I have some padded bike shorts I’d like to wear on a bike ride, but I’m getting pretty in my head about poop particles getting into the shorts and not washing out in the wash.
I have some padded bike shorts I’d like to wear on a bike ride, but I’m getting pretty in my head about poop particles getting into the shorts and not washing out in the wash.
Never skimp on interfaces. Anything that goes between your skin and something else, anywhere energy is changing medium, this is where money is well-spent. Tires, handlebar tape, speakers/headphones, bicycle saddle, hand tools, work gloves, climbing shoes, keyboard, mouse, monitors, seat cushions, you get the idea… finding what works well for you regardless of cost reaps serious benefits. More money does not necessarily mean better performance for you, but time invested in the trial and error process does mean better results.
In the case of bicycling shorts: these are the sacrificial layer. Your skin is pretty valuable, but at least it can heal. Your comfort on a bike ride is invaluable.
Regarding the stink factor, you mentioned elsewhere in this thread about getting the stink out of technical fabrics. And some people talked stupid shit in response. Anyone who claims “I just wash my stuff and it don’t stink no more.” Uh, yeah, their noses don’t work so well. Getting the tenacious stink out of polyester is a special set of skills. Polyester has a unique affinity for molecules that contribute to stink. Cotton-poly blend exhibits a similar tenacious stink. Very briefly: the polar nature of polyester makes it good for wicking sweat, but also makes it good for hanging onto stinky molecules; standard washing and laundry detergents won’t cut it. You need to overcome that molecular-level affinity; vinegar in your first rinse cycle is strong enough. Washing soda (sodium carbonate, not to be confused with sodium bicarbonate AKA baking soda) is a strong alkaline that can strip a bunch of shit out of all your fabrics; it’s also pretty harsh. The other alternative is to use sunlight, e.g. line drying, to denature the stinky molecules. But the UV light is hard on fabrics.
Thank you for sharing your advice, and really taking the time to put it understandable terms. I am still trying to get better at washing polyester fabrics. I have not been putting white vinegar in the rinse water; i can try that. I have been using a technical fabrics detergent that’s mostly Sodium Carbonate (very basic) and enzymes. It recommends either a normal wash, or a soak procedure for tenacious smells. I once let it soak too long, and i think the chemicals ate into the fabrics too aggressively and wore them out. I suppose that all laundry is finding the balance between preserving the clothes vs. getting them clean. I mostly have space for line-drying indoors, not out in the sun, but I could try line drying in high UV sunlight from time to time.
Some technical fabrics say wash cold, some say wash warm. I typically do cold for everything to try and prolong the life of the fabric. What water temperature are you using?
I regularly skimp on tires, headphones, speakers, rode a broken saddle for years and years, handlebar grips wearing out and getting gummy bits everywhere, computer monitor, keyboard, mouse and chair all completely wrong, work gloves disintegrating, etc. I dont have that much money to invest into hobbies, so I try to make things last.
But i really feel you on climbing shoes. I climbed in a $20 bargain bin pair that didnt fit for way too long, and it really hurt my feet. Eventually i invested in the moccasin style that was my exact size, and while they are not aggressive or high performing, they are more comfortable.
Recently I had to buy some new (to me) used tires because mine were so dryrotted they kept getting flats. While I was at tge community bike place, i bought a used pair of bibs to try (I’ve never ridden in bibs), and a used pair of bike shorts that are similar to mine. They didn’t have a smell, and I was pretty amazed. I’m a little bit apprehensive about wearing second hand underwear, but the price was right, unfortunately. In hindsight, this is surely what started me on this train of thought.
Thank you.
Happy to help!
Right?! Start adding in energy and water consumption concerns, and the variables quickly spiral out of control. I started using a manual washer (imagine a giant salad spinner) for some of my gear. Manually washed bibs and jerseys have now lasted about 12 years. It’s a pain and takes a bunch of time, but saves a bunch of electricity, a genuine concern on a sailboat with only solar to recharge. So that’s a heavily qualified bonus. :D
I always wash my technical gear in cold water, delicate cycle. Line dry. Actually, I wash everything except my rags in cold water. I’ve had the same shirts and pants for 25 years. My clothes should be coming back in style any day now. :D
I’m glad that cold water works for you – I’ll keep trying different variations with it.
The manual salad spinner washer sounds really cool