Leggings are one of the most versatile items in your closet. They can be worn with a shirt and sneakers for an athletic look, paired with heels for a night on the town, or thrown over shorts and a tank top if you’re headed to the beach. But all that versatility means that leggings require different washing methods depending on what you plan to do with them next.
Do leggings go in the dryer? We get plenty of questions about this topic all the time. So today I am happy to answer it once and for all times. If you need your leggings to dry very fast and if you’re willing to risk them to shrink, just go for it. However, all experts recommend washing your leggings with cold water by hand and letting them air dry. But let’s get into some specifics below to find out why.
How should you wash your leggings? In general, it’s best to hand‐wash cold and line‐dry all your synthetic fabrics. This includes polyester, spandex, nylon, and rayon, which leggings often contain.
First of all, washing fabrics with high spandex or spandex blends in warm or hot water will cause the fabric to shrink. It’s best to wash your leggings in cold water and let them air dry.
It’s also important to note that drying your leggings in the dryer will shrink them as well, even if you set them on a cool temperature. All fabrics do this, but polyester and nylon tend to be the worst culprits with spandex blends. If you want to avoid shrinkage in your leggings, always line‐dry them after washing and remove them from the dryer while they’re still damp. This will keep them from shrinking too much in the dryer.
Hot air from the dryer or the heat from an iron can speed up the process of losing elasticity. Leggings are supposed to fit tight and stretch every time you wear them. And after wearing them, they return to their natural shape again. Over time, this process makes them lose elasticity.
If the dryer makes your pair of leggings shrink a bit more, they need to stretch more the next time you put them on. That speeds up the process again. And eventually, the leggings will become baggy and won’t fit anymore. So don’t use the dryer and have great looking leggings for longer.
If you’ve already washed and dried your leggings, don’t worry. You can stretch them out again by hanging them outside in the sun. The ultraviolet rays from the sun will help you to readjust your leggings back to their original size. Just make sure they are completely dry before you put them on.
Unfortunately, this is true. The repeated process of shrinking and stretching can make leggings transparent over time. But leggings should never be see-through. I mean, you need to feel confident that nobody will see your underwear (if you wear some…).
This is another good argument to skip the dryer with your leggings.
It’s better to wash your leggings separately from other fabrics, but if you’re pressed for time you can throw them into the laundry basket with your other clothes. Just make sure they are completely washed and dried by themselves before you wear them again to avoid any color transfer.
If you’re going on a trip and need to pack light or if your leggings have an unfortunate accident while you’re out and about, it’s better to dry your leggings in a hurry so you don’t have to wear wet pants. Just toss them in the dryer on a normal or high setting for 10 minutes or so. You can also hand‐dry them with a hairdryer.
The heat from the dryer will cause your leggings to shrink. So it’s best not to use a high heat setting or tumble dry them on purpose.
Bonus Tip: It’s best not to let your leggings sit in a hot car all day while you’re out. If they get too hot, the stress from the heat can cause them to rip or tear when you stretch or move around.
Yes, yoga pants are super popular right now. They’re also made from polyester and spandex, so they need to be washed the same way leggings are.
If you want your leggings to dry very fast after washing, you can rinse them in cold water before throwing them in the washing machine. This will shorten your drying time because there’s less water in the fabric to dry.
Leggings can be worn for multiple days in a row without washing them. However, if you do sweat or want to wear them more than once in a row, it’s best to wash and dry your leggings after every 3 to 4 wears.
The good news is that leggings are a very forgiving fabric. So you don’t have to worry about sweat stains, even if your leggings are made from a synthetic fabric like polyester or spandex. Just make sure to wash them after every 3 to 4 wears and they will be fine!
The best way to wash your leggings with sweat stains is to soak them in cold water before you throw them into the washing machine. You can add a little bit of white vinegar and some laundry detergent and let the machine do the rest of the work.
Always read the care and content labels on your leggings before you wash them. If they’re made from a synthetic fabric like spandex or polyester, you will need to follow different care instructions than if they were made from cotton.
Cotton leggings can be hand‐washed and hung to dry. And if you have a front‐loading washing machine, it’s best not to put cotton leggings in the drum of the machine because they may stretch or lose shape. Always use a mesh laundry bag when washing leggings in a top‐loading washing machine.
Fabric softener can cause cotton leggings to lose their shape, so it’s best not to use fabric softener when washing them.
Always check your leggings for any holes or loose strings before you put them in the laundry basket. It’s also a good idea to have two pairs of black leggings in your wardrobe so you can wear one while the other is in the laundry.
Leggings made from cotton or wool can be safely dry cleaned at your local dry cleaners, but avoid placing any silk leggings in a clothes dryer. Silk is an extremely delicate fabric that will get damaged very easily.
Sure, you can hang them on a line or drying rack indoors, but avoid direct sunlight. Exposure to the sun can cause some synthetic fabrics or spandex to go brittle or lose their shape.
Leggings are a great piece of clothing for women who enjoy working out at the gym, yoga, jogging or dancing in style! They’re also very comfortable and easy to wear on casual days around the house. And if you get them dirty, just throw them into your washing machine and they’ll be as good as new!
So remember: Always read the care and content labels on your leggings before you wash them. If they’re made from cotton or wool, use a cold water rinse to shorten your drying time. Wash them after every 3 or 4 wears and avoid using fabric softener when you wash them to decrease the risk of stretching or losing shape.
