Raise your hand if you've ever come home from a hard workout—or just running around on a hot day in your cutest matching set—and left your sweaty clothes in a heap on the floor or balled up in the hamper. I'm not too proud to admit that on the very day I interviewed an expert for this story, I did just that.

It turns out that letting sweaty clothes fester is one of the worst mistakes you can make when it comes to caring for athleisure and workout wear. Beyond that, there are several do's and don'ts when it comes to laundering these hardworking items. So I asked experts for their best advice on keeping workout clothes fresh and helping them last longer.

Now, with their tips in my head, I've vowed to correct my sweat-slobby ways. Here's what I learned.

Don't Let Sweat Sit

The top tip of all the experts I talked to might be the one that's easiest to mess up, especially if you exercise on your way to work or during your lunch hour. Still, to the extent possible, "don't let sweat sit," says Kim Romine, fabric care scientist. "When damp items linger in a hamper or gym bag, body soils can set into the fabric, making odors much harder to remove later."

If you can't wash your clothing immediately after a workout, at the very least let it air dry so that bacteria don't build up sitting in the hamper for days, says Stacee Parker, a laundry professional.

Turn Everything Inside Out

"Even before throwing your workout clothes into the wash, turn them inside out so the sweat and oil on the inside can be exposed more directly to the detergent," says Parker. Turning items inside out also exposes the areas where sweat and body oils accumulate most, so they get more agitation in the wash.

Wash ASAP

Here's where I confess another dirty secret: I don't always wash my workout clothing after each wear if I don't get especially sweaty. I know! But consider me reformed, because according to Romine, washing workout clothes as soon as possible after wearing them is "the single habit that makes the biggest difference, because it prevents sweat and body oils from setting into the fabric. When those soils sit, they become more difficult to remove and are more likely to cause persistent odor—even after washing."

If you're dealing with super-sweaty items, Romine advises pre-treating high-sweat zones like armpits and waistbands with detergent, while Parker recommends adding a 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle. "It will help break down bacteria and any remaining detergent that can cause odor buildup."

Use the Right Detergent—and the Right Amount

"One of the biggest mistakes when washing workout wear is using the wrong detergent," Romine says. "These garments are exposed to body oils and sweat, so they benefit from a high-quality detergent designed to effectively remove tough body soils." Be sure to follow dosing instructions because more isn't better here—it simply runs the risk of not dissolving and rinsing fully and thus coating your clothing, which will reduce wicking and breathability.

Of course you don't have to buy a separate detergent for your workout wear, but there are a number of products specifically designed for the task, and choosing one can make a difference in the performance of your workout clothes. Many sport formulations include targeted enzymes or robust surfactant systems that Romine says are better at breaking down body soils and oily residues from fibers.

Skip the Fabric Softener

Sorry, fabric softener fans, but this is one product you'll want to avoid when washing your favorite performance gear. "Most workout clothes are designed for breathability, and fabric softener creates a layer on fabric that reduces the breathability," Parker says, adding that over time, that can lead to your athletic wear losing its durability, as well as holding on to sweaty, smelly odors. So keep it for your favorite sweatshirt, if you must, but skip it for your favorite sports bra.

Keep It Cold

You might think a sanitizing hot-water wash would be the best choice for dissolving away stinky bacteria from clothing, but our experts agree that cold water is actually the best choice when it comes to extending the life and performance of your athleisure and workout wear. The reason? "Hot water is unfriendly to elastic fibers and can actually set in odors," Parker says. A cool or cold water wash will help keep the stretch in synthetic fabrics actually, well, stretchy.

Don't Stuff the Machine

Washing your athleisure or workout wear without other types of clothing—and in smaller loads—helps ensure that they'll get properly cleaned, Romine says. Especially delicate or strappy tops could benefit from being washed in a mesh delicates bag, and be sure to take out any removable pads from tops before tossing in the wash.

Finally, make sure any hooks on bra tops or velcro closures are secured, to prevent snagging.

Skip the Dryer

"High heat can damage stretch fibers and set stains and odors," Romine says, so your best bet is to skip the dryer altogether and hang your items up to air dry. In addition to extending the lifespan of your favorite items, you'll also save energy. If you're truly in a rush, a quick tumble on your dryer's cool setting is a good alternative.

Final Thoughts

The bottom line is that just like with exercise, habits matter when it comes to caring for your athleisure and workout wear. When you pair the right routine with a detergent designed to target body soils and odor, you can keep workout wear fresh, more comfortable, and performing at its best for longer. Start with these simple steps: wash promptly, use cold water, skip the fabric softener, and air dry. Your workout clothes will thank you — and so will your nose.