Storing Workout Clothes to Wear Again

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Storing Workout Clothes to Wear Again

(16 posts) (15 voices)

Started 1 year ago by aolafsson
Latest reply from SunshineR
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aolafsson
Member

I like to wear work-out clothes a few times before I put them in the laundry as long as they don't get dirty and don't smell. I just hang them up to dry and wear them the next day, for maybe a week before I throw them in the hamper. (It extends the life of clothes if you don't wash them as often - I don't wash clothes until they look or smell dirty). I also only have 4 sports bras, maybe 4 work-out shorts - and don't want to do laundry every 4-5 days. I do laundry about once a month.

But I don't like to put my worn previously sweaty clothes back in the drawers with my clean clothes. They usually get thrown in a corner of my "closet" after being on the back of my desk chair for the evening. My closet is open, just a rod across half of one side of the room. Sometimes they're pushed under my bed... sometimes on my shoe rack.

How should I store these? I'm kind of low on space. I don't have a spare drawer to dedicate to these. I'm a college student and just have a bedroom. Everything is in my room: desk, bed, dresser, bathroom things, fridge, "pantry" cabinet. I AM allowed to put nails in the wall, so one idea I had is to get a mesh laundry bag and hang it on a hook on the wall of my "closet." Before I go drilling holes, does anyone have any other tips/ideas?

Posted 1 year ago #
susanintexas
Member

I like the mesh bag idea. Having a good airflow will prevent things from getting too stinky.

We've been experimenting with those new 3M command strips. (www.command.com) They are hooks that can be put on the wall and removed without leaving a mark. Jumbo, the largest, can hold up to 7.5 lbs.

Posted 1 year ago #
shebolt
Member

Ack! Ick! Workout clothes, for me, go in the hamper after 1 wear. Anything that's next to my skin and gets sweaty. No exceptions.

If I'm doing something that doesn't make me sweat, I might consider keeping the outer layers for another wear or two. But my workouts make me sweat.

I understand not wanting to do the laundry that often when you're a college student in a dorm, but maybe you can hand-wash the items in a sink? Workout clothing is quick-dry so you can wash stuff by hand, hang it overnight, and it's dry. I know of some people who get really creative and wash their workout clothing in the shower.

Also, things like sport bras are tiny and take up little room. If you don't need super-supportive ones, I suggesting waiting until Target puts their C9 stuff on sale, and buying several more sport bras. I find those to be good quality for a low price. I try to do laundry once a week, and want to have enough gear to get me through the week.

Posted 1 year ago #
shebolt
Member

Oh, and putting off cleaning workout clothing because "it extends the life" isn't really true. Letting body oils & dried sweat sitting on clothing too long can damage the clothing quicker than washing often will.

Posted 1 year ago #
Rosa
Member

You could probably just hang them on the nail.

The one thing I would say is to either use something (like a coat hook) that is farther out from the wall than a nail, or put a barrier between the wall & the stuff. If you hang damp stuff against the same spot on the wall all year, you'll end up with a discolored spotin the paint or mildew in the wallpaper - that goes for winter gear that gets damp when it gets warm, like hats & mittens, too.

We have a coat tree in the corner of our room that gets used for hanging stuff like sports bras & swimsuits.

Posted 1 year ago #
karenmcgowan
Member

not sure what kind of door you might have on your closet, but mine has bifold doors that are always open. i just bought one of those over door hooks (target has a nice one with double hooks for a total of four hanging spots for about $7) and hung it over the door closest to the wall. there's only about three or four inches of clearance, but it's perfect for those items i've worn a bit and want to wear again.

otherwise, i'd second the recommendation for the hangers from 3m. my two oldest live in dorms and swear by the poster hangers, velcro hangers for heavier art and the hooks. they're a bit pricey, but we've yet to have any damage from them.

