General Cycling Discussion - washing bike cloths

How often do you wash your bike cloths in the washing machine? Or, do you rinse them out with water and not use the washer? Do you wash them after every ride?

I always use the machine and dry them on low heat(Except for the wool stuff. NEVER put that stuff in the dryer)

In the winter I might let it go two rides. In the summer, one ride one wash. Not washing your shorts is a good way to get saddle sores.

When I was a starving student, I'd wash my bike clothes in the shower. Scrub 'em up good with a bar of soap and rinse them under the shower, then hang them up to dry. Depending on your local humidity, you can rotate between 1/2/3 pairs of shorts and jerseys and never have to drop a quarter on laundry. More quarters saved means more for beer and pizza :)

At work I rinse my shirt, shorts and whatever other layers, and use soap on the bike pants and socks, sometimes the fingerless gloves. When I get home I do the bike pants again in the shower. Everything else goes in the laundry basket except the rain jacket, which I continue to use and wash at the end of the week in the machine.
Seems to work OK although the flouro rain jacket got mould spots from the sweet/damp staying all week.

How often do you wash your bike cloths in the washing machine? Or, do you rinse them out with water and not use the washer? Do you wash them after every ride?

Shorts and jerseys and socks get washed every ride. Gloves, hat, arm and leg warmers get washed every once of a while.

I'll sometimes use woolite in the washer (delicate cycle), sometimes I use the "win" detergent (good but expensive). Dry in the dryer on delicate (low heat)

Woolite in the sink. Shorts and jersey every time (unless it was a very short non-sweaty ride). Other items as needed.

I wash everything, every ride with a couple exceptions:

Outer windproof jacket can wait a few rides, as well as gloves and cycling head/ear warmers. If it's cold and I wear a base layer, jersey, long sleeved jersey and jacket, I won't wash the LS jersey or jacket.

Everything in the machine. For God's sake, I wear this stuff outside in all weather conditions while getting both sweaty and covered in road grime. And some of the wool stuff (Smartwool, Ibex) can even go in the dryer. No fabric softener.

I used to hand wash my shorts and tights... probably a habit left over from the "wool" days. Then a couple of years ago, I bought some shorts from Aero Tech Designs (http://www.aerotechdesigns.com/classic.htm) and, lo and behold, the washing instructions were, "Machine Wash and Dry". I tried it and the world did not end. Since my other brands of shorts were made of similar fabrics, I started washing them all in the machine. I dry them on low until almost dry and hang overnight.

After every ride... prevents saddle sores!

Right now I have 4 complete sets of bike cloths. Shorts, socks & jersey. After wearing a set I do not wear them until I have washed them. I wash them after all 4 sets are dirty.

My wife has a maytag front load washer, the Neptune, that I use to wash my bike cloths. As it is brand new & has not been used to wash my bike cloths yet I do not know if I'll have to switch detergents. When we had our old top load machine liquid Wool-Lite worked best.

Like our old dryer I imagine with the new Neptune it will be low heat.

As far as what load setting, temp. setting & type of detergent you will have to use to get the best results I say experiment until you get the result you'll be happy with but also follow the wash tag instructions.

never - it's unlucky!

How often do you wash your bike cloths in the washing machine? What are bike cloths anyway? Rags you use to wipe the frame after a muddy ride or what?

I think you mean clothes. I wash my bike clothes in a washing machine, except for items which say "handwash" on the label with laundry instructions. Fortunately, there aren't many like that (in fact I only think of one - a cycling jacket which is never right next to my skin so I don't need to wash it too often anyways).

everything in the washing machine and every 2 weeks my wife soaks my jerseys in a colorfast bleach solution overnight to get rid of the sweat stink that washing doesnt fully remove

You're supposed to wash bike clothes? Who knew? :)

http://www.cronigsmarket.com/images/community/laundry_4.gif

definately the washer. In the winter, tumble dry on low ar air fluff, in the summer, hang dry. When they're covered in the excellent red clay mud, pre-soak in oxyclean.

My shorts get washed every few months.

I do make sure my undercarriage is as clean as possible every time I put them on though, so I just don't see the need to wash them that often.

You're supposed to wash bike clothes? Who knew? :)

http://www.cronigsmarket.com/images/community/laundry_4.gif

No, don't wash bike clothes. Do wash bike cloths. Follow the care instructions on the tag.

Shorts and jerseys and socks get washed every ride. Gloves, hat, arm and leg warmers get washed every once of a while.



what he said! (i'm sorry but the thought of putting on a pair of bike shorts or jersey i've already worn and not washed is disgusting!)

i always use the washer.... hang them to dry.... no fabric softener and NO WOOLITE! i only use fragrance-free/dye-free detergent....

Right now I have 4 complete sets of bike cloths. Shorts, socks & jersey.

you need more clothes (this coming from the gal with almost 100 jerseys!)

Wash all cycling clothes after a ride- except for the outer waterproof tops. They get washed often enough but they get washed at no more than 40C and get tumble dried on very low heat. Then next Ride out the waterproof is waterproof- the windproof is wind proof and the showerproof still does not work.

never - it's unlucky!

It's also a good way to prevent unwanted drafters from following you. :D

A caveman might wear a bike cloth. Cyclists were bike clothes.

a lycra loin cloth???

a lycra loin cloth???


Leopard skin

http://www.forbiddenplanet.co.uk/images/D/D1827.jpg

I never wash them in the machine. I take them in the shower with me and soap the chamois but just rinse out the rest. Tumbling clothes in a dryer puts a lot of wear on them.

I wash my bike clothes inside out in the washing machine on the "hand wash" cycle. I use liquid baby detergent made for washing baby clothes.
I hang them on a drying rack (inside out) - inside in the cooler months - outside in the sun in the warmer months.


I don't wash my bike cloths. When they get dirty or greasy I throw them in the trash.

Wash in machine, cold. Hang dry
My wife insists we use only powdered detergent. She say says the liquid gets into the fabric and takes away it's wicking ability.

Wash bike clothes?

I just throw them on the bathroom or bedroom floor like I do everything else. A day, maybe two, later everything is clean and put away where it's supposed to be.

You mean everybody doesn't have the little elves that take care of things like this?:D

Wash bike clothes?

I just throw them on the bathroom or bedroom floor like I do everything else. A day, maybe two, later everything is clean and put away where it's supposed to be.

You mean everybody doesn't have the little elves that take care of things like this?:D


So THAT'S who does that!! I thought it was ME!!:lol:

Wash bike clothes?

I just throw them on the bathroom or bedroom floor like I do everything else. A day, maybe two, later everything is clean and put away where it's supposed to be.

You mean everybody doesn't have the little elves that take care of things like this?:D Dang! All this time I spent washing the darned things - and suddenly you tell me all I need to do is throw them on the floor and wait a couple of days??!! I'm gonna try it, for sure...