Washing your shorts

[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!

[Alliez]

Sadly this topic is all to close to my heart as well. From what I've read, washing machine water and dryer heat are not hot enough to reliably kill yeasties, and one should use a hot iron on the relevant portions of your underwear to assure that you are reinfecting yourself. I've not tried ironing the chamois on my bike shorts (yet) but I'm going to have to give it a try (unfortunately).

[Pedal Wench]

To help prevent whatever infections cause saddle sores, I've heard folks recommend drying them with the chamois exposed to direct sunlight. That will probably take care of all the nasties.

Maybe tuck as much lycra UNDER the chamois to prevent excess UV damage while it's drying outside.

Edit: In the winter, better come up with another solution. A frozen chamois doesn't sound too comfy!

[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

[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...

[Eden]

Sadly this topic is all to close to my heart as well. From what I've read, washing machine water and dryer heat are not hot enough to reliably kill yeasties, and one should use a hot iron on the relevant portions of your underwear to assure that you are reinfecting yourself. I've not tried ironing the chamois on my bike shorts (yet) but I'm going to have to give it a try (unfortunately).

eek! I would hesitate to try that as spadex is quite meltable....

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.

[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.

[pooks]

I went commando for the first time today. I didn't really feel any difference but you'd better believe I put those sweaty things in the washing machine as soon as I got home!

[Nanci]

I've got the solution!! Garlic butter chamois cream!!

[newbiechick]

I could swear that I just recently read on this forum that cycling shorts should NOT be air dried. I couldn't figure out why ... thought maybe it's because of the stiffness that sometimes results from line drying. But maybe it's because the dryer heat gets rid of bacteria/yeast/whatever. No idea. Anyway, I switched from line drying to throwing them in the dryer. But now I think maybe I should switch back. So confusing.

My husband has been riding for years and throws all his cycling clothes in the washer and dryer with everything else. Now, of course, he doesn't have to worry about yeast infections and such ... but considering how long he's had some of his cycling clothes, they don't seem too much worse for the wear in spite of washing and drying. Actually I have recommended he replace one pair of his shorts ... but he's probably had that pair for years.

My nephew is on his college cycling teams ... and he is fanatically careful about caring for his clothes ... special soap, line dry (I think), etc. I've never seen a 21 year old be so diligent about anything!

newbiechick
aka Shelley

[Lise]

I've got the solution!! Garlic butter chamois cream!!

Ha! I believe you are onto something!

The garlic cure is something my sister swears by.

My approach to yeast (and I treat a lot of this), is that it's a normal part of the ...um... environment down there. There are "good" bacteria, "bad" bacteria, and yeast. When the environment gets out of balance, we get infections (also when other people give us germs, we get infections, but this is not usually the case with yeast). Top culprits:

1. Overcleaning. Healthy lactobacilli (found in yogurt) keep yeast in check. Douching, over-washing can kill those. Let your body clean itself, don't be always washing out your inner parts.

2. Chemical sensitivities. Perfumes, deoderant, dyes. Use only "neutral" soaps. Only non-scented pads. Only white panties. Only scent and dye free laundry soaps. No drier sheets with panties. No bubble baths or bath oils.

3. Lack of air flow. No nylon panties, no tight pants (this is where the bike shorts may be a problem). Sleep without panties on.

4. Stress. Throws everything off.

5. High sugar diet, including alcohol as a sugar. Yeast loves sugar.

6. Diabetes, HIV.

7. Increased levels of female hormones--via contraception or pregnancy.

8. And finally, not everything that itches and smells is yeast. Sometimes it's bacteria out of balance, AKA bacterial vaginosis. No OTC treatment for that, and you can't (yet) diagnosis it yourself at home.

OK, looking at all of the above, figuring the average cyclist is pretty healthy in general and eats fairly well...you're on the saddle clothed in non-breathing fabric for hours at a time. Maybe intensely so for a relatively short part of the year. Hot, dark, moist place with no air flow. Ideal for yeast to grow. So, keep the shorts clean, don't overclean yourself, let there be airflow when you're not on the bike, try the garlic or OTC yeast treatments, get yourself checked out medically if you're having recurrent, frequent yeast infections. My $0.02 Lise

[pooks]

And make sure the yogurt is active culture!

I've heard of women douching with active culture buttermilk or unsweetened/flavored yogurt, too. But fortunately have never felt the need to do that. Eeeuw.

Farm wives knew to drink buttermilk for a yeast infection, though. My grandmother told me that and I didn't believe her!

[mimitabby]

I've got the solution!! Garlic butter chamois cream!!

OMG!!

[Brandi]

I've got the solution!! Garlic butter chamois cream!!

and after you can make garlic bread! (sorry had too,couldn't control finger's on key's)

[Brandi]

I thought we were talking about bladder infections? Lol! What does uti stand for exactly?
I had lot's of yeast infections when I was young, And it turned out that my husband and i were passing it back and forth. The Dr could have told me this. It wasn't until like the 6th one that she figured out what was going on. Ahhh to be young again. Sigh! we should not have been having sex while I was on the mend.