How to Keep White Workout Wear and Fitness Gear White: Laundry Stain & Stink Tips

Updated 10/13/2023

Nothing is as clean and fresh as a new pair of white sneakers or white fitness wear. The clean, pristine look of white workout clothing really pops and makes you feel fine. That is, until you get the fabric stained or it turns a dingy grey from laundering. Or, because you spilled a berry smoothie down the front — that would be me!

Tips on how to keep white workout wear and fitness gear white -- remove dingy grey and stains.

Find out how to keep your whites white, these white laundry tips will let you keep that pristine look going on at the gym, on the courts, in fitness class or wherever you like to wear your white gear!

The main reason white items become dull is due to incorrect sorting. Maybe you don’t have enough solid white items to make up a full load, so you just toss what you have in with darks or colors. Certain fabrics, like cotton, aren’t colorfast which means that a little bit of the dye seeps out in the water with each wash and sinks, most noticeably, on lighter items. Dingy whites can also be caused by washing heavily soiled white items (like nasty socks from a trail run) with very lightly dirtied items, like that cute workout top you wear to yoga class. In addition to co-mingling colors and levels of dirtiness, the quality of water in your home can also affect the whiteness of whites. For example, water with high levels of iron or hard water, loaded with minerals, make detergents less effective and can be a perpetrator of staining.

Get tips on how to keep white workout wear, athletic shoes and fitness gear bright white! Learn all the secrets of how to remove stains and dingy grey. Learn more at thefitfork.com

BASIC TIPS for keeping white laundry white:

  1. Wash whites in their own separate load, always. Not negotiable.
  2. Use the hottest water that the care label says is advisable. Make sure you actually read the care label!
  3. Look for “bleach alternative” and/or “enzymes in the laundry detergent you purchase.
  4. Don’t skimp on detergent, use the exact amount (and not more) than recommended on the back of bottle. The detergent helps keep the removed dirt suspended in the water during the washing cycle, lessening its ability to settle back in on the fabric. The use of too much though, becomes hard to wash out in one cycle.
  5. For stubborn stains and dinginess, soak fabrics in a solution of water and oxygen bleach before laundering, according to package directions.
  6. Never put a stained item in the dryer until you are satisfied with the progress you have made removing the stain. The heat will “set” it in. While the item is still damp, soak, spot treat, scrub — or whatever is needed — and then rewash again.
  7. If possible, do not dry whites, allow them to air dry. If running tight on hanging space, a fold out clothes drying rack that mounts to wall is perfect for sports bras, running shorts, and such. OR, if you can, drying outside in the sun is a great option, the sunlight offers natural lightening abilities.
  8. And ½ to 1 cup white vinegar distilled vinegar to rinse cycle to help in stain and odor removal. For synthetic workout wear, you can use a specifically designated laundry soap (like this one I use), to help keep fitness clothing bright and odor-free. I give WIN Detergent a big thumbs up!
  9. Install a water softener to help remove minerals from your water supply and thusly fabric mineral stains and dinginess from your white fabrics.

SPECIFIC TIPS for stain removal on white clothes and white workout wear:

  1. Perspiration and greasy stains: Use a clean toothbrush to rub clear-colored detergent or dishwashing liquid into stain. Sweat has a lot of iron in it, and that’s why it can discolor fabric so easily.
  2. Blood stains:  The sooner you can attend to a blood stain, the better. Treat area carefully by pouring a little hydrogen peroxide directly on the stain, also treated reverse side of the stain too (flip fabric over).  After it bubbles up, add clear detergent and scrub with a clean toothbrush, rising with cold water.
  3. Colored stains: From sports drink and yellowed underarms, apply undiluted liquid oxygen bleach directly to fabric right before washing. You can try a homemade baking soda paste and (2 parts warm water to 1 part baking soda) and scrub into affected area before laundering. For an extra stain removal boost, allow baking soda paste to dry in sun before washing off.
  4. Grass Stains: Treat with baking soda paste (as described at all); rinse; rub in vinegar with a clean toothbrush; launder with an enzyme or oxygen based bleach detergent.
  5. HANDY HACK: I discovered that refillable dauber bottles with sponge or mohair tips (like those you might use in crafting / painting) make excellent, inexpensive containers to hold various homemade stain solutions like bleach water, baking soda water, vinegar water.

before and after adidas cleats

HOW TO clean white athletic shoes:

