If you’re a fan of Lululemon yoga pants, you’re not alone. Innovative fabrics, stylish design, and superior performance make Lululemon yoga pants and tights perfect for everything from the sweatiest exercise session in the yoga studio to a casual coffee run. This article explains how to wash and clean your Lululemon yoga pants to keep them looking and feeling great, workout after workout.

Lululemon Yoga Pants: Style and Performance In and Out of the Gym

When it comes to stylish activewear that holds up to the heaviest workouts, Lululemon gear is a go-to brand for the Heritage Park Laundry Essentials team. We love the fit and performance of Align yoga pants, leggings, and joggers; we wear them everywhere from working on yoga poses in the studio to the elliptical machine to running errands around town. There are lots of color choices and the styles are always flattering; we can even dress up our Lulus with a chunky sweater or crop top for a more finished look that passes muster in our casual office. And that versatility is a good thing because Lululemon clothing is definitely an investment. With that in mind, we prioritize taking great care of our Lululemon gear, especially our yoga pants. As laundry experts, we’re always happy to share our knowledge; read on for tips on how to clean your Lululemon yoga pants, tights, and joggers and keep them looking and feeling great.

Choose the Right Detergent for Washing Your Lululemon Pants

No two ways about it: after a run or a yoga session, your Lululemon leggings and pants get sweaty. These garments need to be cleaned well. At the same time, the fabric comes in direct contact with your skin, so you need a detergent that won’t irritate or trigger contact dermatitis or other allergies, especially if you’ve got sensitive skin. We recommend using Heritage Park All-Purpose Laundry Detergent, Fragrance Free. Made with natural, plant-based ingredients, this pH-neutral, concentrated detergent is fragrance-free, lab-certified as hypoallergenic, and dermatologist-tested (learn more about hypoallergenic detergent here). Heritage Park All-Purpose detergent contains a powerful blend of natural cleaning enzymes that break down and remove sweat, stain, dirt, and odors without heavy chemicals or unnecessary fragrance. Learn how enzymes work and more about the harsh chemicals we DON’T use in our products here.

Note: if you prefer a subtle scent in your detergent, choose one of our lightly fragranced options, including Spring Magnolia, Lavender Mist, or Shore Breeze.

Supplies You’ll Need to Wash Your Lululemon Yoga Pants and Leggings

Before you begin washing your Lululemon pants, gather the following supplies:

• Heritage Park All-Purpose Laundry Detergent in Fragrance-Free/Hypoallergenic (or one of our lightly scented formulas)
• A washing machine with a gentle cycle
• Mesh laundry bags 
• A spray bottle for making your own enzyme solution
• A tub or bucket for pre-soaking
• A drying rack

Simple Steps for Washing Your Lululemon Yoga Pants, Leggings, and Joggers

Follow these washing instructions to take the very best care possible of your Lululemon pants (Note: you can adapt these instructions for different types and styles of Lululemon gear, including Align, Wunder Train, Groove, and other performance pant styles along with bras and athletic tanks and tops).

Step 1: Read the Care Label

The care label on your Lululemon gear is the absolute best place to start before any type of cleaning. Read it carefully! 

Step 2: Get Out of that Sweaty Clothing ASAP and Air it Out

There are two reasons not to hang out in sweaty Lululemon gear after your workout. First, sweat, odor, and stains can soak in to the fabric (looking at you, hot yoga). Second, sweaty workout gear is the perfect breeding ground for yeast, fungus, and bacteria all of which can lead to skin irritation and other health issues. Speaking of yeast, fungus, and bacteria, it’s really best not to put damp Lululemon clothes and gear into a gym bag; do your best to air these items out until you can wash. 

Step 3: Pretreat and Presoak Stains Immediately

Pre-treat or pre-soak any sweat or other stains as soon as possible. We recommend using an enzyme stain remover or make a solution of a 1:1 ratio of Heritage Park All Purpose Laundry Detergent and water in a spray bottle. If you’re on the go, think about carrying an enzyme stain stick or portable spray bottle to use as needed. Pro tip: You can even use this spray as a cleaning solution to clean your Lululemon yoga mat after using it to keep it clean and fresh; spray and wipe with a damp cloth.

Step 4: Wash Lululemon Pants and Clothes in a Dedicated Load

Trust us on this one. Of course, we always recommend washing darks and colors separately, but exercise gear should also be washed in its own dedicated loads. Even if they’re in the same color family, heavier items like jeans can damage your Lululemon pants and clothing, while washing your exercise clothing with towels or socks can leave you with LOTS of unwanted lint.

Step 5: Consider Using a Mesh Laundry Bag

Just like lingerie, your exercise gear should be turned inside out. You can also place it inside a mesh laundry bag to protect it from snagging on tiny burrs of metal inside the machine tub or twisting around the agitator mechanism. For yoga pants, use a large mesh bag that will allow the items to move inside the machine.

Step 6: Use A Gentle Cycle and Cold to Cool Water

Even if your clothing is sweaty, resist the temptation to use a powerful cycle and hot water. These are not recommended for performance synthetic fabric; in fact, Lululemon recommends using cold water to wash all clothing, although we occasionally use warm water to wash our personal items. Choose a delicate or hand washing cycle for your machine and check out our guide to laundry machine cycles and settings here. 

Step 7: Skip the Bleach, Fabric Softener, and Dryer Sheets

These products are unnecessary and can damage Lululemon clothing. Bleach will cause discoloration and yellowing, and fabric softeners and dryer sheets will leave a waxy build-up both on fabric and on the inside of your machine. If you need to tackle lingering odors in your workout clothing, use white vinegar to banish the sweat smell; this can be used either as a pre-soak or you can run a load with white vinegar instead of detergent and stop the machine mid-cycle to allow for a soak. 

Step 8: Hang Your Lululemon Pants to Dry

When your Lululemon clothes and pants are finished in the wash cycle, hang them to dry, ideally on a drying rack. The heat of a dryer is not good for performance fabric; it can diminish its look, feel, and stretch which will interfere with your yoga practice and other exercise routines.

We hope we’ve provided some useful information that can help you make the most of your Lululemon gear. Of course, if you have any questions about caring for Lululemon yoga pants or other performance and athletic clothing, feel free to contact us!