How to best wash my cycling clothing?

[simmi]

I have now amassed a huge amount of cycling and running clothing, you name I now have it.

The trouble with all of it without fail is that you can only wash it at 30 degrees.

This temperature gets it clean but it is never fresh always has a sort of stale smell.

Not sure why but would guess it is something to do with 30 degrees not being high enough to kill all the bacteria.

Is there something I can do/use to sort this out or am I going to just have to live with it?

I have found this on Amazon, is it any good?

 

[buggi]

do you use non-bio? i would prob use bio if it was a 30 degree wash. or get one with febreeze in it. can't say i have the same problem, all my kit is 40 degree wash.

 

[Peteaud]

SWMBO just does it.

It smells nice and is clean.

 

[coffeejo]

My machine's a bit ancient and doesn't wash below 40. I use Ecover and have had no problems thus far.

 

[ianrauk]

never had a problem with 40degs wash. Bibs, jersey's etc

Only 30degs wash are for my cycling jackets.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I sling all my stuff in the wash basket and it all comes back clean and fresh, it's a miracle I tell you, a miracle!

 

[defy-one]

Why wash it ...... Straight back in the cupboard,ready for the next ride.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

I have found this on Amazon, is it any good?

I'm not a fan of halo, I find it drys the pad in shorts out to much and eventually makes them a little stiff. Swmbo wases mine in Nikwax Tech Wash which is pretty good IMHO.

 

[I like Skol]

40°C easy care wash here, with bio powder if it was a particularly mucky ride (road traffic grime or farmyard dirt) but most often with a liquid non-bio soap. Never had any trouble with smelly kit or any apparant degradation of the materials (I have a 20yr old cycle top with yellow bits that is still in great condition(and still fits )).

 

[MattHB]

If you have expensive kit pay attention to label directions. We only use non bio anyway, and I use either a 40 or 30 depending on what's washing.

 

[Rob3rt]

In the laundry machine, warm wash cycle, non-bio liquid/capsule and thats that.

 

[simmi]

Cheers guys, it was SWMBO that was not happy with the stale smell after washing more than me.

I think we usually just use standard non bio powder so will try bio or liqud or bio liquid.

Have found out that Sainsbury's sell Halo for £3.99 so might give it a try aswell, if I find it dries out the pads could perhaps use it every other wash.

 

[I like Skol]

Cheers guys, it was SWMBO that was not happy with the stale smell after washing more than me.

Definitely shouldn't be any stale smell after washing. If there is maybe your washing machine needs a couple of service washes. Try doing a couple of 60°C or 90°C washes with good old fashioned bio powder, wash some old towels or something. This helps kill of any microbiological stuff that the cooler washes don't shift and the washer becomes a breeding ground for smelly gunge.

 

[Blue Hills]

I always use non bio - and aren't you suppose to with some sports stuff to preserve wicking or waterproof properties?

30 degrees - I've never noticed any smell problems - others may differ of course.

 

[simmi]

It's amazing where cycling takes you! (in more ways than one)

If you were to have told me a few months ago I would be starting a thread on washing clothes I would have said you were OOYFM