Real Activewear: Care Guide
Activewear Care Guide
Your Real Wear pieces are engineered to perform and sculpt, proper care keeps them that way. Follow these guidelines to protect your investment and extend the life of every garment.
Quick Reference
Know Your Care Symbols
Always check the label inside your garment first. Here's what the standard symbols mean.
Cold Wash
Machine wash cold, 30°C max
Gentle Cycle
Delicate / gentle machine cycle
Air Dry Only
Hang or lay flat to dry
Low Iron
Iron on low if needed. No steam.
No Bleach
Never use bleach or harsh agents
Step by Step
How to Wash Your Real Wear
Follow this order every time to keep fabrics performing at their best.
01
Let it breathe first
After your workout, don't toss sweaty garments directly into a bag. Lay them out for 30–60 minutes so moisture can evaporate. This prevents bacteria from setting into the fibers and eliminates lingering odors before washing.
02
Turn inside out
Flip your garments inside out before placing them in the machine. This protects the outer surface, any logo details, and seam coatings from friction, and allows water to reach where sweat accumulates most.
03
Sort by fabric type
Wash activewear separately from regular laundry, especially denim, towels, and anything with zippers or velcro. Rough fabrics cause pilling and micro-tears in performance materials. Group by color to prevent dye transfer.
04
Use a mesh laundry bag
Place sports bras, shorts, and delicate sets inside a mesh bag before loading the drum. This reduces agitation, prevents straps from tangling, and extends the life of elastic and compression fabrics significantly.
05
Cold water, gentle cycle
Set your machine to cold (30°C / 86°F max) on a gentle or delicate cycle. Hot water breaks down elastane and spandex fibers, causing garments to lose their compression and shape permanently.
06
Choose the right detergent
Use a mild, sport-specific detergent free from optical brighteners, enzymes, and bleaching agents. A small amount goes a long way, excess residue can reduce moisture-wicking performance over time. Never use fabric softener.
07
Air dry, always
Remove garments promptly and reshape while damp. Hang on a rack or lay flat to dry away from direct sunlight and heat. Tumble drying degrades elastic fibers, causes shrinkage, and shortens the life of compression fabrics.
Quick Reference
Do's & Don'ts
The essential rules at a glance.
✓ Do
- Wash in cold water (30°C max)
- Use a gentle or delicate cycle
- Turn garments inside out
- Use a mesh laundry bag
- Use mild sport-specific detergent
- Air dry on a flat surface or hanger
- Wash after every wear
- Store folded in a cool, dry place
- Treat stains promptly before washing
✕ Don't
- Use hot water or warm wash settings
- Tumble dry on any heat setting
- Use bleach or harsh cleaning agents
- Use fabric softener or conditioner
- Iron on high heat or use steam
- Wring or twist garments when wet
- Wash with denim, towels, or zippers
- Dry in direct sunlight for long periods
- Dry clean unless label specifies
Fabric-Specific
Care by Collection
Each Real Wear collection uses different fabric blends. Here's how to care for each one.
Cotton Candy World
Soft Nylon / Spandex Blend- Cold wash, gentle cycle
- Turn inside out to preserve color vibrancy
- Air dry flat — do not tumble dry
- No fabric softener
- Wash pastels with similar colors
Second Skin
Nylon / Elastane Blend- Cold wash, gentle cycle
- Inside out, always
- Air dry flat to preserve compression
- Do not iron
- No fabric softener
Sculpt Capsule
High-Compression Polyester- Hand wash or gentle machine cycle
- Cold water only
- Lay flat to dry, do not hang
- No bleach or harsh detergents
- Check inner label for specific blend
Cozy Collection
Fleece / Brushed Polyester- Machine wash cold, gentle cycle
- Wash alone or with similar textures
- Air dry or tumble dry very low
- Do not iron fleece surface
- Store folded, not hung
Swimwear
Chlorine-Resistant Fabric- Rinse in cold water immediately after use
- Hand wash with mild soap only
- Never machine wash or spin
- Lay flat away from direct sun
- Do not wring, press gently
Sports Bras
Multi-Layer / Underwire-Free- Always use a mesh laundry bag
- Cold wash, gentle cycle
- Hang dry to retain shape
- Do not put in dryer
- Hook closures before washing
Storage
How to Store Your Pieces
Proper storage extends garment life between wears.
Breathe
Store in a cool, dry, ventilated space. Avoid sealed bags or humid closets.
Fold, Don't Hang
Compression garments lose shape when hung long-term. Fold and stack neatly.
Avoid Sun
Prolonged sun exposure fades color and degrades elastic. Store away from windows.
Clean First
Never store worn activewear. Sweat residue accelerates fabric breakdown.
Real Wear Support
Have a Question About Your Garment?
Our team is ready to help with care, sizing, fit, or anything else. Chat with us directly.
Common Questions
FAQ
Answers to the questions we get most often.
Synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon can trap odor-causing bacteria deep in the fibers. Using too much detergent makes this worse, residue builds up and locks in smells. Try reducing detergent by half and adding half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle. Soak heavily affected pieces in cold water with vinegar for 30 minutes before washing.
We strongly recommend against it. Even a single dryer cycle on low heat can cause elastane and spandex fibers to contract and lose elasticity. The compression fit and moisture-wicking performance are permanently affected. Air drying takes a few extra hours but your leggings will last significantly longer.
Pilling is caused by fabric friction, both during wear and during washing. Washing with rough fabrics like jeans or towels accelerates it significantly. Always use a mesh laundry bag and wash only with similar smooth fabrics. A fabric shaver can remove existing pills without damaging the garment.
After every intense workout, sweat, bacteria, and body oils break down fabric over time if left sitting. For light activity or loungewear worn at home, every 2–3 wears is acceptable. The key is to air the garment out after each wear even if you don't wash it immediately.
No. Fabric softener coats the fibers of moisture-wicking fabrics, which directly impairs their ability to pull sweat away from your skin. Over time it also reduces elasticity. Skip it entirely for all performance activewear. For a natural softening effect, a small amount of white vinegar in the rinse cycle works well.
Treat stains as soon as possible, the longer they sit, the harder they are to remove. Rinse with cold water immediately, then gently work a small amount of mild liquid detergent into the stain. Do not scrub harshly. For oil-based stains, a drop of dish soap works well. Avoid stain remover sprays with bleaching agents on colored fabrics.
Always wash inside out to protect the outer dye layer. Use cold water only, hot water opens fabric fibers and accelerates color loss. Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight during drying. Choose a detergent free of optical brighteners, which can subtly strip color from dyed fabrics over time.
Real Wear US
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