Here’s How Often You Should Actually Be Washing Your Gym Gear

Let’s be honest, the only downside of going to the gym (apart from having a serious plum red face for hours after a workout), is doing feckin’ laundry.

All that sweaty gym gear? Stress. Wouldn’t it be easier to oh, I dunno… Just let it dry out, give it a quick spray of deo and wear again the next day?

We’re not talking about sports bras (only the truly filthy would condone wearing them for more than one spin class), but the debate of whether to wash leggings after every wear is a tough one.

Sure they don’t even get that sweaty. And they take SO long to dry.

Here’s the bad news: You need to wash absolutely everything, after every. single. use.

According to Dierdre Hooper, M.D., a dermatologist at Audubon Dermatology in New Orleans, even your yoga leggings can be a health hazard.

“Bacteria and yeast will rub off on your clothes while you wear them, especially if they’re tight-fitting,” she says. “Many of those bacteria will still be on those clothes the next day—possibly in higher number if they’ve multiplied, which they can do even when the clothes are dry.” 

Putting them on again can lead to skin irritation or infection. Add freshly shaved legs into the mix and we’re picturing a whooooooole lotta grime getting into our pores.

Yuck.

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