In cold times, many of us consider reusing training clothes without going through the washing machine. In winter we don't sweat as much as when there are warmer temperatures, but that doesn't give us a free hand to wear dirty clothes again, does it?
There are many reasons why you might be tempted to wear your sportswear again after sweating it out once (or twice). Maybe you don't have time to do laundry, or you want to cut down on how often you have to carry laundry up on the roof. Or maybe you just don't see the point in washing your expensive leggings after wearing them for a quick 20-minute workout.
Whatever the reason, we'll tell you if it's dangerous to wear the same clothes again a day or two later before washing them.
Dirty workout clothes breed bacteria
It's not the most comforting thing to think about, but we all have microorganisms that naturally live on our skin; millions of them, in fact, just hanging around there all the time. This is what we call our skin microbiome . It includes bacteria, fungi, and yeast (a type of fungus).
When you exercise, these insects can transfer to anything you touch, including your clothes. We obviously sweat, and our clothing can absorb our bodily fluids. These microorganisms can remain on your clothes after workouts, especially if you throw them in the laundry basket . Bacteria and fungi thrive in these dark, damp areas.
You can also pick up more bacteria by sharing gym machines. In normal amounts, these microorganisms are really essential to maintain the balance of your skin. So are certain yeasts and fungi. But when your clothes get sweaty and hot, you create the perfect environment for those little ones to proliferate faster than normal.
When we wear our clothes over and over again, one of the things that worries you is having higher amounts of microorganisms, which can cause irritations, boils, and pimples.
Is it safe to reuse dirty workout clothes?
There are two important factors to consider: what workout clothes are we talking about and how much did you sweat?
Anything that's further from your skin is generally less problematic to reuse. Reusing a running jacket is completely different from reusing socks. Clothing that's closest to your body is more prone to perspiration and has more contact with your skin, so it's very important to wash it after each use. For example, socks or a sports bra.
The worst thing to reuse is underwear . It tends to collect the most microorganisms, as it comes into contact with the genitals and anal area. If we're comparing different garments for reuse, underwear isn't an option.
Some fabrics may also be better than others. Synthetic materials, such as polyester , tend to have more potential to trap some of these microorganisms. Synthetic fabrics absorb sweat, and there might be some truth to the idea that clothes that dry faster can promote less microbial growth. But the science in this area is still lacking.
After thinking about the clothes you want to wear again, think about the amount of sweat you have excreted. If you're wearing a sports bra and you haven't been exercising too much and you want to dry it off and put it back on the next day, that's different than wearing a very sweaty one and putting it back on the next day. If it's a little sweaty and you let it dry and it doesn't have much of a smell, then you can wear it again.
3 Dangers of Rewearing Dirty Workout Clothes
you could have a rash
Having a higher concentration of bacteria on the skin isn't necessarily enough to cause an infection. But all it takes is a small wound or entry point. We're not talking about a huge wound or an obvious cut: common friction from exercise can compromise the skin barrier enough to allow entry to organisms like staphylococcus and MRSA.
Staphylococcus bacteria can cause a mild skin condition called folliculitis. This is essentially an infection of the hair follicles. It occurs when something, such as chafing, tight clothing, or shaving, damages the hair follicle and creates an entry point for microorganisms.
It is generally not dangerous, but it can be uncomfortable and unsightly. Folliculitis looks like a bumpy red rash and is often mistaken for acne. The good news is that it can be easily treated with a few skin care strategies, like applying a warm compress several times a day and avoiding shaving or waxing.
But in a more extreme scenario, staph and MRSA can cause infections and deeper abscesses that require antibiotic treatment to clear up.
You could develop acne or a yeast infection
Some bacteria can also promote acne. If your dirty laundry is full of bacteria and oils from your skin, you can end up with clogged pores and an acne breakout on your chest or back.
Fungal infections are also more likely to develop in moist environments. Athlete's foot and jock itch are more likely to develop when clothes are worn again. Both are caused by an overgrowth of fungi and can cause uncomfortable itching.
Malassezia and tinea versicolor are two other types of fungal infections that can develop when the normal fungi on the skin grow unchecked. Staying in wet clothing can promote these infections and cause an unpleasant rash.
Overgrowth of certain fungi or bacteria can also cause a skin condition called intertrigo , which is most commonly caused by candida , a type of fungus, and develops in warm, moist areas of the body where skin rubs against other skin, such as the armpits, the backs of the knees, or any other skin folds.
Your skin can get irritated
Even the minerals that accumulate on clothing when you sweat can cause skin irritation.
Sweat is composed of various salts: sodium chloride, potassium chloride , and so on. You might notice that colored clothing has a flaky, white tint when you air dry it after a particularly sweaty workout. These are the mineral salts in your sweat. Salts are technically metals, and when they settle on your skin, they can be quite irritating and cause chafing in areas of repetitive friction.
The accumulation of sweat is annoying on its own, but it can also create those micro-tears in the skin that allow bacteria to settle in and cause infections.
And sometimes dirty workout clothes just stink. It's not the sweat itself that smells, but the bacteria that feed on the sweat.