Tips to Deal With the Unsavory (and Smelly!) Side Effects of Working Out

There are great side effects to working out, like looking good, feeling great and having gobs of energy. But some of the not-so-great side effects? Smelling bad. Sweat stains. Grubby workout clothes. Germy water bottles.

To combat the stinkier side of a healthy life, Clorox has shared with us some tips for taking care of your workout clothes. Ever wondered how to bleach your gross Spandex? Hesitated to bleach an item? Were unsure about washing your water bottle? Now you’ll know if you can—and how to safely do it without worrying about ruining expensive duds!

To Whiten and Sanitize Gym Clothes or Towels

If you are not sure if an item can be bleached, start with the bleachability test. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons Concentrated Clorox Regular-Bleach to ¼ cup water, and apply a drop to the item in a hidden spot. After a minute, blot dry, and look for a color change—no change means you can safely bleach the item.

Once you know it’s safe, add 1/2 cup of bleach to a standard or High Efficiency washer following the laundry use directions. Wash in the hottest water recommended on the care label.

To Treat Underarm or Sweat Stains

Underarm stains are a big problem to treat because they are highly variable. Each person’s unique body chemistry combined with his/her choice of deodorant creates pretty individualized stains, and what works to remove one person’s stains doesn’t always work for another!

If you are trying to remove a crusty yellow build-up of deodorant/antiperspirant mixed with body soil from a T-shirt, ideally you can avoid having it happen in the first place by pre-treating the armpits on the shirts before washing on a regular basis before stains develop. Two effective pre-treating methods to try are:

1. For bleachable white items: Pre-treat with Clorox Bleach Pen Gel. Use the broad scrubber tip to apply the gel and gently rub it into the armpit area. Wash immediately in hot water with detergent and ½ cup Concentrated Clorox Regular-Bleach.

2. For colored items or items containing Spandex: Pre-treat with a good liquid laundry detergent. Wait 5 to 10 minutes, but don’t let it dry on the fabric. Wash in hot water with detergent plus Clorox2 Stain Fighter and Color Booster.

Air dry and check for success!

To Brighten Items With Spandex

Spandex (also called Lycra and Elastane) should never be washed with any products that contain sodium hypochlorite, such as Clorox Concentrated Regular-Bleach, even garments with only a small percentage of Spandex. But Spandex can be safely treated with oxygen bleaches like Clorox2 Stain Fighter and Color Booster. Soaking the items overnight in a solution of Clorox2 Stain Fighter and Color Booster can help remove the dingy color that builds up over time.

To do this, add a scoop of Clorox2 Stain Fighter and Color Booster powder to two gallons of warm water and stir to dissolve. Fully submerge the item and allow it to soak for eight hours or overnight. Rinse away the soaking solution and then wash the shirt in the warmest water recommended on the care label using a high-quality detergent and more Clorox2 Stain Fighter and Color Booster.

To Sanitize Water Bottles

Prewash items, then add 2 teaspoons Clorox Concentrated Regular-Bleach per gallon of water. Soak for two minutes, drain and air dry.

I’m always wondering how I should be getting my water bottles clean, as I never feel like they’re germ-free. Must try the bleach! —Erin