After a good gym-pounding or pitch tournament, even the finest quality activewear can be left threadbare, filthy and stinking to high heaven. When you’ve invested in good quality kit it’s vital to show it some TLC. Here are some of our top tips.
1) Love Your Lycras – The modern fabrics which are designed to wick away moisture need special care and many of them get damaged by excessive heat generated by tumble dryers. Don’t just bung-and-go, be sure to follow the manufacturers care-label to the letter to maximise lifespan.
2) Alternate Footwear – Swapping your strides not just increases their longevity but actually strengthens your feet as they adjust to the shoe’s differences in each session. Trainer or running shoe cushioning needs at least 24 hours to recover post-exercise so switching allows your footwear to reshape sufficiently.
3) Banish Stank – Regular hand washing and drying of footwear combined with only ever using clean socks (don’t be tempted to wear that pair twice!) will keep most odour problems at bay. An antibacterial spray will banish those bacteria too.
4) Wash That Reservior – Giving you water reservoir a quick rinse won’t do – especially if you fill it with energy drinks. A baby’s bottle sterilising tablet will work great.
5) Monitor Your Monitor – It’s easy to neglect your heart rate monitor and often they ruin when exposed to excessive moisture. Don’t store it in a damp environment, sweat and moisture may keep electrodes wet and the transmitter activated thus shortening battery life.
