Washing your shorts

[SouthernBelle]

In light of the thread on UTIs, AND the fact that I am off the bike until I get rid of this d@*^# yeast infection, what about washing shorts???

I normally wash mine in cold water in the washer and toss them in the dryer. But is this enough to get rid of the evil beasties? You can't bleach 'em. I've never used hot water on them. What do you think.

BTW, I do all the right stuff to avoid these blasted infections. Stil get one every year. You can set your calendar by them.

[bikerchick68]

I wash in cold water with Woolite and let air dry...

I feel for ya on the infection... my doc suggested I eat yogurt daily as well as sour cream to help my body combat them naturally... has helped tremendously! Hope you feel better soon...

[pooks]

Wow, I've been washing mine with the other clothes. Sometimes I let them air dry but sometimes they get tossed in the dryer without me realizing it.

This is bad, huh?

[bikerchick68]

pooks... supposedly it makes the lycra deteriorate faster... as well as the fabric used for jerseys... I figure Woolite is cheaper than new bike clothes so I go with it! LOL...

[mimitabby]

hey, if you have an infection, you had BETTER get those shorts HOT
to wash them!!
your body is more important than the shorts. You can always buy new ones..
we've washed and dried our shorts (all of them) in the washer/warm cycle and
hot dryer and they are doing just great..
But if you don't get the water temp or air temp up you are NOT going to kill the yeast!

[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.

[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.

[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!