11 Best Sport Laundry Detergents to Keep Activewear Smelling Fresh (2024)

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• How We Selected

• What to Look For

• FAQ

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WIN is a best-selling sports detergent and our top overall choice for its versatility and effectiveness. WIN’s odor-fighting, dye-free formula is specifically designed to remove smell from clothes made with synthetic fabrics. Their detergent removes the sweaty oils from your clothes, leaving them smelling fresh and ready for your next workout.

We like that you can also use WIN on other types of fabric, including cotton. This detergent is compatible with HE washers and will work well no matter what water temperature you use. The detergent comes in three versions—active fresh, active family, and free and clear.

^{Key Specs:
Scents:Active Fresh, Active Family, Free & Clear | Usage:Standard or HE washing machines | Form: Liquid}

Specifically designed to rid your clothes of odor-causing bacteria, Sweat X Sport Laundry Detergent restores your workout clothes to their original freshness. The formula is organic, safe for sensitive skin, and lightly scented with essential oils for a fresh, natural smell. This detergent can be used in all water temperatures and is compatible with traditional and high-efficiency (HE) washers.

One capful per load is sufficient to clean even the dirtiest of workout clothes, making this super-concentrated detergent an affordable addition to your laundry room. A single bottle of detergent will last you for approximately 45 loads.

^{Key Specs:
Scent:Light and fresh | Usage:Standard or HE washing machines| Form: Liquid}

OxiClean’s Odor Blaster laundry detergent contains an oxygen-based stain remover that’s chlorine-free and color-safe, determined to get the sweaty smell out of your workout clothes. We like that it's also highly effective at getting musty scents out of old towels and body odor out of everyday clothes.

OxiClean recommends that you use it as a pre-wash soak for extra sweaty clothes, soaking for six hours for best results. The detergent works well with all washing machines and comes in a convenient 5-pound tub.

^{Key Specs:
Scent:Neutral| Usages: Standard and HE washing machines | Form: Powder}

For an eco-friendly solution to your sweaty, stinky activewear, HEX Performance detergent is a total game-changer. It’s designed to clean tight-knit, synthetic fabrics and remove stubborn odors and stains that are resistant to traditional detergents. In addition to leaving clothes smelling fresh, we like that HEX prolongs the life of your activewear and protects its breathability, stretchability, and wicking capability.

While it leaves your technical wear feeling like new, it’s also safe and gentle for all other fabrics, including cotton and wool. The hypoallergenic, biodegradable formula works with all temperature cycles and in regular or high-efficiency washing machines. Plus, HEX is completely free of dyes, fillers, perfumes, optical brighteners, or phosphates. While it costs more than some other sports detergents, it’s well worth the investment, especially if you've already spent money on specialty undergarments like sports bras for large breasts and want to maintain them through repeated washes and wears.

^{Key Specs:
Scents: Unscented| Usage:Standard and HE washing machines| Form: Liquid}

It doesn’t matter what kind of fabric you’re looking to clean, the Nathan Power Sports Wash is a safe bet. With a neutral pH formula and all-natural ingredients that remove 99 percent of odors and stains, you can expect clean, fresh clothes that retain their vibrant color.

We like that the formula strips oils and dirt from your workout clothes without breaking down the material or compromising the moisture-wicking and water-resistant qualities of the fabric. This detergent is free of bleach, fabric softener, brighteners, and scents. You can also safely use it on protective sports padding, gloves, braces, and equipment that needs to be washed.

^{Key Specs:
Scent:Neutral| Usage:Standard or HE washing machines| Form: Liquid}

Tide Ultra Stain Release Liquid Laundry Detergent boasts a formula that promises to eliminate up to 99 percent of everyday stains and odors. Need extra cleaning power? We love that the cap has built-in bristles you can use to scrub out sweat, grass, mud, and more.

This detergent was designed to be used in high-efficiency washing machines. It also features the signature Tide scent (so beware if you prefer unscented detergents). The 46-ounce bottle promises to last for 24 large loads.

^{Key Specs:
Scent: Original Tide Scent| Usage: HE washing machines| Form:Liquid}

This hypoallergenic, nontoxic, fragrance-free formula guarantees that your clothes come out of the washer odor-free. It strips your workout wear of bacteria and oils that make them smelly, leaving them fresh without the help of harmful chemicals.

