Knowing how to wash a gymnastics leotard properly is the difference between a leotard that lasts a full season and one that looks tired after a month. Even a high-quality leotard gets ruined if it is washed wrong. Hot water, a tumble dryer or a capful of fabric softener can undo the stretch, colour and shine you paid for in just a few cycles.
The good news is that caring for a leotard is quick and simple once you know the rules. In this guide, we explain what actually damages leotard fabric, how to hand wash and machine wash safely, how to dry and store it, and how to look after foil, rhinestones, velvet and mesh.
Quick answer: how to wash a gymnastics leotard. Turn it inside out, wash it in cold water (30°C or lower) with a mild liquid detergent, by hand or on a gentle cycle in a mesh laundry bag. Skip fabric softener and bleach, press the water out without wringing, and air dry it flat. Never use a tumble dryer.
In This Guide
What Ruins a Gymnastics Leotard?
Most gymnastics leotards are made from a nylon or polyester blend with spandex (also called elastane or Lycra). Spandex is what gives a leotard its 4-way stretch and stay-put fit, but it is also the most delicate fibre in the garment. Five things damage it faster than anything else, and Consumer Reports warns against most of them for synthetic sportswear: hot water, chlorine bleach, fabric softener and washing with jeans.
1. Heat
High heat breaks down spandex. A hot wash or a tumble dryer makes the fabric lose its spring, so the leotard starts to sag, bag at the seat and ride up. Heat can also loosen the glue that holds rhinestones and foil in place.
2. Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheets
Softener coats fibres with a waxy layer. On performance fabric, that layer traps sweat and odour instead of letting the fabric breathe, and it weakens the elastic over time. Leotards do not need softening.
3. Bleach and Harsh Stain Removers
Chlorine bleach attacks spandex and strips colour, leaving patchy fading. Solvent-based stain removers can also damage foil finishes and the backing on embellishments.
4. Friction
Washing a leotard with jeans, towels or anything with zips and Velcro causes pilling and snags. Rhinestones catch and pull loose, and foil scuffs off.
5. Leaving It Damp
A sweaty leotard left balled up in a gym bag is a perfect home for bacteria. Smells set into the fibres and become harder to wash out, and dyes can transfer onto other kit. The American Academy of Dermatology advises washing athletic clothing after every use to help prevent skin infections.
How to Wash a Gymnastics Leotard: Step by Step
Before you wash a gymnastics leotard, always check the care label, because it has the final word for that leotard. If the label allows both, hand washing is the gentlest option and machine washing is fine for everyday training leotards.
How to Hand Wash a Leotard
Hand washing is the gentlest way to wash a gymnastics leotard and the best choice for competition leotards, embellished styles and anything you want to keep looking new.
- Turn it inside out. This protects the outer finish and puts the side that touched the skin, where most sweat sits, facing the water.
- Fill a basin with cold water. Add a small amount of mild liquid detergent, ideally one made for activewear or delicates. Mix it in before the leotard goes in.
- Soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Gently swish the leotard through the water. Do not scrub or rub the fabric against itself.
- Rinse in cold, clean water until no suds remain. Leftover detergent can irritate skin and dull colours.
- Press out the water. Squeeze gently or roll the leotard in a clean towel. Never wring or twist it, which strains the elastic.
How to Machine Wash a Leotard
Most training leotards can go in the machine if you set it up correctly.
- Turn the leotard inside out and place it in a mesh laundry bag.
- Wash with similar items only. Other leotards, leggings and soft activewear in similar colours are fine. Keep it away from jeans, towels and anything with zips or Velcro.
- Choose a cold, gentle or delicates cycle (30°C or lower) with a low spin speed.
- Use a small amount of mild liquid detergent. Skip fabric softener, bleach and powder detergents, which can leave residue in stretch fabric.
- Take it out as soon as the cycle ends so it does not sit damp and creased in the drum.
Consumer Reports gives the same core advice for synthetic sportswear: wash it soon after training, turn it inside out, sort by colour and keep it out of loads with denim.
How to Dry and Store a Leotard
Once you wash a gymnastics leotard, drying is where most damage happens, so this step matters as much as the wash itself.
- Never use a tumble dryer. Even a low setting slowly breaks down spandex and can melt foil or loosen rhinestones.
- Lay it flat or hang it from the body. Dry it on a towel or a drying rack. If you hang it, drape it over the rack rather than hanging it by the straps, which can stretch them.
- Keep it out of direct sun and away from radiators. Strong sun fades bright colours and heat damages the stretch.
