How to care for your running clothes: the guide to long-lasting apparel
A well-maintained technical jersey can last for years. If washed improperly, it loses its properties in just a few months. This rule applies even more to the recycled fibers and technical materials used in modern running gear: their manufacturing process is demanding, and their care should be too.
Why technical textiles require specific care
Recycled synthetic fibers like Q-Nova® polyamide or Newlife™ yarn have remarkable properties: rapid sweat-wicking, lightness, and shape retention. These characteristics rely on the very structure of the fibers—a structure that heat, harsh chemicals, or excessive friction can irreversibly degrade. In addition, there is a property often overlooked: these fibers have a naturally high antibacterial capacity, which reduces odors and, therefore, the need for frequent washing.
Compression socks are the most fragile items in a runner's wardrobe. The elastic threads that provide compression will permanently stretch out if washed in hot water or put in the tumble dryer. A few bad washes, and the compression no longer does its job.
Washing rules
Temperature: 30°C maximum. Heat is the enemy of technical fibers. Above 40°C, elastanes slacken and do not return to their original shape. For high compression socks, this rule is non-negotiable.
Delicate cycle. The mechanical agitation of a cotton cycle can damage reinforced seams and specific padded areas (heels, toes). If you have a laundry mesh bag, use it for socks and small accessories.
Turn your clothes inside out before washing. The inside of the fabric—which concentrates sweat residue—is thus directly exposed to the water and detergent. Prints and logos on the outside are protected from friction.
What you must absolutely avoid
Fabric softener: it is the number one enemy of technical running gear. Softening agents leave a film on the fibers that gradually clogs the fabric's micro-pores and blocks sweat-wicking. After just a few washes, a breathable jersey can become as suffocating as plastic.
The tumble dryer: the intense heat of a tumble dryer is devastating. A single pass can permanently deform a tank top or permanently reduce the compression of a sock. Technical textiles dry very quickly in the air—that is precisely one of their main advantages.
Bleach and harsh stain removers: they weaken the fibers and alter the dyes. For stubborn stains, pre-soaking in cold water with Marseille soap remains the gentlest and most effective method.
Drying: always air-dry
Lay flat or hang by the bottom (never by the straps of a tank top), away from any direct heat source—radiator, intense midday sun. The vast majority of technical running clothes dry in less than an hour at room temperature.
For compression socks, avoid pinning them by the top elastic edge. Hang them by the toe so as not to stretch the elastic at the top of the cuff.
The reflex after every run
Never leave your damp running clothes in a closed bag or at the bottom of a backpack. Maceration accelerates the proliferation of bacteria responsible for persistent bad odors—which can become permanently embedded in the fibers.
After a long run or in hot weather, a quick rinse in cold water before a full wash dilutes the sweat salts that, when drying, weaken the fibers over the long term.
How often should you wash your running gear?
Frequent washing wears out fibers. This is particularly true for the materials used by Spiridon: Q-Nova® polyamide and Newlife™ yarn have a naturally high antibacterial level, which limits the growth of odor-causing bacteria—in socks as well as in t-shirts and tank tops. The result: you don't need to wash them after every short run. A cold water rinse is often enough, or even just air-drying. Reserve full washes for long or intense sessions, or whenever you deem it necessary.
Socks should be washed after every use—a matter of hygiene and durability. Compression socks in particular, where stagnant moisture can accelerate the degradation of elastic threads.
When well-maintained, a quality running tank top or pair of socks can last for over five years of intensive use. That is also what eco-responsibility is about: not just choosing recycled fibers, but taking care of what we wear.
→ Find Q-Nova® compression socks and recycled fiber tank tops in the Spiridon shop.