"If I wear my Physiclo resistance tightsduring a distance runon Monday, can I just air it out and wear it again for my gym session on Tuesday?"
It'sa question we get asked pretty frequently.
Washing your favorite workout gearafter every use isn't alwayspractical, especially if you have to cough up$2.50 per wash. If you didn't work up much of a sweat (and it's only *cough* slightly dirty), it's not a big deal to just re-wear it for one more workout right?
As someone with a background in biomedical engineering and medical school, here's my take:
The short answer is no,it's not recommended to re-wear your workout clothes because bacteria and yeast tend to rub off onto your clothing, especially afteryou sweat.
When you put the dirty clothes on again the next day, the bacteria will have multiplied (as bacteria do), which leads to smellier odors and potentially skin irritation or infection.
The longer answer though, is that it's actually not bad ALL the time- it depends on quite a few factors, such as how much you sweat in the clothes, whether you stuffed it in a hamper or left it out, and even the type of fabric.
Different fabrics tend to collect different types of bacteria (e.g. polyester tends to house micrococcus, while cotton is more prone to collecting staphylococcus). This can be significant because micrococcus in polyesters can cause more rank odors but rarely cause infections.
Different fabrics housedifferent bacteria
A studythe University of Alberta found that surprisingly, the bacteria counts on synthetic versus natural fabrics were not significantly different. As long as there's moisture and air, bacteria will continue to multiply until they reach a saturation point.
There are some exceptions though, such as with Viscose, which is made from regenerated wood cellulose. Also, fabrics can be treated and infused with specific antimicrobials, such as copper, silver, or gold particles, to kill and prevent bacterial growth.
But more importantly,there's a big difference in the TYPES of bacteria that tend to grow in different fabrics.
Micrococcus grows the most on polyester because they're an aerobic bacteria that prefers the open-air lattice structure of synthetic fibers. The result is what causes your polyesters to stink more than cotton, especially when reworn, as micrococcus is known for its ability to create malodor from sweat secretions.
Meanwhile, a study atthe University of Ghent in Belgium found that cotton tends to have the highest growth of Staphylococcus hominis, which is mostly harmless and usually found on the skin, but can occasionally cause infections under certain conditions. Nylons housed more propionibacterium, which are known to cause an intense, acidic foot odor.
So in short, it's probably worse to re-wear your high-quality synthetic workout clothes, mainly because of the stench. Cotton is better to re-wear, but be careful if you're sick or immunocompromised. If you must re-wear something the next day, leave your clothes somewhere to dry quickly, as opposed to throwing them in a damp hamper.
Not all workouts are created equal
Sweat is one of the biggest factors, as it provides the warm, damp environment that allows bacteria to thrive. For that reason, it might be OK to re-wear your workout clothes after less intense activities where you don't sweat as much, such as yoga or power walking, as opposed to a spin class or a CrossFit session.
Another thing to note is WHERE you wear your clothes to, because your clothes will pick up bacteria from your environment as well. Even if you don't sweat that much at the gym, your clothes will be picking up bacteria from other peoples' sweat left on gym mats and equipment.
Can you actually get an infection?
Infections aren't common, but they can occur. Anytime you wear tight, wet clothing for too long, especially when you put on yesterday's not-completely-dry yoga pants, it causes moisture to be trapped and retained, which can lead to fungal or yeast infections.
The risk of infections is also higher when your immune system is compromised, if you have any open wounds or sores, or if you're on certain meds like acne medication.
Speaking of which, another issue to look out for is acne. Re-wearing sweaty, dirty clothes can cause dirt and acne-causing bacteria to accumulate in your pores.
Do you ever re-wear your Physiclo resistance pants?
Tell us what you're experience has been like! We'd love to hear your feedback.
FAQs
There's no hard and fast rule for how many times you can wear clothing again, but experts say there are a few types that should be washed after every use: underwear, socks, tights, leggings and activewear. This advice also applies to any other clothes with stains, sweat, odor or visible dirt, Mohammed said.
