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Sports detergents: Cleaning functional and sportswear properly

Anyone who enjoys sports knows that when it comes to sportswear, it is important that the materials are light, breathable and elastic. Water and wind resistance also play a crucial role in outdoor sports. For high-quality sportswear to keep its functionality for as long as possible, it needs effective cleaning that also protects the sensitive fibres. The solution is to use a special detergent for sportswear - for example, Dylon Sport Detergent . It cleans sweaty sportswear effectively while caring for the material.

What effect do detergents have on sportswear?

Clothing especially for athletes and active people is becoming increasingly sophisticated. Artificial functional fibres have long replaced pure cotton when it comes to light and quick-drying sportswear. Running or outdoor clothing, for example, is often made partly or completely of polyester, which combined with elastane allows a lot of freedom of movement and dries quickly. Special sports detergents such as Dylon Sport Detergent clean clothes thoroughly, remove the smell of sweat and protect them effectively at the same time. With other products, such as a heavy-duty detergent, however, you run the risk of damaging the functions of sportswear - including protection against moisture and wind, freedom of movement and flexibility as well as breathability.

Washing sportswear: Using detergents correctly

In addition to the right detergent for sports or functional clothing, other aspects play a crucial role in the care of sports materials. Follow the tips below to ensure that you can wear your sportswear for as long as possible:

Frequency of washing: Wash your sportswear after each wear. It doesn't always have to be in the washing machine. If you have recently washed your clothes thoroughly, a quick hand wash should be sufficient. Rinse your clothes thoroughly with a detergent to combat the smell of sweat in your sportswear. After three to four hand washes, the washing machine should be used again. Use a short washing programme with a low temperature and a low spin rate to avoid damaging the fibres. Some modern washing machines also have a special sports washing programme.

Washing temperature: Most sports and functional clothing does not tolerate high washing temperatures. However, you can safely wash most items of clothing at 30 degrees Celsius. If you’re in doubt about the temperature, take a look at the garment’s sewn-in labels and follow the guidance given. In doing so, you avoid the risk of making the (potentially expensive) sportswear unusable.

Fabric softener: We strongly advise against using fabric softeners when washing sportswear. An appropriate sports detergent such as Dylon Sport Detergent is completely sufficient. In most cases, fabric softener causes the fibres of the clothing to change and stick together. This can impair the special advantages of sportswear such as breathability or fast drying.

Drying: Avoid putting your sportswear in the tumble dryer. The temperatures in a tumble dryer are usually too high for sensitive membrane fibres. It is  better to airdry your sports clothes, it is gentler.

A woman in sportswear takes big steps up a flight of stairs

Which detergent is best suited for functional clothing?

Always use a liquid sports detergent such as Dylon Sport Detergent for functional or sportswear. It carefully cleans sweaty and dirty sportswear while caring for the high-quality fibres. It also neutralises malodours and gives your clothes a wonderful freshness. It is explicitly designed for the properties of sports and functional clothing. For example, the detergent protects membrane clothing and ensures that functional textiles remain windproof and waterproof for as long as possible. Finally, frequent wearing and washing of clothing impairs the protective function over time.

Tip: Just as for sports textiles, there is also an optimal detergent for every other item of clothing. For example, try Dylon Colour Detergent for your coloured clothing or Dylon Dark Detergent for your black and dark garments.

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