Washing

[le_al_khemista]

Highly recommend this stuff. Really seems to remove any lingering whiffs.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/halo-proactive-sports-wash-laundry-detergent-1-litre/

Daresay it's no different to the dettol one but with added marketing. I'm a sucker for specialist products though so ordered one!

AFAIK, it's common place for people in southern Europe to through some form of anti-bacterial solution (eg sodium bicarbonate) in with their knickers and other bits where bacterial growth can quickly become a problem...

 

[Milkfloat]

I find that cleaning the machine can be a good help. I run a really hot empty cycle with soda crystals in after I clean the filter. Then I wash kit at either 30 or 40 degrees, non-bio liquid and a gentle spin speed. It seems to keep my posh kit intact and clean.

 

[Boon 51]

More aftershave.

 

[Ice2911]

I wash at 30 degrees, lowest spin speed. The other day my wife asked why there was the red smartie from a dishwasher tablet in the washing machine. I’d put one of those in instead of washing machine capsule. On the plus side there was no streaks or smears on my kit when I took it out

 

[Pedropete]

I’ve found the most important thing is to not just chuck damp/dirty cycling gear straight in the laundry basket. Hang it up to dry first, even if you’re not going to wash it for a while.

As for washing: Halo Sports Wash, 30 deg delicates cycle, inside out, lowest spin, works every time. Not sure about alternatives to Halo but I can get it in my local Sainsburys and it’s not too expensive given how little of it I use.

For gloves or anything with Velcro and also for helmet pads, I put them in one of those little mesh laundry bags. Stops the Velcro destroying anything else in with it and stops the helmet pads getting too scrunched up or damaged.

 

[Sixmile]

My method is to keep my cycling gear separate from the laundry baskets. Unless it's pure stinking and soaking, I have a wee pile on the bedroom floor that gets put on an hours 40 degree fast wash a few times a week. It means I'm not digging through 'standard' laundry to find specific parts of kit. Also, it means there is no repeat of the occasion when my merino socks and arm warmers ended up in the tumble drier! My 6yo daughter now owns merino socks and arm warmers.

 

[Slick]

No great insight into washing kit but I do have a bit of an is due with my watch strap which is one of those quick release Velcro jobs that I reckoned I needed once upon a time for my work, but every time I take it off now it would knock you out.

 

[postman]

According to the Doctor last week i might be getting too many showers,he gave me Daktacort for it.

 

[HLaB]

Wash it all at 40degs on an hour wash cycle. Never had any problems.

I've had a thin base layer stick like glue but after it was carefully prised apart there was no long term damage but I like aldi/lidl/endura stuff that say 40deg

 

[Colin_P]

I find that cleaning the machine can be a good help. I run a really hot empty cycle with soda crystals in after I clean the filter. Then I wash kit at either 30 or 40 degrees, non-bio liquid and a gentle spin speed. It seems to keep my posh kit intact and clean.

I was about to mention that.

We wazz a bag of soda crystals through our machine on the hottest wash, empty, about once every six months.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Highly recommend this stuff. Really seems to remove any lingering whiffs.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/halo-proactive-sports-wash-laundry-detergent-1-litre/

I soak my cycling clothes in this ^^^ overnight and then normal 30 degree wash and air dry (with the general family washing/drying). This protocol has 'authority' approval.

 

[night cycler]

OP
are you over filling the machine. Regardless of manufacturers weight capacity 5kg, 7kg etc , I always limit the amount of clothes to only half filling the drum. So drum has plenty of room to tumble clothes on all surfaces. I select a 20 minutes wash program & small amount of powder. Cold wash only and no issues at all.

This also allows the clothes to rinse thoroughly.

 

[Reynard]

I just run my kit through a quick wash with non-bio soap (I have sensitive skin, so can't use a lot of laundry products), then hang it up to dry. No problems with niffs and pongs. Things like gloves get hand washed as and when needed.

Although I've discovered that some fabric types will smell more when I'm on the bike.

 

[I like Skol]

No problems with niffs and pongs... Although I've discovered that some fabric types will smell more when I'm on the bike.

Contradictory statements there, and a pretty accurate description of what i suspect is the problem most of us are experiencing. Things smell ok after a wash but shortly after putting them on and generating some heat or dampness they can smell like you haven't showered or changed clothes for a fortnight!
I have thrown some items in the bin in the past due to the unpleasant smell once things get warmed up

 

[Globalti]

You need to wash stuff hot to kill bacteria, 30C won't do it. But then the bleach activator will work and will bleach your kit.

And synthetics like polyester are very retentive to malodour molecules.