Apparel Maintenance Guide: How to Make Your Gym Clothes Last Longer

When you spend your hard-earned money on good clothing, it’s not just a purchase; it’s a long-term investment. You want to get your money’s worth out of that investment.

You definitely don’t want to have to frequently replace nice, high-quality gym clothes. 

So, how do you make them last longer? 

Well, just like your handgun, tool set, or car, you take some time out to maintain your clothing. 

Today, we’re going to go over how to take care of gym clothes, the basic things you need to have on hand to maintain them, the different techniques that can be used in different situations, and more.

Let’s get right into that!

Washing: The Do’s and Dont’s of Washing Your Gym Clothes

First up, your basic washing routine is probably the most important aspect of regular gym clothes maintenance. It not only keeps your gym clothes fresh and ready for action, but it helps prevent wear and tear when you do it right. 

This can be broken down into a few key tips. 

1: No Harsh Chemicals

First and foremost, don't use detergents, softeners, and other chemicals that are overly harsh. You need those things to clean your clothing, but if you use cheap products made from things you wouldn't dare touch with bare skin, they'll tear your gym clothes up fast. They'll break apart the fibers, discolor them, and a bunch of other things may happen that you don't want to deal with, especially when you're buying high-quality gym clothes. 

Not to mention, those chemicals stick around. When you start sweating and getting your gym clothes wet, those chemicals leech out onto your skin, too. Imagine wearing a gym tank top for women, and in the middle of your DL or squat set, you start noticing chemicals running out of your tank and seeping into your sports bra or even leaking on your bare skin. It’s an unpleasant feeling for any gym rat and should be avoided at all costs.

To do so, use a very basic, gentle laundry soap, and if you like to use a softener or any additives, make sure they’re gentle. 

2: Use Color-Safe Cleaning Solutions

If you’re buying our gym clothes, you’re getting colorful, badass designs. You don’t want those designs to fade because you doused them in bleach or used something that isn’t safe for colors. 

On top of using gentle cleaning chemicals, make sure everything is color-safe.

3: Wash with Like-Colored Clothing

Everyone has seen the Simpson's episode where all of Homer's classic white work shirts got dyed pink because Marge tossed them in with Bart's red shirts. That can potentially happen with your gym clothes, and it looks ridiculous when it happens. 

While we’re on the topic of washing your clothes and protecting their color, make sure you try to put your gym clothes in with clothes of the same general color palette, especially if there are large white sections. White tends to suck up any dyes from colored clothes if they start leeching into the washing machine’s water. 

4: Cold or Warm Water

Our gym clothes are mostly cotton, but some of our options do have blended fabrics. When learning how to take care of gym clothes properly, one thing to keep in mind is that you don’t want to use hot water to wash them. This can damage the fabrics, and it can cause shrinking. A cold cycle, or at most a warm cycle with minimal heat, is optimal. This will prevent the fibers of the fabric from breaking down and weakening, too. 

5: Tumble Dry

It takes longer, but it is far better to tumble-dry your gym clothes. The excessive heat used on a full-blast dryer setting is extremely hard on the fabric of any clothing. It's fast, but that's why a lot of people go through clothing quickly. 

Tumble drying will dry your gym clothes adequately, but it won’t put an overt amount of stress on them. 

This especially goes for men’s joggers for the gym, as well as gym T-shirts for women or men.

You can also forego machine drying entirely. If you have a backyard and a clothesline, you can hang them up on a sunny day, and they’ll dry just fine without wearing down. Unfortunately, you’re literally airing your dirty laundry to the world, and it takes a while.

6: Wash Regularly

Sometimes, guys tend to get a bit lazy when it comes to washing clothes, and since you only wear your gym clothes for a couple of hours per day, you might be tempted to wait a week and get them nice and ripe before you wash them. 

Don’t. 

One, it’s gross. Two, your gym clothes are just like your equipment. You wouldn’t put 500 rounds through your sidearm at the range and not bother to give it a decent cleaning afterward, would you? Don’t do that to your gym clothes. If they’re clean, they’ll last longer and function at peak performance. 

Storing Your Gym Clothes for Long-Term Use

If you follow our washing tips, you’ll prevent premature wear and tear quite a bit. However, the way you store your gym clothes is also important. Outside of improper storage causing wrinkles, it can also open your clothes up to damage and premature wear and tear. 

1: Hang in a Cool, Dark Location

If you have closet space, the best way to store your gym clothes is to hang them up with the rest of your clothes. Since they're suspended, bugs, rodents, and other pests that might be in your apartment or home tend to have a much harder time messing with them. This is especially useful in multi-family housing, where such things are common. 

Hanging your clothes will also keep them away from UV light that can discolor them over time, and odors and scents from around your home won’t stick to them like if you just left them out in the living room while cooking up something pungent.

2: Keep Them in Your Gym Bag

If you’re a tidy person and can keep your clothes neatly folded in your gym bag, that can be the best place for them. After each washing, fold them up, slip them into your gym bag, and they’re ready for your next gym trip.

Just make sure your gym bag is secure from animals if you have a pest problem, and don’t get into the habit of not washing them. They’ll stink and wear out faster. 

3: Use Mothballs and Pest Deterrents 

If you buy good gym clothes, you don’t want to wake up and realize a mouse chewed through them or moths have gotten to them. Moths are extremely common if you keep your windows open. 

So, make sure you get deterrents and set those up in your closet, gym bag, or dresser to prevent that from being a problem. 

Start with a Good Pair of Gym Clothes

Of course, one of the best ways to take care of gym clothes and make sure they last as long as possible is to start out buying a good pair in the first place. 

We are a veteran-owned company that makes badass gym and veteran apparel built to withstand the needs of a vet. They can take anything you throw at them in the gym. So, you can push as hard as you want to.

But, if you want them to serve you even longer, it’s smart to remember these gym clothes maintenance tips and implement them in your routine immediately.

Stay hard!