First things first, if you got super sweaty in your workout gear, wash everything immediately after. It's important to remove bacteria, which can cause a lingering smell. The material can begin to deteriorate if they sit in the dirty laundry for too long.

No matter how bad the clothes smell, stick to the specified amount of laundry detergent. Too much detergent will build up in the clothing fibres, creating a perfect environment for the breeding of bacteria and fungi that cause odours.

Wash your high-performance workout gear in cold water on a gentle cycle. Hot water and too much agitation can damage the fibres of your activewear and shorten its lifespan.

You'll end up with smelly, baggy clothes. Fabric softeners coat fibres to create a silky touch and thus lock in any remaining soil, bacteria, and odour. They can also break down stretchy elastic fibres.

Ideally, let your high-performance workout clothes air-dry on a drying rack. If you must put them in the dryer, use the lowest heating setting possible to avoid damaging the fabric.

Workout clothing often builds up unpleasant odours, even after washing. The key to breaking the bond is white distilled vinegar. The low level of acid cuts through and releases bacteria from the fabric, which is then washed away in the wash.

Mix one part white distilled vinegar to four parts cold water. Submerge your workout clothes, and let them soak for 15–30 minutes before washing.