How often should you wash sweatpants

Short answer: Sweatpants last three to five wears if you wear them at home and not for exercise. If you have been active in them, wash them after every wear. The knees are the best sign that it is time.

Three to five wears at home

Wearing them at home produces little sweat and no visible stains. On the sofa, in the kitchen or at a desk, the fabric only has light contact with your skin and dries between wears. That is why a pair of sweatpants can easily go three to five wears before the wash. See men's bamboo sweat.

After every workout

Activity makes the fabric damp all the way through. Sweat from a run, a gym session or a long walk soaks into the fibres and stays there, even when the surface feels dry. Put them aside and wear them again the next day, and the smell comes along. After exercise, always wash them. See the men's range.

The knees give it away

Once the knees start to bag, they have been worn enough for a wash. The fabric stretches a little every time you sit, bend your legs or crouch. After a few days, small bulges show at the knees and seat. A wash pulls the fibres back together and the shape returns. See men's bestsellers.

Air them between wears

For normal wear at home, a night on a hanger does a lot. Hang them somewhere with a bit of air, by an open window or on a hook in the hall, rather than folding them over a chair. The light smell fades and the fabric dries fully. Airing does not remove moisture from a workout, though.

Do not sleep in them

If you wear the same pair in the evening and to bed, you reach the limit faster. A night in bed brings hours of warmth and moisture, more like an active day than an evening on the sofa. Keep a separate pair for the night, and your lounge pair lasts longer between washes.

Wash them inside out

When the time comes, turn them inside out before they go in the machine. The inside, which was closest to your skin, then gets the most water and detergent, and the outside does not rub against the drum. The surface stays smooth and the colour more even. Close any pockets and tie the drawstrings too.

Low temperature and air drying

Sweatpants get clean in a normal wash at a low temperature. High heat in the machine and the dryer wears on the elastic in the waistband and cuffs, which is what keeps them in place. Let them air dry on a rack or a hanger instead. That way they keep both shape and softness for longer.

Keep two pairs in rotation

With two pairs, one can air while the other is worn. Each pair gets a break where the fabric dries and pulls back together a little. You also avoid washing a pair just because you want something clean for tomorrow. Fewer washes mean less wear, and both pairs last longer.

Frequently asked questions

How often should sweatpants be washed

After three to five wears for normal use at home, and after every wear if they were used for exercise or activity, because sweat stays in the fabric long after.

How do you know they need a wash

Look at the knees. If the fabric has started to bag, they have been worn enough for a wash to bring the shape back, even if they do not smell yet.

Can you air sweatpants

Yes, for normal wear at home. A night on a hanger removes the light smell but not moisture from a workout, so after activity they always go in the machine.