Barbelle + the Beast: SMELLS yeah! How to care for your athletic clothes + keep them stink free.

These days we all wear our athletic clothes for MUCH more than just working out therefore I don't mind investing a little more moolah in them. I've ruined so many of my athletic/performance based clothing because the fabric requires a little extra loving. I've rounded up some of my favorite products to preserve your favorite pair of yoga pants or that sports bra that fits justttt right. (((On a side note: I don't put on "real" pants unless I absolutely have to so this whole athleisure trend was the best thing that could have ever happened to me.)))

Wash immediately after wear:

I'm just going to throw this out there...and I hope we're in the NO judgement zone. BUT(pun intended), I sweat mostly in what I like to call my under carriage areas 🙆 therefore I like to wash my workout clothes ASAP. I don't think I need to get in the nitty-gritty details but can we all just agree to wash our sweaty clothes instead of leaving them in the clothes hamper for 2 weeks like you do a pair of jeans. K, Thanks!

Mesh/Lingerie Bag:

If you don't have a lingerie bag for your laundry you NEED one. You can use this from everything from delicate panties(still can't say this word with a serious face) to a sweater you don't want snagged in the wash. I mainly use it to protect my workout clothes that have mesh panels from harsher fabrics, zippers, etc.

Apple Cider Vinegar:

Yes, you read that right! Apple cider vinegar not only is good for your metabolism but it also gets that musty, sweaty, stench out of clothing and towels. This sounds crazy but I put this in almost every load of laundry I do. It works!

Slow down on the laundry softner:

Downy is one of my favorite things in life. But, it's terrible for your performance fabric clothing. It breaks down the integrity of the fibers and overtime stops the fabric from doing whatever it's supposed to do A.K.A wicking abilities.

Gentle laundry detergent:

I use a special laundry detergent from The Laundress that I use only on my workout clothes. It seriously smells like sunshine and unicorns! And bonus, it's not tested on animals and is nontoxic, biodegradable AND allergen free. I didn't want to like it because I didn't want to use different detergents for my laundry but it's totally worth it. You can also use this on swimwear and it got that weird chlorine smell out of all my suits too.

Invest in a drying rack:

Never ever ever dry your workout clothes. It breaks down the fabric and shrinks them and the last thing I need is a TIGHTER sports bra. No thank you! You can purchase a rack for $20 or less at Target...as if you needed another excuse to go to Target. 🙌