Edited by the Silverskin team
Wash your base layer without compromising its stretch and breathability properties? If you don't know how to wash a thermal shirt or have just purchased one of our technical sports underwear items and don't know how to care for it, this article provides the complete guide with practical tips to maintain the quality of your base layer over time.
Washing a thermal shirt according to the materials
Thermal shirts and sports underwear are now available in many different materials: each offers different product benefits and requires specific washing precautions. Let's look at the main ones:
Merino Wool
Merino wool is a breathable natural fiber. If you want to wash your merino wool thermal shirt without pilling, it is advisable to machine wash it in cold water, without spinning, or on a delicate wool cycle. Do not use bleach or fabric softeners and let it air dry.
Cotton
Cotton garments tend to absorb a lot of sweat, but fortunately they can withstand washing at higher temperatures, between 40°C and 60°C, and longer cycles. This way you can effectively remove bad odors from your sports underwear and speed up drying thanks to spinning.
Synthetics
Synthetic fiber thermal shirts are designed to offer high breathability, but very often odors and sweat stains concentrate in critical areas, especially if the garments remain closed in the bag for a long time after exercising. To wash a thermal shirt correctly, choose specific cycles for synthetic or delicate garments at a low temperature and use a neutral detergent.
Silverskin Yarn
Silverskin base layers are made with a special 3D construction process and an innovative yarn based on pure silver fibers which, together, allow the skin to stay dry and body temperature to remain constant during sports activity, in any weather condition. Discover how to preserve the technical performance and snug fit that characterize our technical underwear.
How to wash Silverskin base layers
If you don't know how to wash your Silverskin garments, the first rule to avoid damaging your sports underwear is machine washing at a maximum temperature of 30°C. Due to the particular structure of our yarn, in fact, hand washing is highly risky and therefore not recommended: applying friction in areas where you sweat the most, for example under the armpits, or wringing the shirt to remove excess water, are actions that can irreversibly damage the fibers of the Silverskin fabric, compromising its elasticity and therefore its comfort.
The easiest way to care for your base layer is to rely on a machine wash and a neutral detergent. But how to wash sports garments in the washing machine? Avoid wool detergents and do not use fabric softener: the latter could alter the breathability of the fibers, leading to a loss of functionality.
How to dry thermal shirts
Speaking of drying, you might be wondering: can I use the dryer after washing? In this case, the answer is also no, but don't worry: the construction features of our products make them very quick to dry.
To summarize, here are 3 simple points to keep in mind for washing a thermal shirt:
- Machine wash at a maximum temperature of 30°C;
- Use a neutral detergent;
- Air dry, laying the base layer flat.
And what to never do:
- Do not use fabric softener;
- Do not wash by hand;
- Do not dry clean;
- Do not iron;
- Do not use a dryer;
- Do not wring.
Tip to save energy and protect the environment
Did you know that the silver fibers in our yarn exert an antibacterial action that prevents bad odors from forming? This is why your base layer doesn't smell like sweat even after an intense training session. This means that there is no need to wash your underwear after every bike ride, run, or ski trip: simply hang it outside to air dry and it will be as if it had never been used. By washing the base layer after 2 or even 3 uses, you will avoid unnecessary washes, reducing energy consumption and therefore helping the planet.
Explore our collections of base layers and accessories, designed to offer you perfect temperature regulation during your favorite sport. Discover the Stay Fresh, Stay Warm, Stay X-Warm line, and the latest news from Silverskin: Primo Thermo Dry Pro.