By Zach Pozniak, VP of Operations at Jeeves of Belgravia New York and fourth-generation dry cleaner · @jeeves_ny
Quick answer: Wash gym clothes soon after wearing them, pretreat sweaty areas with an enzyme spray, use an odor-focused detergent, and wash in the warmest water the label allows. Skip fabric softener and air-dry to protect elastic and reduce lingering stink.
Gym clothes usually smell because synthetic fabrics hold onto body oil, sweat residue, and bacteria. The fix is to wash them sooner, use the right detergent, and avoid fabric softener, which can trap funk in the fibers.
For the best results, pretreat the sweaty areas, wash in the warmest water the care label allows, and use an odor-focused or synthetic-fabric detergent. If the smell is stubborn, add a laundry booster or sanitizer, then air-dry to protect elastic and keep the gear from breaking down early.
The best method is simple: remove as much oil and odor as possible before and during the wash. Gym fabrics like polyester and nylon are designed to wick moisture, but they also cling to body oils, which is why they can smell even after a normal wash.
Skip fabric softener. It coats synthetic fibers and can trap oil, bacteria, and odor. That makes your clothes feel fresh at first, but smell worse later.
Also avoid leaving sweaty clothes wet in a pile or sealing them in a gym bag for too long. That gives bacteria more time to multiply and makes the odor harder to remove.
If your clothes still smell, the problem is usually trapped body oil, not sweat alone. Synthetic fibers are especially good at holding onto that residue, so a regular wash cycle may not be enough.
In that case, try a stronger pretreat, a detergent designed for activewear, and a booster or sanitizer. If the odor is deeply set in, repeat the wash rather than drying them on high heat, which can lock in the smell.
If the odor is baked in after multiple washes, or if the garment is expensive technical gear, a professional cleaner can often help without damaging the fabric. This is especially useful for high-end activewear, lined athletic pieces, or items with delicate trims and bonded seams.
The key is to treat gym clothes like performance fabric, not regular cotton. The faster you remove the oil, the fresher they stay.
Or ask about any laundry or garment care question
Zach Pozniak is VP of Operations and co-owner of Jeeves of Belgravia New York, the Madison Avenue dry cleaner serving New York since 1979, and the fourth generation of his family in the trade. Zach posts garment care techniques as @jeeves_ny on TikTok to over 620,000 followers, and his book The Laundry Book, co-written with his father Jerry Pozniak, was featured on Good Morning America in October 2024. Jeeves NY's clients include the Metropolitan Opera, the Met Museum, and FIT, and the business has been profiled by The Wall Street Journal and New York Magazine.