How often should sportswear be washed to avoid bacteria accumulation? Experts reveal.

People tend to sweat when exercising, causing their sportswear to become damp and potentially breeding bacteria. However, if you don’t sweat much, you might choose to wear your clothes a couple of times before washing them, as frequent washing consumes water and electricity. The debate of whether to wash sportswear after each wear or after several uses depends on various factors. Let’s see what experts have to say on the matter.

Carolina Quintero Rodriguez, a senior lecturer at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, wrote on The Conversation website that the French government recently made recommendations on how often clothes should be washed. Regarding sportswear, the government suggested people wash them after wearing them three times.

This recommendation takes into account environmental considerations. Each use of a washing machine consumes a significant amount of water and energy. Frequent washing also accelerates the degradation of the fabric, leading to textile waste.

But will this impact health? If the thought of putting on smelly or damp clothes again disgusts you, you should consider the following factors.

Rodriguez pointed out that in the past, sportswear was mainly made from natural fibers, primarily cotton. Nowadays, they are mostly made from high-performance synthetic fibers designed to control moisture, regulate temperature, enhance breathability, and manage odor.

However, research indicates that these types of sportswear, especially those made from synthetic fibers, can harbor a large amount of bacteria after just one use.

Polyester fiber is one of the most commonly used synthetic fibers, and it absorbs moisture, creating a warm and moist environment preferred by bacteria, leading to faster bacterial growth. There is a direct correlation between the amount of bacteria and the intensity of odor.

However, innovative textile technologies, such as incorporating silver nanoparticles into fibers, essential oil treatments, long-lasting antibacterial treatments, and structural fiber improvements, have made clothing more durable and better at controlling bacteria.

Rodriguez explained that the safety of re-wearing sportswear depends on several factors:

– Type of fabric: Bacteria that cause odor breed less on natural fibers like cotton compared to synthetic fibers. Therefore, if you have sportswear made from natural fibers, you can likely wear them multiple times before washing.

– Intensity of exercise and amount of sweat produced: Low-intensity activities that produce little or minimal sweat (such as yoga or walking) may allow you to re-wear sportswear since bacteria growth is related to the moisture level in the clothing.

– Season: Climate conditions (temperature, humidity, and airflow) significantly affect bacterial growth on clothing. In cooler months when sweating is less, you can wear clothes multiple times before washing.

– Personal health: Some individuals, such as those with skin conditions, weakened immune systems, or prone to skin infections, should be extra cautious when re-wearing sportswear.

If you are wearing cotton t-shirts and shorts for light activities like morning walks in cool air, you may be able to wear them a couple of times before washing, especially in well-ventilated conditions when not in use.

However, synthetic fiber sportswear or clothing worn during moderate to intense exercise should be washed after each wear, preferably with cold water. This is particularly crucial for clothing that comes into contact with sweat-prone areas like armpits, groin, or feet.

Regarding the storage of unworn sportswear, Rodriguez offered several tips:

– Turn the clothing inside out immediately after exercise (this exposes bacteria to the air) and hang it up.

– Ensure the clothing is completely dry before storing it.

– Store it in a well-ventilated area. Avoid storing it in enclosed containers like laundry baskets or bags.

– If possible, hang the clothing in sunlight – brief exposure to UV rays can provide natural antibacterial effects.

– Keep worn clothing separate from clean clothes.

In conclusion, Rodriguez emphasized that the decision of how many times to wear sportswear before washing ultimately depends on individual choice. Each person must balance environmental benefits with potential health concerns and exercise habits.

Nevertheless, some clothing items should be washed after each wear, including underwear and socks, clothes with visible stains or odors, and any clothing worn during intense exercise or hot weather.