Is it okay to re wear workout clothes? ›
Your body naturally produces yeast on your skin — and that yeast thrives on damp, sweaty clothes. Re-wearing those same workout clothes without washing them can lead to skin irritation thanks to a buildup of yeast.
Can I wear dirty clothes to the gym? ›
Risks of wearing dirty workout gear
When reintroduced to your skin from dirty clothes, trapped bacteria can proliferate, causing irritation, rashes, and sweaty acne breakouts. Bacteria can even cause infections in your follicles or any open cuts or scrapes.
Can you wear gym pants twice? ›
'There are some people who tend to sweat more or follow intense workouts where daily washing of gym clothes is a must to avoid skin irritation and rashes,' Dr Massick said. If you are going to rewear your athleisure clothes, Dr Massick suggests sticking to no more than twice before throwing them in the wash.
Should I wash gym clothes after every use? ›
Unlike jeans, which can withstand a few wears before being washed, athletic clothes should be cleaned much more frequently. Patric Richardson of The Laundry Evangelist says exercise garments should be cleaned after every workout. When running errands, like going to grab a coffee, they can be worn twice before washing.
Is it okay to rewear clothes? ›
T-shirts, tank tops and camisoles should be washed after each wearing. Outer clothes like dress shirts and khakis can be worn a few times before washing unless it is hot out and you are sweating or they are visibly dirty or stained. Jeans can typically be worn 3 times before washing.
Can gym clothes be reused? ›
Re-wearing dirty workout clothes isn't 100 percent risk-free for everyone. Though most of the bacteria that resides on our skin is pretty harmless, certain types of germs, including staphylococcus bacteria (what causes Staph infections, including MRSA), can introduce more serious health consequences.
Should you wash workout clothes separately? ›
While this is the best way to clean your clothes and help them last for years, it's also annoying to do that many loads of laundry. But for the sake of your expensive workout clothes, it is worth it to at least separate active and non-active wear.
Is it OK to go gym twice? ›
Key takeaways: Working out twice a day may help you reach fitness goals — like building muscle — faster. But a two-a-day workout schedule can also lead to injury or overtraining. Beginners should focus on gradually increasing physical activity throughout the day.
Is it okay to wear workout clothes in public? ›
Some rules of thumb come into play when introducing athletic shorts to your public attire repertoire: Your gym shorts must always present as clean, in top-notch condition, and devoid of any visible signs depicting wear and tear. Consider a tailored fit for your athletic shorts.
The life of a sports bra will be determined by how often you exercise, how well you care for it and how many you own (to rotate through). As a guideline, a sports bra should not be used for longer than a year if worn regularly.
Is it OK to Rewear gym clothes? ›
“When you sweat, your pores open up, which makes you susceptible to bacteria that can cause breakouts,” she says. Re-wearing sweaty workout clothes could lead to chest and back acne, especially if you wear wet, humid t-shirts or sports bras.
How often should a gym be cleaned? ›
In high traffic spaces like your gym, not only should it be cleaned daily, but often a number of times throughout the day.
Should I shower after every gym session? ›
Showering or bathing after a workout can help your muscles recover, providing you stretch beforehand and use the right temperature. Shower jets massage your muscles, removing lactic acid, which causes aches and pains. Soaking in a bath can also relieve muscle tension, helping you physically and mentally unwind.
How often should I get new workout clothes? ›
According to ClassPass, this is ideally how long you should be holding on to your workout gear: Leggings: 2 years. Sneakers: 6 months – 1 year. Sports bra: 6 months.
Is it okay to not change clothes after workout? ›
You sweat, you stay in same sweaty clothes, and undoubtedly you will slowly repel all those around you. After a good workout, you give bacteria the 2 things they love, moisture and warmth. So in places like your underarms and other skin folds, bacteria grow and this leads to bad odour if not cleaned immediately.
