Best way to wash lycra kit?

SteK
SteK Posts: 148
edited August 2010 in Road beginners
Not the most pleasant question, sorry!

I've got a couple of jerseys that harbour a really unhealthy smell no matter how much I wash them! I After my 45 minutes commute they seem to have a grim sweaty smell when they go back on, I've even hung them over my bike to make sure they're dry and aired when they go back on, but no luck!

I've tried washing them at various temperatures, with and without conditioner and with different detergents - but to no avail.

I don't really wanna ditch them! Is there a specific sports kit detergent anyone could recommend? Or is it my deodorant?!

The strange thing is, even after a serious ride or run I don't smell!!! I could understand if I was overly pongy myself but I'm normally fresh as a daisy!

Any help appreciated!

Comments

  • Mister W
    Mister W Posts: 791
    Two things you could try are.....

    Bicarb of soda - put some in the wash.

    Vinegar - put in a spray bottle and spray your kit before washing.

    Don't use them together!
  • Ands
    Ands Posts: 1,437
    Try putting a couple of drops of tea tree oil in the wash, or a couple of drops in warm water and leave to soak overnight.
    Cannondale Six Carbon
  • SteK
    SteK Posts: 148
    Don't use them together!

    Haha, definitely not, I remember a science experiment from all those years ago where they were the ingredients for a mini-volcano ;)

    Thank you guys, I'll give all those ideas a shot. Well appreciated.
  • Bunneh
    Bunneh Posts: 1,329
    Please try them quick, I can smell you from Bolton! :)

    http://www.sportsaver.co.uk/acatalog/SportWash.html

    Found that whilst mooochin' :)
    http://www.youtube.com/user/Eurobunneh - My Youtube channel.
  • SteK
    SteK Posts: 148
    Ahhh nice... if the homely remedies don't work I'll give one of those a shot... muchos gracias!
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    An Alpine stream with a few sprigs of fresh Thyme. That's how I wash my Rapha stuff anyway.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    How long is it that you wait before you wash them ?
  • dag_on_a_bike
    dag_on_a_bike Posts: 581
    Straight off with the kit & in the machine on a sports cycle (no pun intended) within 30-60 mins of ride. 30c short wash. Never let kit dry before being washed.

    Never had a problem with smelly kit.
    There's no such thing as too old.
  • anto164
    anto164 Posts: 3,500
    DAG on a bike wrote:
    Straight off with the kit & in the machine on a sports cycle (no pun intended) within 30-60 mins of ride. 30c short wash. Never let kit dry before being washed.

    Never had a problem with smelly kit.

    This for me too!

    Finish the ride, put the bike away, then kit comes off, i grab a quick rinse in the shower, then kit goes straight into the wash. Sports cycle @ 30deg.
  • sandy hill
    sandy hill Posts: 390
    Leave them on the bathroom floor works for me. It even gets them folded and put in my lycra drawer as well.
    This is a block of text that can be added to posts you make. There is a 255 character limit.
  • daviesee
    daviesee Posts: 6,386
    sandy hill wrote:
    Leave them on the bathroom floor works for me. It even gets them folded and put in my lycra drawer as well.
    :lol::lol::lol::lol:
    None of the above should be taken seriously, and certainly not personally.
  • soveda
    soveda Posts: 306
    Edit: oops misread the thread, doesn't matter if you aren't smelly yourself, poly is notorious for holding onto smells. If washing with bio detergent at 40 doesn't work then I'd look at new jerseys (or just accept the smell).
  • thedirge
    thedirge Posts: 181
    to kill the smell put them in the freezer, kills the bacteria
    Consequences.... are just a harmless by-product of having a good time, all the time.

    Thinking about things isn't the same as doing things. Otherwise everybody would be in jail.
  • soveda
    soveda Posts: 306
    Quick question for the OP, do you just dry the jerseys after the commute or are you able to wash it between all rides?
  • Bar Shaker
    Bar Shaker Posts: 2,313
    Only acid will kill the bacteria. Vinegar is the cheapest and easiest to use.
    Boardman Elite SLR 9.2S
    Boardman FS Pro
  • Suffolkwheels
    Suffolkwheels Posts: 167
    Incineration?
    Giant Rapid 3
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    NapoleonD wrote:
    An Alpine stream with a few sprigs of fresh Thyme. That's how I wash my Rapha stuff anyway.

    Or if pushed for time, some sparkling Perrier or Evian and some Unicorn hairs. My Aldi gear comes upa treat. :wink:
  • andyrr
    andyrr Posts: 1,823
    Also try airing them outside - have read that the UV rays can help reduce the smell.
  • Ollieda
    Ollieda Posts: 1,010
    NapoleonD wrote:
    An Alpine stream with a few sprigs of fresh Thyme. That's how I wash my Rapha stuff anyway.

    You wash your own Rapha stuff......don't you have a man employed to do that for you?
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Ollieda wrote:
    NapoleonD wrote:
    An Alpine stream with a few sprigs of fresh Thyme. That's how I wash my Rapha stuff anyway.

    You wash your own Rapha stuff......don't you have a man employed to do that for you?

    No, doing it yourself puts you in touch spiritually with the cycling greats of yesteryear.
  • SteK
    SteK Posts: 148
    soveda wrote:
    Quick question for the OP, do you just dry the jerseys after the commute or are you able to wash it between all rides?

    I wash it afrer every day on the bike - It tends to work like this - 45min commute, 4hr shift at work, 45min commute back home. It does dry in that 4hr window then gets sweaty again on the way home.

    The odd thing is, I've noticed since posting the original message, that the only jerseys that seem to hold any unpleasant smell are made by Nike... Looks like my normal 40degree with Ariel seems to do the trick on everything else :-S
  • SteK
    SteK Posts: 148
    An Alpine stream with a few sprigs of fresh Thyme. That's how I wash my Rapha stuff anyway.

    NapoleonD - I'll also give this a go, in your opinion will it work the same with a Scwartz herb shaker and the Leeds-Liverpool canal?!
  • Savagestorm
    Savagestorm Posts: 79
    thedirge wrote:
    to kill the smell put them in the freezer, kills the bacteria

    Not true.
    United States Department of Agriculture - Food Safety & Inspection Service wrote:
    Does Freezing Destroy Bacteria & Parasites?

    Freezing to 0 °F inactivates any microbes — bacteria, yeasts and molds — present in food. Once thawed, however, these microbes can again become active, multiplying under the right conditions to levels that can lead to foodborne illness. Since they will then grow at about the same rate as microorganisms on fresh food, you must handle thawed items as you would any perishable food.
  • soveda
    soveda Posts: 306
    SteK wrote:
    soveda wrote:
    Quick question for the OP, do you just dry the jerseys after the commute or are you able to wash it between all rides?

    I wash it afrer every day on the bike - It tends to work like this - 45min commute, 4hr shift at work, 45min commute back home. It does dry in that 4hr window then gets sweaty again on the way home.

    The odd thing is, I've noticed since posting the original message, that the only jerseys that seem to hold any unpleasant smell are made by Nike... Looks like my normal 40degree with Ariel seems to do the trick on everything else :-S

    It may be that the Nike jerseys are made of a different material, Helly Hansey base layers are notorious for being smellier than others for example.

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