Perhaps counter-intuitively, our first piece of advice is to carefully consider how often you need to wash your most-used garments. Reducing the number of times you wash your garments can help to minimise fatigue caused by washing machine spin cycles and reduce your impact on the environment. In between washes, we recommend airing your cycling kit and using a sponge with mild soap or detergent to remove lighter stains or dirt.

When wash day arrives, it’s important to wipe any excess dirt from your kit with a sponge and warm water to avoid damaging your washing machine. Separating clothing by colour and material can be time-consuming, but it helps reduce the risk of colours running and allows you to adjust the wash settings according to the fabrics your garments are made with.

Set the temperature according to the individual care instructions and avoid using fabric softeners which can leave a waxy film on the garment. This build-up of waxy residue can impair your garments’ sweat-wicking, quick-drying and high-stretch and water-repellent qualities.

Finally, try to avoid tumble-drying your cycling clothes. Tumble dryers use a vast amount of energy and can also cause shrinkage and degrade the quality of your garments. If you absolutely need to use one, make sure to select a low heat setting.