How often do you wash your cycling gloves?
 

I think I should wash mine more often than I do...

I have two pair and one goes into the wash about monthly.

You didn't include once a week when all the cycling gear gets gathered up and washed as an option.

Now there's a good idea. I bought a pair of Pearl Izumi Touring Gel Lite gloves from Performance and liked them so well that I bought a second pair to save when the first ones wear out. But why not put the second one into action now and just rotate them? Hmmm... may just have to do that.

Maybe if you ride 2-5 x per week you can check that option.

wait, question: do you guys seriously wash your gear after every ride?

Considering that the chamois on a pair of cycling shorts is a breeding ground for bacteria, yes. My jerseys smell after a ride, so they get washed every ride, and let's not talk about socks. My gloves, however, get washed every 2-3 rides. I used to never wash them because the wash made the padding hard, but I don't mind it much now. Of course, I also didn't wash my clothes every ride when I was a teen. Either I didn't sweat as much back then, or I just thought my sweat didn't stink!

This thread has got me thinking - I gotta chuck the gloves in the basket when I get home.

I use my gloves to wipe snot off the nose and sweat off the brow... Must wash glove, must wash gloves!!........

Wait, do you seriously wear stuff more than once?

I couldnt imagine wearing shorts with a chamois twice. No matter how clean you think you are, thats a science expirement waiting to happen in that chamois.

I hope you at least hang out your gear to dry and not just throw it on a pile on the floor.

I wash all my cycling gear and gym gear the same day that I wear it; its just easier that way and I find nothing gets stinky that way by not leaving it for days. I throw in my g/f's gear so it makes a decent sixed laundry load so I dont feel guilty about wasting water or energy.

I've tried this a couple times, when I'm backed up on my laundry. Sometimes I can get away with it, but generally the salt from the sweat of the previous ride seems to act like sandpaper and cause chafing. So, now I just try to keep up with the laundry, as well as having a good rotation of cycling gear.

As for gloves, same thing, but hands are tougher than the nethers, so you can get away with longer between washings. I still like to wash my gloves every 100-200 miles.

For me its more the stuff you can't see that would cause worry. Can you say 'crotch rot' ?

I dont always wash my gloves after every ride cuz Ill leave them hanging on my bars after I ride and not bring them in with me. Just a habit.
But it wouldnt be bad to wash them each time... Im not worried about my hands but its everything you touch with your hands when your riding; whether its adjusting your junk or scratching your nose or eating some food.

Gotta wash your cycling clothes after they've been worn once I would think. You sweat a hell of a lot more in them than you do in your regular street clothes, and bacteria left in the chamois will give you a very sore ass.

Gloves though, it depends. Sometimes after every ride, sometimes every few rides.

I once returned a pair that had lost a seam and they were so gross that the customer service representative would not touch them.

I wash all cycling clothes after every ride, including gloves. I just wanted to know - how do you guys wash your helmet straps? Its pretty difficult because mine are attached to the helmet (can't remove them), so I end up rinsing them under hot water with a little washing powder...still they're a bit sweat-stinky after drying. Any suggestions?

That's about all I do with the straps or helmet. Mine comes out clean enough, but I don't expect it to be like new, just getting the sweat n' salt off is fine.

Twice every three rides, unless there is an "r" in the month, in which case they get washed three times every four rides, that is of course unless there are five Sundays in the month, in which case they get washed every single ride, and twice if the ride is on a Sunday (Cleanliness = next to Godliness); however, if the month has thirty or less days, then they're not washed at all…

…er, I think that's about it.

;)

- Wil

Looks like I won't be riding witcha next month, Wil. :reek:

:D

I wash everything after one wearing, except maybe arm warmers or knee warmers. Gloves get nasty with all the nose wiping and sweat wiping. Blech!

I have about 5 pairs of gloves that I buy once every year and a half.

I never used to wash my gloves until someone pointed out that alot of sweat & snot gets soaked into them. Now I wash even my winter gloves frequently.

Wash my cycling gloves. Now there's an idea I'll have to try sometime.

Hmm ok so the next question...HOW do you wash cycling gloves? Just toss them in the washer? Drip dry? I have a pair of PI fall gloves (forget the model...cyclone maybe?) and they haven't been washed...ever...had them for 2 or 3 years now and they are pretty yucky. :D

Washing instructions on the tag of my PI gloves state:

Machine Wash Cold
Powdered Detergent [I only have liquid -- why do they say "powdered"?]
Do Not Bleach
Do Not Use Fabric Softener
Hang to Dry
Rinse Fabric Thoroughly and Completely (think they got those last two out of order - heh)
Do Not Iron
Do Not Dry Clean

So I would think tossing them in the cold wash with your jerseys/shorts would be ideal

i wash everything that i wore on the ride, including gloves and arm warmers (if worn) because i sweat a lot and everything is either damp or completely wet. plus, it stinks and i don't want to be wearing stinky clothes.

Thanks...mine are used enough those tags are unreadable. :D I got to do some wash this weekend so by Monday I will have some nice clean gloves. :beer:

This is unbelievable. I suppose some folks wear underwear for a few days .. and only wash them every other week (followed repeated use)?

And I thought I was overdoing it having 4-5 pairs of gloves (yes, even cold weather riding gloves). Same for clothes. I see I don't have enough. I used to wonder why some people in a paceline reek .. I mean REEK; so much so that even with all the wind around, you still almost have to hold your breath!

I see now :eek:

I might wear them twice but generally they go into the wash with my jersey and shorts otherwise, they get stinky! :eek:

Note I wash on cold and air dry - no dryer!