- Store it fully dry. Fold it loosely or roll it in a drawer. Avoid hanging leotards on wire hangers for long periods.
A leotard made from performance fabric usually dries within a few hours at room temperature.
How Often Should You Wash a Leotard?
You should wash a gymnastics leotard after every wear, training or competition. Sweat, skin oils and chalk build up quickly and break down fabric faster than washing does. If you cannot wash it straight away, take it out of the gym bag and hang it to air until wash day.
Rotating two or three leotards across the training week also helps. Each one gets time to dry fully and recover its shape, and none of them carries the full load of daily washing. If you are not sure how many your gymnast needs, our guide to the only gymnastics equipment you really need covers the basics.
How to Care for Foil, Rhinestone, Velvet and Mesh Leotards
Competition leotards often mix several fabrics and finishes, so knowing how to wash a gymnastics leotard with embellishments means giving each one a little extra care.
- Rhinestones and crystals: hand wash only, inside out. Never iron over them or put them near heat. If a stone comes loose, set it aside and reattach it with fabric glue before the next wear.
- Foil and metallic finishes: hand wash in cold water and avoid rubbing the foil against itself or other fabric. Do not soak for long periods, and never use a stain remover directly on the foil.
- Velvet: wash inside out to protect the pile, and press water out gently. Lay flat to dry and brush lightly with your hand once dry to lift the texture.
- Mesh panels: mesh snags easily, so always use a mesh laundry bag in the machine, or hand wash. Keep it away from Velcro and jewellery.
Removing Chalk, Sweat and Deodorant Marks
Shake or brush off dry chalk before washing. For sweat or deodorant marks, dab a small amount of mild detergent onto the area from the inside, leave it for 10 minutes, then wash as normal in cold water. For lingering odour, soak the leotard for 20 to 30 minutes in cold water with a splash of white vinegar before washing. Test on a hidden area first and keep vinegar away from foil and rhinestones.
Leotard Care: Quick Do’s and Don’ts
| Do | Don’t |
|---|---|
| Wash after every wear | Leave it damp in the gym bag |
| Use cold water, 30°C or lower | Use hot water |
| Turn it inside out | Wash it with jeans, towels or zips |
| Use a mesh laundry bag | Add fabric softener or dryer sheets |
| Use mild liquid detergent | Use bleach or harsh stain removers |
| Press water out gently | Wring or twist it |
| Air dry flat or draped | Tumble dry, even on low |
| Rotate two or three leotards | Iron it, especially over embellishments |
Modevant Leotards Are Made to Last
Good care makes any leotard last longer, but it starts with a leotard that is built for real training. Every Modevant leotard, including the Aysha leotard and the Tiana leotard, is made with high-quality 4-way stretch fabric, a secure stay-put cut and finishes designed to hold their colour and shine through regular washing. Follow this guide on how to wash a gymnastics leotard and yours will keep its fit and sparkle all season.
Want to know what separates a well-made leotard from a cheap one? Read why high-quality gymnastics leotards are worth it. And to make sure the next one fits perfectly, use our gymnastics leotard sizing guide.
How to Wash a Gymnastics Leotard: FAQs
Can you put a gymnastics leotard in the washing machine?
Yes, most training leotards can be machine washed. Turn it inside out, put it in a mesh laundry bag and use a cold, gentle cycle with mild liquid detergent. For competition leotards with rhinestones or foil, hand washing is safer.
Can you put a leotard in the dryer?
No. Dryer heat breaks down the spandex that gives a leotard its stretch, and it can loosen rhinestones and damage foil. Always air dry flat or draped over a rack.
What temperature should I wash a leotard at?
Cold water, 30°C or lower. Cold water cleans performance fabric well with a mild detergent and protects both the stretch and the colour.
Why does my leotard still smell after washing?
Usually because of fabric softener build-up or because it sat damp before washing. Skip softener, wash soon after training, and soak it for 20 to 30 minutes in cold water with a little white vinegar before the next wash.
How do I wash a leotard with rhinestones?
Hand wash it inside out in cold water with mild detergent, swish gently without scrubbing, press the water out with a towel and lay it flat to dry. Never iron or tumble dry an embellished leotard.
Conclusion: A Few Minutes of Care Goes a Long Way
Washing a gymnastics leotard the right way takes only a few extra minutes: cold water, inside out, no softener, no dryer. Those small habits protect the stretch, colour and sparkle that make a leotard fit and look its best, wash after wash.
Ready for a leotard that is built to last? Shop Modevant gymnastics leotards with free worldwide shipping on every order.
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