Kit washing

[Curlygurly2]

I see lots of posts on here about cleaning your running shoes, (scrape off most of the mud once it's dry, then rinse under the tap and scrub with a nail brush!) but what about the rest of your kit? I'm never quite sure what to do with mine.....it's ok in the summer when I rinse it all out straight away then leave it outside to drip dry, but what about in winter?

I usually just chuck mine in the washing machine with my other clothes, but I've heard you are not really meant to use fabric conditioner on running clothes, so that means washing them separately, but I don't have enough to make up a load....

What do you do?

[Grannyhugs Graduate]

Hubby has been running 40 years and I always chuck his kit in with everything else - and he has some old kit still going strong. I usually use 30deg wash so every so often chuck both our kits in a hot wash. As for shoes I never/seldom wash them. Dry completely then brush off dried dirt, they still last as long as they should with the dirty "we've been used" badge of honour. Happy running

[spinrek Graduate]

Yep using softeners can damage fabric, we have a quick wash at 30deg on our machine and on after every couple of runs. Sometimes I chuck bits in with a towel wash too 🤷‍♀️

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

Me and hubby both run, so our kit (plus other bits usually) go in together on a quick 30° wash. I do sometimes use a little fab con, even though your not supposed to but have discovered Calgon Anti-Bacterial Gel (the green one) which really helps with removing odours! Great for your machine as well. After very muddy runs (there's been a few recently) I do give kit a quick rinse first to get off the worst of the mud.🙂

[Toonlou24 Graduate]

Hello!!! I wash mine straight away on a quick wash at 30, as there’s not much in. May add underwear and little bits too. But I always add anti bacterial stuff to the drawer and haven’t had a problem with remaining odours since I’ve done that! I don’t leave it though. I wash straight away. I think if it dries pongy it’s worse to remove!!! Xxx

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Just 30 degrees on a gentle wash..no softeners needed..I add them to ordinary tee shirts... small towels.. and such like...x

[Madge50 Graduate]

I just wash my kit in a normal wash, never had any issues.....I don’t tend to use fabric conditioner anyway, years ago my mum had a friend who worked in a factory where they made the chemical concoction and said, if you could see what it actually does, you wouldn’t use it......(when did we ever need this stuff anyway?)

I’ve heard of washing liquid called Halo, which is supposed to be good for sports gear, but I’ve never tried it.....

Mx

[Hidden]

Normal 30 degree wash for me too. I’ve always added a capful of disinfectant to every wash and still do (family thing).

I use fabric conditioner. I hang my clothes on a rail in winter and the line I summer so I don’t tumble dry.

[Curlygurly2 Graduate]

So, most of us just wash as normal it seems, my washing machine is about 100 years old and doesn't have a quick wash, well not what you'd call quick...

I've read softener can stop the wicking properties, not that it damages things as such...

Guess I'll carry on just stuffing it in with everything else!