Freezing your cycling clothing

dennisn

Watched a video yesterday in which the CEO of Levi's Jeans was talking about getting rid of odors without washing your clothes. He said that putting them in the freezer portion of your fridge for a couple of days would kill off all odor. With all the posts about stinky cycling gear, I'm hoping that someone will try this and report back. :?

DavidJB

or just wash it.

Joeblack

When I was a youngster and played football we did this with our boots, it works by killing the bacteria that's making the smell but is only necessary if washing alone won't get rid of bad smells

monkimark

I know a few people who do it with motorbike gloves because you can't stick 'em in the washing machine.

For bike gear (and jeans for that matter), why not just wash it?

amycollins

DavidJB wrote:

or just wash it.

+1

homers_double

+ 2 you dirty git.

But I have done it with a pair of Toms as they were getting quite stinky and it worked. Not for long though...

bompington

As long as you remember to take them out far enough in advance.

One of the most, err, interesting experiences I've ever had was hanging up a wetsuit to dry overnight while on a kayaking expedition. Unfortunately it froze instead, which made for an uncomfortable few minutes (from both the temperature and rigidity) until I managed to run round the campsite enough times to warm up a bit.

buckmulligan

Yeah, I was surprised to find out that Levi's recommend that you don't wash their jeans. I think it's to do with the colour slowly leaching out and fading over time, perhaps they still use fairly traditional dying techniques?

Either way, I know what you mean about smelly tops, I've had football and rugby tops that never smell quite clean even after extended-warm washes/febreeze etc etc. never had it with cycling clothes, I think cotton tops especially tend to cling to odours a bit more than nice lightweight lycra, but also maybe due to the masses of rain and mud they get covered in!

I'd be interested to hear your results dennis!

dennisn

BuckMulligan wrote:

Yeah, I was surprised to find out that Levi's recommend that you don't wash their jeans. I think it's to do with the colour slowly leaching out and fading over time, perhaps they still use fairly traditional dying techniques?

Either way, I know what you mean about smelly tops, I've had football and rugby tops that never smell quite clean even after extended-warm washes/febreeze etc etc. never had it with cycling clothes, I think cotton tops especially tend to cling to odours a bit more than nice lightweight lycra, but also maybe due to the masses of rain and mud they get covered in!

I'd be interested to hear your results dennis!

My results???? Are you kidding??? Like my wife is going to let me put smelly clothes in the fridge. :oops:

goonz

Buy Halo and wash your clothes with that.

chris_bass

I thought freezing stuff didn't kill bacteria but just slowed it right down, that's why things can still go off in the freezer.

w.jenkins

Chris Bass wrote:

I thought freezing stuff didn't kill bacteria but just slowed it right down, that's why things can still go off in the freezer.

The water inside the bacteria cells freezes and then expands killing them as they "burst"

Party Weirdo

Just use biological washing liquid. Non-bio doesn't work well with synthetic fabrics.

crescent

There used to be public information films in the 70s about climbing inside fridges. My top tip would be, if you are going to try this method, then take it off before you put it in the fridge.
You're welcome.

dennisn

BuckMulligan wrote:

Yeah, I was surprised to find out that Levi's recommend that you don't wash their jeans.

That's the part that got me. He talked like he never washed his jeans. Maybe he doesn't, seeing as how he's the CEO. Just wear a new pair every day. Still smelling is one thing and clean is sort of another. It makes me wonder how you're supposed to deal with dirt, mud, stains, etc. What else is there besides washing for that kind of thing? :?

chris_bass

w.jenkins wrote:

Chris Bass wrote:

I thought freezing stuff didn't kill bacteria but just slowed it right down, that's why things can still go off in the freezer.

The water inside the bacteria cells freezes and then expands killing them as they "burst"

"Myth #3: Freezing Kills Bacteria
Freezing foods renders bacteria inactive but doesn’t actually kill anything. That means if your food went into the freezer contaminated, once thawed it will still harbor the same harmful bacteria. Cooking it to the recommended temperature is the only way to ensure that your food is safe."

pipipi

So I should put my jeans in the microwave?

patrickf

goonz wrote:

Buy Halo and wash your clothes with that.

This. Absolutely amazing stuff. Anti-bacterial and Anti-fungal.

downhill paul

I have never had to do this with clothes. but I did try something similar with a pair of trainers.
they started to smell after extended use so I put them in the washing machine, after letting them dry they smelled even worse after the first few times I wore them. I tried putting them in the freezer and it worked to a degree, but not as much as washing them did.

rodgers73

I was thinking that the better candidate for this treatment would be cycling shoes rather than clothes as they absolutely reek and cant be washed.

tangled_metal

+1 on the frozen wetsuit. After an icy night in a tent on the Tyne tour getting into the frozen wetsuit with a major hangover, no breakfast, sore/aching muscles and another day of paddling. Those were the good old.days, but took some warming up that wetsuit. It was so rigid I could hold it up horizontally from one leg.

It still smelt bad after the freezing though. Reckon it would need a week in the deep freeze. A mate was boss of a freezer storage facility perhaps- 30°C would kill those bacteria.

dennisn

Did a little extracurricular reading and come to find out that freezing is NOT a good way to kill bacteria. It MAY kill some but most just sort of hibernate until warmed up and go right back to business.

ratsbeyfus

When trying to sell our first flat we had to get it spic and span for a viewing. We had a load of washing drying on the radiators which looked messy so stuck all the damp clothes in the freezer to hide them. Not sure if they smelled fresher afterwards but we sold the flat, so something worked.

southdownswolf

goonz wrote:

Buy Halo and wash your clothes with that.

How does playing on the XBox wash my clothes? :shock:

rickeverett

Wash it.

Please don't say your the office BO cyclist.

simon_masterson

I'm not surprised that Levi would encourage this practice, but those denim devotees that do it are looking for excuses to not wash their beloved jeans - I'm open to the possibility that it might actually have some effect (though I've read it's a myth before), but they'd probably carry on doing it even if it were debunked.

But I can't think of a good reason to not wash cycling kit?

dennisn

Simon Masterson wrote:

I'm not surprised that Levi would encourage this practice, but those denim devotees that do it are looking for excuses to not wash their beloved jeans - I'm open to the possibility that it might actually have some effect (though I've read it's a myth before), but they'd probably carry on doing it even if it were debunked.

But what about CLEAN jeans? Freezer may or may not kill odor but what are you supposed to do about dirt, grime, crud, etc.? This is a whole other side to this not washing thing that hasn't been addressed. :?

xixang

what about cycling shoes? Mine still stink after washing in various bio/sports wash stuff. What do others do? Cant see freezing making much difference (and doubt mrs would let me try anyway!)

chris_bass

are people really happy putting dirty things in their freezers with their food?

what next, pants in the fridge with the veg, socks in with the bread?!