How To Clean Yoga Pants

Yoga pants are worn for going to the gym, running errands, and lounging around the house. They are very versatile, so you want to keep them in good shape for as long as possible. One of the ways to do that is by making sure that you're washing them correctly. We've done the research to explain how to do just that.

The proper way to clean yoga pants is:

• Check the care label.
• Wash them by themselves.
• Avoid using heat.
• Use less detergent.
• Avoid fabric softener.

If your yoga pants smell before or after washing, you can try:

• Turning them inside out.
• Using an odor eliminator in the wash.

Since yoga pants have so many uses, especially for activewear, they can get exposed to many elements that cause them to smell. Washing them using the above steps will help to prevent them from smelling and keep them in the best shape. In this article, we'll provide all the information you need to properly clean yoga pants. Keep reading to learn more.

How To Wash Yoga Pants And Remove Smells

Yoga pants have many uses, but some pairs of them can be expensive. On top of that, they are usually made of spandex or another type of stretchy material. That means that they require a little extra care if you want them to last for a long time. That's why we've created this guide to teach you the proper way to clean your yoga pants.

Check The Care Label

The first thing you should do, especially when washing yoga pants for the first time, is to check the care label. All clothing has a care label that tells you how to care for the clothes as well as what to avoid depending on the material that the clothes are made of. Since most yoga pants are made of the same materials, the care label should be pretty consistent across different brands.

Wash Them By Themselves

Unlike cotton, which comes from a natural fiber, the type of fabric that yoga pants are usually made of is synthetic. That means that you should only wash them with other yoga pants or synthetic fabrics like polyester. Cotton produces lint, so washing yoga pants with any kind of clothing made from cotton means that lint will more than likely stick to the yoga pants.

Avoid Using Heat

You should always wash yoga pants using cool water. This goes back to yoga pants being made from synthetic fabric. Synthetic fabric is made using chemicals and is basically plastic. Plastic melts due to heat and high temperatures, so washing yoga pants using hot water could damage the fabric or cause them to melt.

The same is true for drying yoga pants. It is okay to dry them in the dryer, but you should use the air fluff setting. Or, skip the dryer altogether and hang them up to air dry. Avoid hanging them to dry near a heater or window as well. This is one of the best ways to protect your yoga pants from damage.

Use Less Detergent

Using too much detergent in the washer can prevent it from being rinsed out effectively. If detergent isn't rinsed out, it can build up inside the fabric. While detergent is designed to clean fabric, using too much can cause the fabric to feel stiff. This can also trap bacteria, which means that your clothing isn't getting as clean as you think it is.

For clothing like yoga pants that get exposed to a lot of sweat and body oil, it's not about using a lot of detergent. Rather, it's more important to use a high-quality laundry detergent. Detergents that are high quality are made with chemicals that will remove sweat and body oil effectively.

Avoid Fabric Softener

Yoga pants are designed to be moisture-wicking, which means that the fabric is designed not to absorb sweat. That's part of why yoga pants are so comfortable to work out in. But fabric softeners should be avoided when washing them.

The purpose of fabric softener is to coat the fabric to make it softer. However, any type of coating on the fabric can prevent it from wicking away moisture properly. This will cause the sweat to be absorbed, which means that it could cause your yoga pants to smell. It will also be harder to get them clean.

See more: "Leggings Vs. Yoga Pants Vs. Tights - Is There A Difference?"

How Often Should You Wash Yoga Pants?

You should ideally wash yoga pants after every time you wear them. It doesn't matter if you actually wear them to exercise or just for running errands, although you should definitely wash them after wearing them for working out. This is because yoga pants are very tight-fitting, so failure to wash them after every wear can actually cause health problems.

The first problem is bacteria, especially if you wear yoga pants at the gym. Gym equipment, your yoga mat, and your skin all have bacteria on them. The longer you wait to wash yoga pants, the more likely bacteria is to multiply. Bacteria can cause rashes and get into any open wounds in your skin, causing infection.

Another problem that can occur from not washing your yoga pants after every wear is odor. Odors can be caused by sweat and body oil, but bacteria can also cause them. While you may not notice the odor immediately after taking off your yoga pants, you will definitely notice it if you wear them again without washing them first. Leaving them wadded up with the rest of your dirty laundry can also cause odor.

See more: "How Often Should You Wash Workout Clothes?"

How Do You Wash Lululemon Yoga Pants?

Lululemon is a very popular and high-quality athletic wear and athleisure brand that sells clothing for both men and women. Their yoga pants come in different designs and patterns. Since they are pricey, obviously, you want to make sure that you care for them properly. 

Most Lululemon yoga pants are made from lycra. Lycra is another name for spandex, and care for yoga leggings made of lycra is similar to what we've already mentioned. Here's how to properly wash Lululemon yoga pants made of lycra:

• Wash bright colors before you wear them
• Wash with similar fabrics
• Machine wash with cold water
• Avoid too much abrasion
• Do not use fabric softener
• Hang them up to air dry

How Do You Get The Smell Out Of Yoga Pants?

One issue with yoga pants is that they can smell, especially after wearing them for exercising or doing yoga. The last thing you want is for your pants to smell the next time you wear them. Fortunately, there are ways that you can get the smell out, and it goes back to how you wash them.

Turn Them Inside Out

Sweat is one of the main causes of odors. Since sweat comes from your body, it is more likely to build up on the inside of your yoga pants. Turning them inside out before you wash them allows sweat to be washed away more effectively than if you didn't turn them inside them. The detergent and water will come into direct contact with sweat, washing the odor away with it.

Use An Odor Eliminator In The Wash

Since you're supposed to use less detergent when you wash yoga pants, sometimes you need another product to help reduce smells. This is where an odor eliminator comes in. An odor eliminator is a type of laundry booster that is added to laundry for the purpose of removing odors from clothes. 

There are a couple of things that you probably already have around the house that can be used as odor eliminators. Examples include vinegar and borax. Add ½-cup to 1-cup of either one (depending on load size) to your wash to not only remove odors but brighten your colored fabrics as well. Instead of an odor eliminator, you could also try laundry detergent specially formulated for sportswear.

This laundry detergent is made for washing activewear such as yoga pants, and it is eco-friendly. Click here to see it on Amazon.

Why Do My Yoga Pants Smell After Washing?

The most common reason for yoga pants continuing to smell after you wash them is because they aren't getting completely clean. It is likely because there is still sweat clinging to the fibers that make up the fabric. Washing them by following the steps above and adding an odor eliminator should solve the problem.

In Closing

Yoga pants are both comfortable and versatile, but failure to wash them properly could result in them becoming damaged, misshapen, or producing an odor. It's important to turn them inside out, wash them with cool water and only with other yoga pants, and avoid the use of excessive detergent and fabric softener. Lastly, be sure to dry them using no heat or hang them up to air dry. Thanks for reading!