You’ve bought your fresh new pair of knee sleeves, you’ve been crushing PRs in them for a few weeks, and everything is going great. But then, you notice it.
There is a little smell starting to come from them.
If you’ve been lifting for long enough, you know exactly what we’re talking about. Everyone who has used knee sleeves has been in this situation eventually. But take it from us: you don’t want to be the person in the gym with the smelly gear. No one wants to spot that person.
If you are wondering how to get them fresh again without ruining them, you've come to the right place. Here is our complete guide on how to clean your knee sleeves properly.
The Big Mistake: Washing Machines
The first thing you probably thought about doing was tossing them straight into the washing machine. Stop right there. This is one of the worst things you can do. As neoprene sleeves get washed in a machine, they absorb a significant amount of water and become extremely heavy. The violent spin cycle of a washing machine can damage the structural integrity of the sleeves, tear the seams, or, in a worst-case scenario, destroy them completely.
If you want to keep your sleeves tight and supportive for a long time, hand washing is the only way to go.
Option 1: The Best Way (Strength Suds)
Your best option is to use a cleaning liquid specially formulated for neoprene and heavy-duty fabrics. At City Strength, we use Strength Suds. This product was created specifically for cleaning all your training gear, from knee sleeves to singlets and wrist wraps. It is designed to eliminate stubborn odours, disinfect the material, and extend the life of your gear.
How to wash with Strength Suds:
- Fill a bucket or sink: Fill a bucket with warm water.
- Add the cleaner: Follow the directions on the label. For Strength Suds, we recommend 20ml (roughly 1-2 capfuls) per litre of water.
- Soak and Scrub: Place your sleeves in the water and give them a good scrub with your hands. Let them soak for roughly 10 minutes to let the suds do the work.
- Rinse: Rinse them thoroughly with clean fresh water until no soap remains.
- Dry: Allow them to air dry in a shady spot.
Important: Never leave your knee sleeves to dry in direct sunlight for long periods, as UV rays can damage and degrade the neoprene.
Option 2: Household Detergent
If you don't have a specialty cleaner on hand, you can use standard washing detergent, but you need to be careful. Use only a small amount. Some harsh detergents contain strong chemicals or bleaches that can degrade the neoprene over multiple washes. The more natural and mild the detergent, the better.
Option 3: The "Lazy" Method (The Shower)
If you have read this far and thought, "Mixing a bucket of water seems like way too much effort," we have an option for you, too. The Shower.
If you want to take the path of least resistance, just bring your sleeves in with you when you have a post-training shower. Wash them just like you wash yourself. Scrub them inside and out with body wash and rinse them thoroughly to get all the soap off. If you are unsure how to wash yourself in the shower... well, that might be a conversation for your mum and dad.
While this isn't the most effective method for deep cleaning, it will at least keep the sleeves smelling fresher than if you just left them to rot in your gym bag.
How to Prevent the Smell
Prevention is always better than a cure. If you want to stop your sleeves from stinking in the first place, follow this golden rule: Never leave sweaty sleeves in your gym bag or car.
This is the absolute worst place to keep them. Between uses, you should always take them out and allow them to air out. This simple habit will drastically delay the buildup of odours. However, you will still need to wash them eventually. The more you sweat, the more frequently you’ll need to wash them. Some heavy sweaters might need a weekly wash, while others might be fine with a monthly clean.
Just remember: it is much easier to wash knee sleeves that have a faint odour than it is to save knee sleeves that absolutely stink.
Keep your gear fresh, and we'll see you on the platform.