Does your gym bag reek?
Youre not alone, but it also doesnt have to be this way.
With proper care, you’ve got the option to keep your workout gear stink-free.
Just do yourself a favor and start taking care of everythingbeforeit starts to smell.
(But even if youve already let things get bad, we have tips for you.)
I’ll get into specifics below, but it helps to understand some general principles.
Gym clothes reek for a reason.
It’s not the sweat by itself, but the bacteria thatfeedon your sweat.
(It’s the same deal with shaker bottles, except substitute food residue for sweat.)
The downside is thatbacteria can cling to synthetic fibersin a way that makes them nearly impossible to wash off.
So its important that we dont let those germ colonies grow in the first place.
The bacteria Im talking about are the ones that digest your sweat and skin oils.
I know, gross.
I do this in the shower, squeezing out each garment and hanging it to dry.
Cotton clothes dont have this problem, by the way.
Either of these can also be used for a soak.
Fresh air helps, and sunlight really does kill those stench-producing bacteria.
If you want a chemical answer to your problems, just get a bottle of Hex.
Or, worse, your neoprene knee sleeves?
These items stink up most easily when they stay damp and warm.
So if thats your habit already,stop it.
it’s crucial that you air those suckers out.
If your bag has a mesh compartment for sweaty gear, make use of it.
But ultimately what youreallywant to do is open up the bag as soon as you get home.
Sunlight will kill some bacteria, and a good airing-out never hurts.
To prevent this, rinse your shaker cupimmediatelyafter you drink the shake.
Dont tell yourself youll do it when you get home, because we all know you wont.
You dont have to fully wash it at this point, just rinse it out in the bathroom sink.
Your hail-Mary hope is to wash itreally well.
Use soap and hot water.
Soak it for a bit if you like.
Air it out to dry for a few days; you could even try the sunlight trick above.
But if that doesnt work, buy a new shaker cup, and treat this one right.