Posted 1 year ago #
camellia tree
Member

I second the suggestion of over the door hooks. You can get ones that have several hooks on them (like 6 or 7) so that you can hang each garment separately, that way they can air out. Also, I'd hang them on the outside of the door if it's a closet door, otherwise when you close the closet door with sweaty clothes on it, if they are on the inside of the door you have a warm, moist, dark environment, perfect for mold growth. So if they are damp I'd try to keep them outside of the closet if possible.

Posted 1 year ago #
Stacia
Member

I agree w/ the hook idea. But, rather than just hanging the clothes on a hook or putting them in a mesh bag, I'd suggest hanging them on hangars. If you hang the shirt on a coat type hangar, the shape will help hold it out from the wall. Pants you could hang w/ a skirt/clip hangar. This way, they should be able to air out thoroughly w/out being pressed against the wall.

Posted 1 year ago #
Nyssa
Member

Do you have a place where you can let damp clothes hang to dry if you hand-wash them? When I get back from a run, I throw my dirty bra and shorts directly into the tub and let them soak while I shower. It's not as thorough as a soak and scrub in the sink, but they get a good rinse with some shampoo and soap suds, and it's more gentle than the washer and dryer. Since I rinse them immediately after the workout, the sweat, oils, sunscreen, and dirt don't even get a chance to dry.

Last time I shared a tiny bathroom with a roommate, I wrapped a towel around my wet running clothes, squeezed out as much water as I could (to prevent dripping), and hung them from plastic hangers in my closet (which I wasn't using for clothes). Air-dry is much better than a dryer for bras, anyway. The heat causes the elastic to break faster. Just don't hang damp clothes against the wall or furniture.

Posted 1 year ago #
FatStupidAmerican
Member

If your preferred workout clothing are performance wear you can just about hang them anywhere and they will dry so long as there is good air flow.

I would suggest just giving them a light rinse and tossing them on a drying rack. After an hour or so they'll be dry.

If you are wearing cotton.... that is going to depends on how much you are sweating.

Posted 1 year ago #
Logistically Leah
Member

I hang my workout clothes on hooks on the back of my bedroom door, and that works really well. Then I just wash them once a week when I do laundry (always air drying the bras and synthetic items designed to wick away sweat). Stacia's suggestion about putting the workout gear on hangers before hanging them on the door hooks is a great one!

Posted 1 year ago #
wrennerd
Member

I use thumbtacks whenever I need a "hook" and don't want to go out and buy yet another organizing product. I also hate hammering holes in walls -- thumbtack holes are much more discrete and easily filled, as long as you don't go overboard. Just be careful not too hang too much weight on it (but I've been hanging my leather coat from one all winter, and it hasn't fallen out yet!)

Posted 1 year ago #
Anita
Member

I second shebolt's post. Letting sweat dry on workout clothes for long periods of time isn't extending the life of your clothes, plus it can make them permanently stinky. I found this especially true for sports bras.

My rule is, if it's wet, it needs to be washed. I mostly do high-impact cardio and I'm surprised if my clothes have any dry patches by the end of my workout, so they usually need washing after every wear. If I do any exercise that doesn't make me sweat (rare for me), and my clothes are dry, I just leave them in my gym bag to use next time. The exception to this are sports bras, which I will insist on at least rinsing (always by hand) after every wear. I only have 3 (good sports bras are ridiculously expensive when you're a DD) and I need to make them last.

Posted 1 year ago #
hazygirl
Member

How can your work-out clothes not be dirty and smelly after a work-out? You sweat, right?

Posted 1 year ago #
Olga
Member

I sweat so I wash,a mesh bag in delicate with some other light stuff , and hang to dry. Keeping my gym clothing organized was a problem for a long time, now I have a large canvas bag ,everything goes in, socks,undies etc., I love this system , not
having to go into different drawers is great!

Posted 1 year ago #
SunshineR
Member

Olga, that's a great idea, having a mesh laundry bag and then a workout bag for the clean items!

Posted 1 year ago #

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