc to have it removed and sheepishly explain how the garlic got into my ear where I couldn't reach it..
Good luck
Mary

you can buy garlic oil at most homeopathic stores - it really does work wonders on ear infections.

I have heard - note: I've never tried this on underwear or bike shorts so if you decided to try this test it out with something you can destroy!! - that you can kill yeast by putting your underwear in the microwave for a few seconds. Lycra might just melt if given this treatment though.

My doctor recommended this as well.

[margo49]

. How do I know you may ask? I tried this for a sore ear and ended up having to see a doc to have it removed and sheepishly explain how the garlic got into my ear where I couldn't reach it..

Well since you mention it....
I should have said use embroidery cotton or regular sewing cotton double

How do I know you may ask??!?!

But at least I was able to "recapture" it eventually and dint have to go to the dr. Btw, learned a lot about the anatomy in that stressful 1/2 hour and squatting positions to "shorten the distance"!!!

[Geonz]

I still wonder how the word "commando" has come to mean "without underwear," (doesn't say that in my dictionary, I don't *think*) but ya you betcha, it's skin against the chamois.
I, too, have always tossed the shorts in with the laundry, though if I remember, I pull them out and toss 'em on the line instead of putting them through the dryer, which I suspect is the more damaging heat level. I think lycra's a little sturdier than way back in the day when it was the AMAZING replacement for nylon swimsuits (and that one-design-where-the-straps-always-fell-down)
I have also seen what can happen to lycra when it wears out... if you've ever ridden behind somebody whose shorts have gone to the see-through stage in patches...
If I were having yeasties I'd probly try ... oh, a vinegar rinse? There's gotta be a pH that makes 'em die.

[bikerchick68]

I still wonder how the word "commando" has come to mean "without underwear," (doesn't say that in my dictionary, I don't *think*) but ya you betcha, it's skin against the chamois.

http://www.slate.com/id/2112100/fr/rss/

here ya go...