Is It OK To Re-Wear Your Dirty Workout Clothes?

A study the University of Alberta found that surprisingly, the bacteria counts on synthetic versus natural fabrics were not significantly different. As long as there's moisture and air, bacteria will continue to multiply until they reach a saturation point.

There are some exceptions though, such as with Viscose, which is made from regenerated wood cellulose. Also, fabrics can be treated and infused with specific antimicrobials, such as copper, silver, or gold particles, to kill and prevent bacterial growth. 

But more importantly, there's a big difference in the TYPES of bacteria that tend to grow in different fabrics. 

Micrococcus grows the most on polyester because they're an aerobic bacteria that prefers the open-air lattice structure of synthetic fibers. The result is what causes your polyesters to stink more than cotton, especially when reworn, as micrococcus is known for its ability to create malodor from sweat secretions. 

Meanwhile, a study at the University of Ghent in Belgium found that cotton tends to have the highest growth of Staphylococcus hominis, which is mostly harmless and usually found on the skin, but can occasionally cause infections under certain conditions. Nylons housed more propionibacterium, which are known to cause an intense, acidic foot odor. 

So in short, it's probably worse to re-wear your high-quality synthetic workout clothes, mainly because of the stench. Cotton is better to re-wear, but be careful if you're sick or immunocompromised. If you must re-wear something the next day, leave your clothes somewhere to dry quickly, as opposed to throwing them in a damp hamper. 

Infections aren't common, but they can occur. Anytime you wear tight, wet clothing for too long, especially when you put on yesterday's not-completely-dry yoga pants, it causes moisture to be trapped and retained, which can lead to fungal or yeast infections.

The risk of infections is also higher when your immune system is compromised, if you have any open wounds or sores, or if you're on certain meds like acne medication.

Speaking of which, another issue to look out for is acne. Re-wearing sweaty, dirty clothes can cause dirt and acne-causing bacteria to accumulate in your pores. 

Do you ever re-wear your Physiclo resistance pants?

Tell us what you're experience has been like! We'd love to hear your feedback.