  1. To clean white leather shoes: Use a dry toothbrush to remove and dried mud and debris. Next add several drops of liquid dish soap to a cup of warm water and use this to scrub shoes uppers and soles. Wipe down with a wet paper towel. If stains remain, use an eraser sponge to gently treat the area. Let air dry completely. Any scuffs can be covered with dab-on white shoe polish at this point.
  2. To clean white mesh shoes: Use dry brush to remove dirt and mud on soles. Mesh uppers need to be treated more carefully than leather uppers. Use several drops of clear liquid laundry soap in water and gently rub uppers with circular motion with white wash cloth. Periodically rinse wash cloth to prevent spreading dirt. Use a soft bristled tooth brush to work on more stubborn stains. Carefully rinse shoes under the faucet, taking care not to totally submerge. Use a dry towel to pat off excess water and let air dry. For non-leather shoes, you can speed up the drying process with a mesh shoe dryer bag that attached to the inside door of your drying.
  3. To clean all-white shoelaces:  After knowing how to clean white sneakers, you need to make the laces pop, too! For all white shoelaces, use a solution of 3 tbsp. bleach to one gallon of water. Soak laces for 5 minutes, remove and rinse, and then let air dry.

HOW TO clean white hats, caps and visors:

  1. To clean white caps and visors: Do not place in the dishwasher as some suggest. This can leave your cap misshapen. Use a cotton swab, paper towel or white cloth to apply hydrogen peroxide to the stain. Then use a clean toothbrush to work in in, let set and then rinse. If hat is dirty all over with sweat stains, soak it for up to 30 minutes in a bowl filled with warm water, a bit of oxygen-based bleach and laundry detergent. Rinse thoroughly with warm water, dab dry with clean white towel, and air dry with paper towels wadded up to keep the caps shape.
How to keep white tennis clothes and other sports apparel white! Laundry, stain and care tips. Learn more at thefitfork.com

Note: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. Please visit my Amazon Storefront for more finds I love and use to support an active and healthy lifestyle.

I’m a fan of WIN Detergent to keep our activewear clean and stink-free!

You can find WIN Activewear Detergent on Amazon. Raising three active boys (and being an athlete myself), it’s been a huge help keeping sports uniforms and workout clothes clean and odor-free. WIN for the win!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission on purchases which helps me run The Fit Fork. For more of my favorite products, visit my Amazon Shop.

Five Ways to Feel Fit & Fabulous this Spring

This post is sponsored by prAna, however all content, comments and enthusiasm remain my own.

Whoohoo, spring is almost officially here . . . and we’ve been experiencing lots of warm weather here in Austin, just in time for Spring Break, SXSW and all the outdoor fun that goes on in this great city.

After being cooped up indoors over the winter, spring really lifts my mood and I’m sharing my favorite Five Ways to Feel Fit & Fabulous this Spring. Read on to find out how I’m walking on sunshine! Continue reading

Why Organic Cotton Matters & Jeans to Kara ’bout #prAnaLovesMe

I wrote this poem nearly a decade ago (and won a trip to Fashion Week in NYC) and yet it still seems so fitting today! “It’s fab to wear cotton when grueling at the gym. But more than that, cotton lets me walk a fashion limb. I’ve got cotton denim skinnies that I sport around the town, as well as a hooded jacket and a stellar evening gown. My friends all say I’m stylish, despite my lack of silks and furs, just peek into my cotton closet and I’m sure you will concur”!Prana Kara Jeans save 15% FFJEF17 at prana.com

Probably the only thing that’s changed about my love for cotton is that I now make a point of purchasing and wearing organic cotton whenever possible. Cotton grown and processed without the use of harmful chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides is better for the earth, the farmers, for me . . and for you! A brand I particularly love is prAna, not just for the intersection of adventure and fashion, but also because their clothing is mindfully made to support sustainable practices and fair trade. Read on to learn more about organic cotton, this company’s best practices, discover my favorite finds for the season and to get a great discount code. Continue reading

Bedtime Snacks for Muscle Making & Weight Management

The advice to not snack before bed is much more fiction than fact! The real story on noshing at night has a happy ending for those of us who are always hungry. Turns out it’s perfectly okay, if not a “good thing,” to eat a little something before bed, especially if you are trying to build or maintain muscle. However, before you start feeding your midnight munchies, there are exceptions and caveats – aren’t there always?!

Why You Should Eat Bedtime Snacks and Top Picks for Muscle Making And Weight Management. Casein powder before sleep is best.

