Summertime laundry takes no vacations. In fact, it’s likely your laundry room tasks will be kicked up a notch as grass, deodorant, sweat, chlorine, and sunscreen stains accrue throughout the season.

To help ensure your laundry stays in top shape, fabric care experts Kim Romine and Wendy Saladyga share the seven most common summer laundry mistakes you might fall prey to, including how to avoid them.

• Kim Romine is a fabric care scientist at P&G.
• Wendy Saladyga is a fabric care expert and manager of technical performance at Henkel for Persil.

1. Not Washing Clothes Often Enough

We’ve been warned against washing certain clothing items (like jeans) too frequently, but during the summer months, you might need to ditch the “clothes chair” in favor of more frequent washing. Romine says that during the warmer months, our clothes are more often worn outside, where increased sweat, dirt, and other contaminants are likely issues.

“Because of this, even clothes worn for a short time might need to be laundered after one use to stay fresh and clean.” The laundry pro advises reading your care label and always opting for a high-quality detergent that can help ensure a more thorough clean. 

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2. Not Protecting Clothes from Chlorine and Saltwater Exposure

Summer fun can spell disaster for clothes that sit too long in chlorine and salt water, says Romine. Prolonged exposure to these elements due to not rinsing or washing items promptly can result in faded color, weakened fibers, and damaged fabrics. To avoid this scenario, the fabric care scientist suggests rinsing beach and pool clothes (including swimwear) with fresh water immediately after use, then following up with a thorough clean using a high-quality detergent as soon as possible.

3. Waiting Too Long to Wash Clothes

“Warmer months bring more sweat, and oftentimes people will throw their sweaty clothes in their laundry hamper, waiting to wash them,” says Romine. Unfortunately for many of us, sleeping on our summer laundry schedule allows dirt, sweat, and sunscreen to sit on clothes for an extended period, leading to more stubborn stains and odor buildup.

Romine advises tailoring your summer laundry schedule to smaller, more frequent loads to avoid giving soils and stains ample time to settle in.

4. Washing Sunscreen-Stained Clothes without Pretreatment

Sunscreen is a major laundry culprit this time of year. You’ll know it by the greasy or thick residue it leaves behind on clothes, which can be a bear to remedy. Romine says the secret is a pretreatment.

“Apply a small amount of liquid detergent directly onto the affected area and let it sit for at least five minutes before laundering as usual,” she says. “Be sure the stain is fully removed before placing the fabric in the dryer, as heat can set the stain permanently.”

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5. Letting Grass Stains Set In

There’s a secret to treating grass stains, and it all comes down to timing. “Grass stains are essentially dye stains that come from the chlorophyll in grass,” says Saladyga. “This makes them especially difficult to remove, and it’s also why fresh grass stains that haven’t yet dyed the fabric are much easier to deal with than those that have set in.”

To treat these outdoor stains before they permanently make their mark, the fabric care expert advises first removing any excess grass or dirt, then massaging a small amount of enzyme-formulated liquid detergent into the stain to help fight tough stains. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing with cold water. Repeat this pretreatment process as needed until the stain has lifted significantly. From there, wash as directed on the garment’s care label.

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6. Not Treating Deodorant Stains Immediately

Though deodorant might be a little less noticeable than a green grass stain across the knee of a pair of white pants, the yellow or white marks these formulas can leave behind can be just as stubborn.

Saladyga suggests removing any excess deodorant with a toothbrush while rinsing with cold water. A pretreatment can be poured directly on the affected area before giving it another light scrub with a toothbrush to more effectively break down the stain.

Let it sit for about 5 minutes before washing as directed on the garment’s care label. After your wash cycle and before tossing it in the dryer, be sure to inspect the item thoroughly for any remaining stains or residue. Repeat the pretreatment and washing steps if needed. 

7. Treating Your Workout Clothes Like Everyday Laundry

“Workout clothes, athletic wear, and exercise gear go through a lot—absorbing sweat, trapping odors, and stretching with every move,” says Saladyga. “Whether you’re washing your leggings or workout tops, using the right detergent and method is key to keeping them fresh, odor-free, and long-lasting.”

To preserve their performance-enhancing and moisture-wicking benefits, these items should be turned inside out to expose the areas where most sweat, grime, and bacteria have accumulated, the fabric care specialist advises. Pre-soak items with lingering odors for 15 to 30 minutes to give odor-causing bacteria ample time to break down.

Cold water will be your wash-cycle friend, as hot water can cause shrinkage to moisture-wicking fabrics like nylon, spandex, and polyester. Finally, air-dry these items to avoid weakening the elastic fibers.