How to wash sportswear so it lasts
nylon-elastane activewear is more durable than it looks, but it is also more sensitive to heat and certain detergents than standard cotton clothing. A few consistent care habits make a significant difference to how long a legging or set holds its shape and colour.
Why heat is the main enemy
Elastane fibres lose their stretch recovery when exposed to sustained heat. This means tumble drying, washing at high temperatures, and leaving damp activewear in a hot car are all things that degrade the fabric faster than normal wear does. The elastane does not break suddenly; it gradually loses its ability to snap back, which is why leggings that have been tumble-dried repeatedly start to feel looser and bag at the knees.
Wash at 30 degrees or cold. Air dry flat or on a hanger, away from direct sunlight and away from radiators. This single habit extends the life of a nylon-elastane legging more than any other.
Detergent and fabric softener
Standard laundry detergent works fine for activewear. Use a small amount, roughly half the dose you would use for a full cotton load, because nylon picks up detergent residue easily and residue can affect the fabric's moisture-wicking properties over time.
Fabric softener is worth avoiding entirely with activewear. It coats the fibres and reduces the hydrophilic treatment that moves sweat away from the skin. After a few washes with fabric softener, a moisture-wicking legging will start to feel clammy during exercise.
- Wash at 30 degrees or cold
- Turn inside out before washing
- Use half the normal detergent dose
- No fabric softener
- Air dry flat, away from heat and direct sun
- Do not tumble dry
Pilling: causes and prevention
Pilling happens when short fibres on the surface of the fabric tangle together into small balls. It is more common with polyester than with nylon, but it can happen with any fabric that experiences friction. The main friction points on a legging are the inner thigh, the waistband edge, and anywhere the fabric rubs against a reformer carriage or a mat.
Washing inside out reduces pilling significantly because it protects the outer surface during the wash cycle. A mesh laundry bag adds another layer of protection. Washing activewear separately from items with zips or velcro also helps, since these catch on the fabric and pull fibres loose.
Most activewear that wears out quickly has been washed at too high a temperature or tumble-dried. The care instructions are not just suggestions.