Continue reading

3 Ways to Chow a Cherimoya + My #MustHaveBox

Just when I think I’ve tasted every type of fruit and vegetable there is to eat (ever been to Produce Convention), I realize that a tasty treat has slipped past my radar – the Cherimoya. Mark Twain once likened the cherimoya “deliciousness itself!”  – how did I ever miss the memo on this quite large and armored lizard-skinned looking fruit!

Discover easy, tasty ways to eat a Cherimoya (also known as a Custard Apple)

Cherimoya

Once set aside solely for ancient Incan royalty, this “King of Fruit” is still a prized possession – they are delicious and hard to find . . . and usually fairly big-bucks if you do. But, so worth the investment as you will gobble up this healthy treat in a single sitting, especially if you have a friend sitting nearby with a spoon. The flesh inside is amazingly fragrant, soft, sweet and scoopable – there some seeds inside, but they aren’t too hard to flick away.  When selecting afruit, pick a cherimoya that is still green but showing minor signs of turning brown soon. Like an avocado, the fruit is ripened with the flesh yields to a gentle touch. So, if your fruit is still green and hard, let it ripen on the counter for up to three days – or stick in a paper bag to speed the process along.  Check out my friends at Frieda’s for other great Cherimoya Recipes and Tips.

So, my top 3 ways to chow a cherimoya are:

Cherimoya sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg1)  Sprinkle with Spices: Sliced in half and sprinkled with cinnamon, dash of nutmeg and a bit of honey drizzle – I swear it tastes just like apple pie. My kids think it tastes more like a pineapple and banana that got married and laid a big prehistoric egg.  Either way, it’s a taste bud winner – haha!

Pureed Frozen Cherimoya - Smoothie and Meal Pret2) Mixed into Oatmeal: I put chunks or puree of cherimoya in my morning oatmeal.  This is a great way for me to boost up the vitamin C, potassium, and in my fiber in my daily diet. If I find the fruit on sale or can’t eat what I’ve purchased before going too ripe, I simply puree the fruit in the blender with a tiny splash of lemon juice and freeze in heavy-duty zip-top bags (above picture). This will keep in the back of your freezer for 6 months! You can also sub in for 1/2 the oil in baked goods as you would applesauce, pumpkin or another fruit puree.

Apple Cider Cherimoya Smoothie is loaded with fall flavor, fiber, vitamin C and more!

3) Blended into Smoothie: Blending cherimoya with orange juice is traditional but my recipe for Cherimoya Apple Cider Smoothie is super yummy.  I use one of the delicious, cold-pressed, 100% juice apple ciders from Litehouse Foods — so fresh you need to look for it in the produce department!

Directions: Add 2 tablespoons oats to bottom of blender, pulse for a few seconds to grind up. Add ½ cup cherimoya puree (preferably frozen) or fresh chunks, 3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk, ½ cup apple cider, ½ teaspoon cinnamon and 1 tablespoon honey (or sugar-free alternative) to blender and blend for 1 minute, adding a few ice cubes to achieve desired consistency. Serves 1.

Must Have Box from POPSUGAR

Also, I want to share with you my favorite little luxury each month – it’s the PopSugar #MustHaveBox from POPSUGAR.  The Must Have Box is a specially-curated monthly subscription that is filled with full-sized products across fashion, beauty, home décor, upscale edibles and more. I absolutely have adored everything that’s come in my monthly box – often they are splurges that I would never buy myself (but am oh-so happy to have) or fabulously off-beat, quirky things that I never knew I needed until I have in my hot little hands – and then I’m hooked!

The Fit Fork - POPSUGAR Must Have Box

Must Have Box from POPSUGARThe October box included a book, Power Your Happy, by POPSUGAR founder Lisa Sugar, a gorgeous umbrella from Henri Bendel (along with a shopping discount card), Dark Drinking Chocolate (by My Cup of Cocoa) and a Rise & Shine Diner Mug (by Morning Culture). The Lalicious Bubble Bath, Revlon Eye Pen and Makeup Eraser Mini really spoke to my girly side, that’s a nice treat when a mom of three boys!  Check out some of the past Must Have Boxes  and sign up for a subscription that suits you – save $5 on your first box with code SHOP5.  Whoohoo!

What is your MUST HAVE this month? Tip me off on your new, most favorite, most awesome find! Oh, and have you ever tried a Cherimoya?! Please share in the comments – XOXO, Jennnifer