Elastic sportswear lasts a long time if you keep two or three things in mind, but loses its shape surprisingly quickly if you treat it like a cotton shirt. For clothing with integrated electronics, there is one additional point to consider.
Why elastane is delicate
Nylon and elastane are the standard combination for form-fitting sportswear. Nylon provides strength, elastane provides stretch.
Elastane consists of long fibers that stretch and contract. Three things permanently destroy this resilience:
Heat is the greatest enemy. Hot wash water, the dryer, radiators, the car in the sun. In heat, the fibers lose their tension—irreversibly. A pair of leggings that has been in the dryer once will never fit the same way again.
Fabric softener forms a film around the fibers. It makes the fabric softer but strips it of its elasticity and its ability to transport moisture away from the body. For sportswear, fabric softener is not just optionally bad; it is fundamentally wrong.
Constant stretching. Hung over a hanger or hung up while wet, the garment's own weight pulls the fibers in one direction. They remain that way for weeks.
The electronic part
And this is the point at which this article is incomplete.
Whether the control unit can be removed before washing, whether it is permanently integrated, or whether it is protected depends on the model. We are still waiting for this information, and we will not write anything here that we do not know for sure. As soon as it is available, it will be in the product description and in this article.
Until then, the safe rule: The control unit must not get wet. No device with a battery should be placed in a washing machine without express approval from the manufacturer.
General rules for this type of clothing
| Point | How to |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Cold to a maximum of 30 degrees Celsius |
| Cycle | Delicate or hand wash |
| Spin cycle | Low or not at all |
| Detergent | Delicate detergent, sparingly dosed |
| Fabric softener | Never |
| Dryer | Never |
| Drying | Lying flat, on a towel, in the shade |
| Ironing | Do not iron |
| Storage | Folded flat, not hung on a hanger |
Take off and air out after wearing, do not leave crumpled in a bag. Most of the odor is not created while wearing, but in the hours afterward in a damp ball.
How often to wash
After every time you sweat in them. Salt from sweat attacks the fibers if it dries and is left to sit.
After ten minutes on the sofa without sweating, airing out is enough. Every wash cycle shortens the lifespan, and washing after every wear as a matter of principle reduces it without benefit.
If the pads feel different
After extended use, the surface of the electrode pads may become duller. Usually, it is enough to wipe them with a damp cloth and let them dry before putting the leggings away. Residue from detergent or fabric softener is the most common reason for poor contact.
No solvents, no alcohol, no abrasive cleaners.
In summary
- Wash cold, use delicate detergent, never use fabric softener
- Never put in the dryer, dry flat
- Store folded, do not hang up
- Wash after sweating, otherwise air out
- The control unit must not get wet
All details regarding the material can be found on the product page.