How often should you really wash your gym clothes? French and Aussie experts disagree on laundry advice

Straight in the wash, air out on the trusty bedroom chair, or leave to rot in your stinky gym bag? Now, the age old question has finally been answered — but it might gross you out.

Straight in the wash, air out on the trusty bedroom chair, or leave to rot in your stinky gym bag?

The age old question on how often we are should clean our activewear has finally been answered.

Earlier this year the French government caused a stir with laundry edicts stating sports clothes can be worn up to three times before a wash.

Before we hear ohh la la, we are not reinforcing stereotypes about French and hygiene. France’s Ecological Transition Agency issued the recommendations stemming from legitimate environmental concerns — that each laundry cycle consumes significant water and energy — stating you should wear a pair of jeans 30 times before chucking them in the wash.

Bras should be worn seven days, T-shirts five days, and sweaty sports clothes at least three times.

Sam Evans and Mia Lewis wear Kathmandu Seeker, Move Active workout gear and Puma sneakers at the Soap Bar Laundry in Richmond. Picture: Mark Stewart

But an RMIT expert says the French have got it wrong, explaining we need to wash more frequently.

“In the past, exercise clothing was usually made from natural fibres mainly cotton,” Rodriguez states.

“Now, it’s mostly made of high-performance synthetic fabrics.

“These are designed to manage moisture, regulate temperature, improve breathability and control odour. However, research has shown this kind of exercise clothing, particularly synthetic fabrics, can harbour significant amounts of bacteria after just one use.”

Dr Rodriguez did concede that if you’re only walking or doing yoga, you can probably get more wears out of your outfits, adding clothes will smell.

“There is a direct correlation between how much bacteria is present and how intense the smell is,” she said.

An RMIT expert says we need to wash our gym clothes frequently being it can harbour ‘significant amounts of bacteria’ after just one use. Picture: Mark Stewart

The Herald Sun took the laundry dilemma to the streets asking people exercising around Royal Botanic Garden Tan track how often they rinse and repeated.

Model Paris Bishop said it was not even a question saying everyday.

“Everyday, I try and treat the gym as a fashion show, so I can’t wear the same set more than once in a week so I wash everyday. But also the hygiene, I do hot mat pilates and I’m not putting that on again. It’s gross otherwise.”

Over at Richmond’s Soap Bar laundromat, communications coordinator Sam Evans was also an every wash guy.

“I need to wash after every use,” Evans said. “I love to have a fresh set when I go to the gym.”

Originally published as How often should you really wash your gym clothes? French and Aussie experts disagree on laundry advice