Fifty Plus (50+) - What brand of detergent do you use for washing cycling clothes

This is a follow up question to the following post

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?657502-How-Many-Rides-Between-Bicycling-Clothes-Washes

Is woolite better or does Tide irritate skin?
How does different detergents effect the plastic (syntethic cloth) cloths?

That is a very personal issue, because some people are sensitive to various detergent ingredients. As long as I launder and line-dry my cycling shorts regularly, I don't seem to have a problem, irrespective of detergent selection.

WOW - I think we need a double-blind controlled study here.

I just use whatever we buy on-sale at the Sooper. As long as it is well rinsed makes no difference to me.

I use the same detergent as we use with the rest of the laundry. I think it currently is All Stainlifter, but it varies by what is available at a good price. We stay away from the heavily perfumed stuff that seems to be the norm now.

WOW - I think we need a double-blind controlled study here.

I just use whatever we buy on-sale at the Sooper. As long as it is well rinsed makes no difference to me.


I use the same detergent as we use with the rest of the laundry. I think it currently is All Stainlifter, but it varies by what is available at a good price. We stay away from the heavily perfumed stuff that seems to be the norm now.

+1 on both. What ever I have I use. Double rinse always.

I wash my cycling clothes in Win (http://www.windetergent.com/) in cold water on the hand wash cycle and hang to dry.

I have a magic hamper.

I throw the dirty items in the hamper and a day or two later they show up clean in my bikewear basket ready to wear again.

I am strictly a "Cheer" woman for all my bike clothes. The reason? It smells good.

I have a magic hamper.

I throw the dirty items in the hamper and a day or two later they show up clean in my bikewear basket ready to wear again.

My wife has provided me with a magic hamper also, we are a lucky lot:lol:.

All dark colored clothes get washed in cold water and Woolite for dark colors....keeps them from fading. Everything else gets washed in the regular laundry detergent - non bleach or perfumed variety.

My cycling clothes look brand new although I've had alot of the jerseys for years. I used liquid detergent (generally All - Free - no dyes or scents) for everything, including my cycling gear since I have allergies and the powder stuff is irritating. I wash on perm press and hand dry. Viola! Like new!

Whatever you use, don't use much of it.

You can get them clean with very little detergent.

I have a magic hamper.

I throw the dirty items in the hamper and a day or two later they show up clean in my bikewear basket ready to wear again.
Hmmm. That sounds like a handy item. Wish I had one. I've been the house-husband since 2000 when my job was outsourced. :rolleyes:

Hmmm. That sounds like a handy item. Wish I had one. I've been the house-husband since 2000 when my job was outsourced. :rolleyes:

So...Mrs. Ron has a Magic Hamper...nothin' wrong with that.:thumb:

Mostly Dr. Bronners peppermint, hand washed in the sink directly after ride.

Once a month or so, shorts go in the machine with whatever's on sale (All, Surf, etc) and 20-mule Team.

El cheapo laundry soap at 1/2 strength and dry on the cloths rack

Dawn, because I like what they are doing in the BP Gulf oil spill. Cool commercials!!

Boraxo mainly because I used to watch Death Valley Days.

Viola!
If you throw a violist and a soprano off a cliff, which one will hit the ground first?

The soprano.

The violist will have to stop and ask for directions.

Viola! Like new!

Perhaps you meant "Voila" and not a musical instrument??

Perhaps you meant "Voila" and not a musical instrument??
Hey, I snarked at her first. The rest of you are just going for green jersey points.

Whatever is in the laundry room at the time. Cold water, gentle cycle, gentle spin, hang to dry. It must work; I've got jerseys older than my oldest son (25) that still look good.

Woolite (which my wife insists upon).

Boraxo mainly because I used to watch Death Valley Days.

It's still available!? I had no idea...

Woolite (which my wife insists upon).

In my house I buy the Woolite.

I won't use anything stronger and a minimum of this. I come in from a ride and I undress in the laundry room immediately and wash my kit mostly in plain cool water and maybe once a week with a small amount of Woolite or the like. I have two kits I alternate (and winter and summer kits) so they get a good air dry between uses.

I am convinced residual soap has caused saddle sores and chafing on my main contact point in the past. No problems since I reduced my use of detergents. If I have to hand wash because I'm on the road away from home they soak for a long time with lots of rinses and I'll use no detergent until I'm home. If my kit smells I haven't noticed and I know my family wouldn't be silent to spare my feelings...

It's white...with little blue thingys in it as I recall on the rare occasion I wash my cycling clothes.

Ahhh, the dryer just dinged. :thumb:

Detergent? I just take the stuff down to the creek and flail it over a rock.

Actually like Liquid All with no perfumeee stuff in it.

I prefer SRAM.........................................what was the question?

I use Baby All or Dreft or Ivory. Bady detergent is gentle and cleans well and gets all smells out.
Wash by hand or the washer on gentle.
I air dry. Outside if sunny inside if not.

Unscented stuff that I use for all of my hunting stuff.
Hang to dry.

Woolite in a bucket soak for a while rinse and hang

I too have the Magic Hamper.

My wife says that clothing manufacturers put overly restrictive washing instructions on clothing, so that if you F it up they cannot be blamed. She takes reasonable precautions and our clothes hold up just fine and last until we wear them out - or outgrow them.
Think about it. Your shorts get ground and mashed between a hot butt and a leather or plastic saddle for hours on end and they hold up to years of this type of use. Do you really think whooshing them around for 20 minutes in cool water and soap is going to harm them?