How to Care for and Wash Your MTB Performance Apparel

That $30 graphic tee or technical jersey shouldn't die in the wash after a few rides — but regular laundry habits are exactly what kills technical fabric fastest. Here's how to actually make your gear last.

Why Regular Detergent Is a Problem

Standard detergents often contain fabric softener or heavy fragrance additives that coat synthetic fibers, clogging the moisture-wicking pores that make technical fabric work in the first place. Over time this leaves jerseys feeling damp and clammy even when they're technically dry — the fabric stops doing its job.

Fix: Use a detergent formulated for technical/athletic wear, or at minimum skip fabric softener entirely on any wicking fabric.

Washing Temperature and Drying

• Cold water wash — hot water breaks down elastic fibers and can cause printed graphics to crack or fade faster.
• Air dry when possible — high heat from a dryer is the single biggest cause of shrinkage and print damage on graphic tees.
• If you must machine dry, use low heat and pull items out slightly damp to finish air-drying.

Removing Trail Dirt Without Ruining Prints

• Rinse or pre-treat visible dirt/mud stains before washing — let dried mud crack and brush off first rather than rubbing it in with detergent.
• Turn graphic tees inside out before washing — this protects the printed design from direct friction against zippers or other garments in the wash.
• Avoid bleach entirely on printed graphics; even color-safe formulas can dull print vibrancy over repeated washes.

Extending the Life of Graphic Tees Specifically

• Wash inside out, always
• Skip the dryer for anything with a printed (not woven) graphic
• Avoid ironing directly on a printed design — if needed, iron inside out on low heat

A few small habit changes — cold water, inside-out washing, air drying — can genuinely double the usable life of your favorite gear. Small effort, real payoff.

Take care of the gear you love — shop our latest apparel drops.

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