Sweatpants are one of the comfiest and most versatile pant types that you can own. While they’re often worn as part of a casual look, they can also easily be dressed up with a nice pair of sneakers or even worn as pajamas at night.
However, if not cared for and styled correctly, sweatpants can begin to look old and worn pretty quickly. Whether you paid a lot for a named brand of sweatpants, or even if they’re from Walmart but you’re quite attached to them. There’s also so many types of sweatpants to choose from, whether it be stacked sweatpants, three-quarter length, or even flared sweatpants, there are some simple tips you can follow to ensure your sweatpants last for a long time.
Let’s take a look at some of these top tips for keeping your favorite comfy sweatpants in tip top condition below.
Avoid the dryer
As tempting as it is to stuff your clothes in the dryer once they’re done in the washing machine, it can actually shorten the lifecycle of your clothes. The constant heating and tumbling of the delicate cotton fibers can have a shrinking effect that will make your sweatpants significantly smaller over time.
To dry them properly, be sure to run a spin cycle on your washing machine to get the excess water out and then lay them flat over a drying rack.
Take care while washing them
When it comes to washing your clothes, you may only be concerned about things that are cashmere, wool, or silk, however cotton can easily be damaged by harsh washing cycles too. When setting your washing machine, it is important to ensure the water temperature isn’t set too hot as this will not only shrink the fibers but also cause the material to fade, meaning you could end up with different colored sweatpants after just a few washes.
You should also be sure to use a mild detergent as harsh chemicals in some detergents can also cause the color to fade. Another trick is to turn them inside out when washing them to reduce the amount of friction between the outer material and the washing machine drum.
Spot clean stains
If you spill something on your sweatpants, it can be very tempting to take them off and simply throw them in the laundry basket, not worrying about them until laundry day. However, it is important to treat a stain straight away by applying a topical stain remover. Be careful what type of stain remover you are using as some types of bleach can stain whites, yellow when applied directly, and some stain removers can take the color out of your sweatpants.
Avoid using bleach or fabric conditioner
Bleach and fabric conditioner also contain harsh chemicals that can damage and fade your sweatpants. In order to ensure they last, be sure to avoid using bleach and fabric conditioner or opt for very gentle ones such as those designed for baby clothes.
Don’t store them in direct sunlight
This isn’t an obvious one since no one really thinks about whether or not the light shining on their clothes is an issue. However, if you have a window in your closet when bright sunlight shines directly onto your clothes constantly, it can fade the color of the fabric over time which will make them look old and tired.
Overall, sweatpants are one of the most versatile pants to choose from and are oh so comfy to wear. What’s also great about them is that you can throw them on in a flash and without having to worry about ironing or steaming them first. However, the delicate cotton fibers can get damaged quickly so be sure to follow the tips above if you want them to last.
