Bike Shorts Care: How to Wash and Dry Without Damage
By Women's Activewear and Workout Clothes | Published: 2026-10-20
Category: Tips & Care
Learn the right way to wash and dry bike shorts so they keep their fit, color, and performance. Avoid pilling, fading, and stretched elastic with these simple steps.
Quick answer
Wash bike shorts in cold water on a gentle cycle, then air dry flat away from direct heat. This preserves the fabric's stretch, shape, and sweat-wicking performance.
Why bike shorts need special care
Bike shorts are made from stretchy synthetic blends like spandex and nylon. These fabrics are sensitive to heat, harsh detergents, and aggressive washing. Hot water and high heat drying can break down elastic fibers, causing the shorts to lose their grip and shape. Pilling and fading are also common when shorts are washed with rough items like denim or towels.
The Gone Wild 12cm Bike Shorts, for example, use LJ Excel Pro fabric designed to wick sweat and stay secure during high intensity workouts. To keep that performance, you need to treat the fabric gently. A little extra care during laundry extends the life of your shorts significantly.
How to wash and dry bike shorts (step by step)
- Turn shorts inside out: This protects the outer fabric from friction and helps prevent pilling. It also allows the sweat-wicking inner layer to get clean. Check pockets for items before turning inside out.
- Wash in cold water on a gentle cycle: Use a mild detergent without fabric softener or bleach. Fabric softener coats the fibers and reduces moisture wicking. Set the machine to a delicate or hand wash cycle with cold water. If your shorts are heavily soiled, pre-soak in cold water for 15 minutes before washing.
- Never use the dryer: High heat damages elastic and can cause shrinkage. Instead, lay the shorts flat on a clean towel or drying rack away from direct sunlight and radiators. Reshape them while damp to maintain the fit. Hanging bike shorts by the waistband can stretch out the elastic over time. Always lay flat.
Product spotlight
- Gone Wild 12cm Bike Shorts: The Gone Wild 12cm Bike Shorts are made from sweat wicking LJ Excel Pro fabric and have a high rise waistband with a stabilising hidden rubber edge. The hidden rubber edge helps the shorts stay put during movement, but it can lose elasticity if exposed to high heat in the dryer. Air drying protects that feature.
Gone Wild 12cm Bike Shorts
