Wash cycling clothes also have its own tricks, in order to prolong the useful life of garments and prevent them from spoiling prematurely. It is clothes made with special fabrics (Lycra, polyester, polypropylene), which requires a totally different washing and drying process from that of street clothes.
Also, garments such as the jersey and the culotte should wash them quite frequently, the ideal always after each output. Both, Mailot and Culotte, are exposed to external agents that accelerate the wear of the tissues, such as sweat, mud and the action of sun rays, which deteriorate colors.
Here are simple guidelines so that by washing your cycling clothes not the damage unnecessarily and you get your equipment preferred for much longer. Neither do you forget to keep your shoes and gloves clean, or accessories such as hair tapes, caps or knee (in the case of enduro or descent).
Wash your clothes just after your departure
Do not leave it in a basket or in a chair waiting to be washed at another time. Sweat can deteriorate the tissues if you leave it in the basket along with other garments. If you can't wash it immediately, you can immerse it in a bucket with cold water and then let it dry before putting it in the washing machine.
This pre -laughed can also be very useful if the jersey, the culotte or the jacket are very dirty (such as after a route with a lot of mud). The dirt will detach from the tissues and it will be easier to eliminate it in the washing.
Do not mix the jersey and culotte with other garments
It is not advisable to put in the same washing machine your cycling clothes with other street garments, such as jeans, sweatshirts or shirts made mainly cotton. The mixture of fabrics and colors could harm your jersey or culotte fabric. Ideally, wash your cycling equipment apart.
If possible, wash it by hand
If you have time and you like to have your impeccable cycling clothes, it is better to wash it by hand in a bucket or sweep with cold or warm water. This will prevent the laps and centrifuges from the washing machines can damage the tissues. Of course, it is very important that you do not use hot water.
Use a neutral soap
These types of soaps have a very balanced formulation that in addition to not wearing premature tissues also include beneficial agents for the skin, preventing it from being irritated in contact with the garment.
Never use softener
The use of softeners is contraindicated when washing your jersey, culotte and specific cycling garments. It will only be enough to apply a little soap or detergent (in the case of the washing machine) on the garment. Never soften your cycling clothes, since these types of products contain an oily film that could plug the breathable tissues of the jersey or the culotte, in addition to deteriorating the foam or foam of the badana of the latter.
How to correctly wash the jersey by hand
With regard to the jersey, we must apply the soap and focus on the areas that usually present the famous white sweat fences: armpits and back. Always gently rub tissues, especially the most breathable such as the sides grids.
Once the area is rubbed, we leave a few minutes that the soap acts and, then, we will proceed to the clarified. We recommend having a washing container and another to clarify with cold water to clean several garments without spending a lot of liquid.
How to correctly wash the culotte by hand
In the case of Culotte we will have to fundamentally rub Badana, since it is the most sweat and bacteria of all kinds can house. It will also be necessary to use thoroughly with the back of the garment, the most prone to get dirty with mud. To facilitate this operation, turn the Culotte before putting it in the bucket with water. For the clarified, repeat the same operation that we commented for the case of the jersey.
How to wash cycling clothes in the washing machine
If on the contrary you are used to washing cycling clothes in the washing machine (it is actually what most cyclists) try to choose a fast washing program (30 minutes) at a maximum temperature of 30º Celsius. It will be enough to clean and with guarantees all your garments.
If possible avoid choosing a centrifuged program, since it could deteriorate the breathable properties of tissues and colors.
How to correctly dry your cycling clothes
Once the washing is done, it touches the drying phase. First, discard the use of the dryer or put the garments next to a heat source to dry faster, such as a radiator or a stove. The best thing is to tend it stretched with tweezers outside and in the shade. This will allow the original colors to be preserved.
Never iron your equipment
Cycling clothing, such as jerseys, culottes, interior shirts techniques, socks, etc., do not iron. This is a mistake that is made more frequently than we think. As in drying, you have to avoid applying heat to the tissues. The vast majority of cycling garments are lycra or polyester, very elastic fabrics (the first can be stretched up to six times its original length) and resistant that are not wrinkled.
Cycling shoes tips
When cleaning the
cycling sneakers The washing operation is similar to that of clothing. It will be enough to rub with a humid cloth the exterior of the shoe to remove the remains of mud or dust if it is not very dirty.
On the other hand, if a lot of mud or dust accumulates the most convenient is to submerge the shoes in water. We must previously remove the templates to submerge them separately, all in a cube with cold or temperate water (no more than 30º). We will apply a little neutral soap, although you can also use a soft dishwasher liquid. Then we will simply rub the shoes with a soft brush and let us act for a few minutes.
Finally, we clarify with clean water and let them dry in the shade at room temperature. You can wash the shoes with the
Calas They always and when then dry them well after the clarified with a dry cloth and apply some spray lubricant, to prevent them from oxidizing.
Badanas, gloves, kneelets and other garments
Other basic usual accessories in your outputs or training with the bicycle are gloves. Its washing does not have to be as frequent as that of maillots or culottes. Although if you sweat in your hands it is convenient is to wash them by hand, under the same conditions as the latter.
For other stronger and more heavy garments, such as protections to practice enduro or descent, (knee, bribery or pimples) The washing must be similar to that of the shoes. Avoid putting them in the washing machine and clean them by hand immersing them in a cube with warm water. These types of accessories are not necessary to wash them as often, at most every two or three outputs. Protection panels are covered with dense and resistant tissues than those of the jersey or culotte.
