Marie Claire Australia - 01.06.2018

160160 marieclaire.com.au

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEANDRO CRESPI/STOCKSY.COM. TEXT BY LUCY E COUSINS.

ACTIVE

WEAR

Sweatproof

your

The secret to keeping workout

gear smelling fresh

B

uying a new pair of leggings or

set of kicks is almost like

buying a six-pack of A-grade

motivation. However, there’s a

fine art to making sure your new

workout gear stays bright and odour

free, and lasts the distance. And the

surprising secret ingredient ... drum

roll, please ... is vinegar.

ACTIVEWEAR

CLEAN: After every use

The key to avoiding smelly activewear is

to change immediately. Don’t be fooled

by how dry you feel; most tech materials

work hard to wick moisture away from

your skin, but they don’t remove any

odour-causing bacteria. If you can, let

your gear air-dry before putting it in

a plastic bag inside your gym bag. If

that’s not possible, try to wash it as soon

as you can. Turn garments inside out,

select cold water and add one cup of

white vinegar to the rinse cycle. Vinegar

will help neutralise any lingering

bacteria. Don’t use fabric softeners, as

they coat the material and keep odours

locked in. If you have really smelly gear,

pre-soak it using one part vinegar and

four parts water in a bucket for 15–30

minutes. Then dry in the sun.

SPORTS SHOES

CLEAN: Every few months

Blast smelly trainers by filling two socks

with three tablespoons of baking soda

and a few drops of lavender oil, then

leave inside your shoes overnight. You

can also wash sports shoes in the

washing machine (check the label first).

Remove the laces and put them in a

washing bag, then choose a gentle cycle.

Reshape using white paper and then

leave to air-dry. Don’t use the

dishwasher, as the detergent and heat

are too harsh on fabrics.

YOGA MAT

CLEAN: Weekly

The easiest way to clean your yoga mat

is to create a natural cleaning spray

made up of half water and half vinegar,

mixed with a few drops of tea tree or

your preferred essential oil. Spray both

sides of your mat with the solution and

then let it dry in the shade.

GYM BAG

CLEAN: Every two months

If your bag is machine washable, place

it inside a pillowcase, choose a hand-

wash cycle and then leave it to air-dry in

the shade. If you train extra hard, each

week wipe the inside of your bag with

a solution of half water, half vinegar and

a few drops of eucalyptus oil.

BOXING GLOVES

CLEAN: After each use

If you can, try to use cotton hand wraps

inside your gloves, as these will help

soak up sweat and are machine

washable. Then just wipe boxing gloves

out with a paper towel soaked in a little

vinegar and let dry completely. For

tough smells, you can put boxing gloves

in the freezer overnight in a plastic bag

(to kill bacteria) and then air-dry them.

WELLNESS