We love that it's safe for those with sensitivities, and it is compatible with individuals concerned about the ethics behind their detergent—it's made from entirely naturally occurring ingredients of non-animal origin. One pouch of Sport Suds washes over 140 full machine loads.

^{Key Specs:
Scent: Fragrance-free| Usage: Standard and HE washing machines | Form:Powder}

It can be hard to find a laundry detergent that is strong enough to get out sweat without any irritants, especially for those with hypersensitive skin. Arm & Hammer’s Sensitive Skin Free & Clear makes that search easy, with its dermatologist-tested formula that’s free of dyes and perfumes.

The formula keeps the signature Arm & Hammer baking soda freshness, stripping away sweat and other body odor smells that stink up your workout clothes. We love that you can use it to soak clothes, as well as in standard and HE washers with any water temperature.

^{Key Specs:
Scent:Unscented| Usage: Standard and HE washing machines | Form:Liquid}

We like that these Tide Pods have the added power of Febreze, bringing even more freshness to those smelly gym shorts. In only one wash, the pods can renew your clothing’s scent—even if they’re a week or two old—thanks to Tide’sfour-in-one technology that cleans, brightens fabric, fights stains, and freshens clothes.

The pods dissolve completely in all water temperatures, with one pod adding an equivalent of up to ten cups of leading liquid laundry detergents. Depending on how big (and how smelly) your load of laundry is, you may need to add a second pod for added freshness. The Tide Pods are compatible with both regular and HE washers.

^{Key Specs:
Scent: Febreze |Usage: Standard and HE washing machines | Form:Pods}

Designed for activewear, Vapor Fresh laundry detergent doesn’t contain the dyes, brighteners, softeners, and other additives found in regular detergents that can trap odors and stains. It’s strong enough to remove even the toughest soils and smells from your gym clothes and sports uniforms. Yet we like that it’s also gentle and safe to use on the rest of your laundry, so you don’t have to worry about sorting your clothes and doing separate loads.

The hypoallergenic formula is eco-friendly, biodegradable, and even works in cold water, which will help reduce your energy costs. The 3.5-pound pouch will last for up to 100 loads.

^{Key Specs:
Scents: Unscented |Usage:Standard or HE washing machine| Form: Powder}

For big families, buying laundry detergent can seem like a weekly occurrence. With Boardwalk’s industrial laundry detergent, we love that you won’t have to worry about restocking every few days, no matter how many kids you have in high school sports.

This 40-pound pail of powder detergent is marketed as an industrial product and has the hardy formula to get out stains and sweat from your workout clothes, leaving them with a fresh, lemon scent.

^{Key Specs:
Scents: Fresh Lemon |Usage:Standard or HE washing machine| Form: Powder}

Final Verdict

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the best way to wash sports clothes?

  The most important step for washing sports clothes is to use a detergent that’s specifically designed to remove smells and stains from technical fabrics, such as the ones included here. For especially smelly or dirty clothes, you can pre-soak your gear in a mixture of cold water and a half cup of white vinegar for 15 to 30 minutes.

  When washing them in your machine, use the recommended amount of detergent, based on your type of machine and load size. Turn your clothes inside out so that the detergent and water can get right to where most of the stains and smells are concentrated.

  “While using cold water is the most energy efficient, the warmer temperature water you use, the better results you will have as it aids in activating the detergent you’re using,” says Westervelt. “Therefore, I always suggest a hotter temperature at least to start for heavier soiled items to really pull out the buildup.”

  To combat foul smells and prolong the life of your high-performance sports clothes, you should let them hang dry or tumble dry on a no-heat setting.

• Does laundry detergent expire?

  Like many household cleaners, laundry detergent typically doesn’t have an expiration date on it, but for best results, they should be used within a year of purchase. If you’ve already opened the detergent, use it within six months.

• How much laundry detergent should you use?

  The amount of laundry detergent to use for a load of laundry depends on several factors, including the type of washing machine, size of the load, how soiled the clothes are, hardness of your water, and concentration of the detergent.

  For example, high-efficiency washers use less water, so if you put in too much detergent, it won’t get dissolved. On the other hand, if you have a really big or heavily-soiled load, you’ll need to use more. Carefully read the instructions for use on the laundry detergent packaging so you know the right amount to use.

• Does laundry detergent kill germs?

  Washing fabrics with laundry detergent doesn’t kill most germs outright. However, washing clothes in a machine with detergent will dislodge germs from the fabric. The spin cycle then gets rid of the soapy water, along with the germs.