Angela Tague
July 30, 2021

If you want your Athleta clothes to keep their signature stretch, moisture-wicking abilities and comfortable shape, you need to wash them properly. Follow these simple tips for washing Athleta leggings, shirts, bras and more and you’ll be well on your way to keeping them looking, smelling and feeling fresh for a very long time.

Athleta makes their apparel with several types of fabric including sustainable recycled materials, Nylon, Lycra®, Powervita™ fabric and so much more! We contacted the company's customer support line to see if they offer an online resource with specific washing instructions for their clothing and were advised to:

• Read the label on each individual piece of clothing for specific instructions for that garment. Then, follow those guidelines as closely as possible.
• Review the product description of the garment on the Athleta website. Check out the Fabric + Care tab and Product Details tab for specific instructions.

With that said, most Athleta garments are machine washable. However the devil is in the details. There are things you can do to keep them looking and feeling great, and there are things you can do that will deteriorate them faster than normal. Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered on the do’s and don’ts.

When it's time to wash your Athleta clothing, follow the garment's instructions and opt for these general workout clothing washing tips:

• Turn them inside out before washing
• Always opt for a cold water wash to save energy and protect the fabric
• Select a gentle washing cycle to minimize friction between items
• Don’t wash together with towels, denims or items with zippers to prevent pilling
• Avoid bleach, opt for a strong free & clear or hypoallergenic detergent
• Avoid the dryer, air dry when possible

You may have noticed that over time, your Athleta clothing may start to smell and feel a bit off. You may have written this off as normal wear-and-tear, but that’s far from the truth. Believe it or not, most gym clothes can and should return to a like-new state after every wash, and if they aren’t, it’s usually because the wrong detergent is being used to clean them.

Older legacy detergent brands - and even some newer ones - pack their detergents with additives such as fragrances, dyes, brighteners and softeners to trick your senses into believing your clothes are clean after a wash. Decades ago when no one even knew what “performance fabrics” were, this was less of a problem (unless you have sensitive skin and need hypoallergenic detergent) because these additives performed as designed on cotton and linens.

Unfortunately these additives don’t work as intended on modern performance fabrics. Instead, they trap in odor, sweat and bacteria in the pores of wicking fabrics, which is how lingering odors and uncomfortable fabrics develop. This is why it’s highly recommended to use a free & clear laundry detergent to clean your Athleta clothes.

The problem with choosing a free & clear detergent is that if it lacks in any area of cleaning power, you’ll immediately know since there are no fragrances, dyes or brighteners to pick up the slack.

With Vapor Fresh® Laundry Detergent Powder, you don’t have to worry about that. It’s completely free of those dyes, fragrances, softeners and brighteners, yet is specifically designed to be strong enough for even your toughest laundry challenge - workout clothes. Modern wardrobes require modern detergent like Vapor Fresh. As a bonus, Vapor Fresh® Laundry Detergent Powder is made in the USA and never tested on animals.

Now that you Athleta is happily washing in the machine, give your other workout essentials some TLC. This includes sneakers, yoga mats, treadmills, ellipticals and electronics.

Browse these additional guides for cleaning inspiration:

• How To Clean And Deodorize Your Yoga Mat
• How To Eliminate Odor From Your Allbirds For Good
• How To Wash Boxing Hand Wraps
• How To Clean Your Tonal Home Gym
• How to Clean and Deodorize Peloton Shoes

You take care of your mind and body, now do the same for your favorite Athleta workout wear. Follow the garment's instructions and use a detergent specifically formulated for performance clothing.