I don’t think there is anyone more happier than I am about athletic wear becoming a larger part of people’s everyday wardrobes. I thoroughly enjoy the idea of being able to hit up a workout, make one edit to my look and then continue on with the rest of my day still on trend and comfy may I add. After spending a good portion of the last 25 years in workout clothes, I’ve come to realize one thing. The technical fabrics used in today’s activewear are no doubt functional, making them ultra comfortable, flattering and moisture wicking, however they often become odour magnets making your workout clothes the home of trapped in dirt and sweat. Have you ever hit the gym in an outfit you’ve just washed and noticed the garments start to smell before you’ve even begun the workout? It’s actually happened to me a several times and had me thinking I had lost my damn mind and put on dirty clothes or that our top load washer was no longer doing the trick. After switching to a new front load washer, the problem still existed. Turns out, I’m not a lunatic – go figure! This occasionally smelly situation has a term and it’s known as “Rebloom“. If not in your gym clothes, some of you may have encountered this with towels shortly after laundry day. You know for a fact you washed them, but you smell a hint of mildew releasing while drying off post shower.

The only way to combat the rebloom effect is to break down dirt and body soils at a different fibre level so smells don’t come back. With all our daily workouts and activities, I am literally drowning in dirty laundry desperate for some TLC by the time the end of the week rolls around. Now was a better time than any to try out the new Tide + Downy Odor Defense Collection, which I am referring to as the “Trifecta”. I am a bit of a skeptic when a new product is said to be “ground-breaking”, “life-changing” or a “game changer” and after years of experiencing the same odour issues with my workout gear, I didn’t set my expectations high. Tights and a sports bra are my go to when I’m working out in the gym, so I used items with Dry-Fit, Nike’s moisture wicking fabric, to put Tide + Downy Collection through the ultimate test. I am not quite sure how well each product works independently but combined together, all of my garments smelled unbelievably fresh, even heavily sweat soiled sports bras and running shorts with absolutely no hint of the rebloom effect making it’s way back into the clothes – thank God!

If you are using regular liquid detergent or god forbid powder, stop what you are doing right now and proceed directly to your nearest grocery store and pick up Tide Pods Plus Febreeze Odor Defense. Never again do I want to worry if I am putting too much or too little detergent for each load or whether or not a detergent has to the power to eliminate deeply rooted odours. The 4-in-1 pod is power packed to remove residue and surface stains. But just like any good sports team, the other teammates need to be equally as strong. Enter Tide Odor Rescue with Febreeze Odor Defense and Downy Fresh Protect with Febreeze Odor Defense. The former is a mega in-wash booster that penetrates deep down to remove odors and dirt trapped in the fibres while the latter contains motion activated beads that also banishes doors but more importantly seals in the odor protection technology so clothes stay fresh long after their washed, making it a critical component to the collection. Basically, deodorant for your clothes!

Photography by JessBaumung.com

Looking to avoid the embarrassing and smelly result of rebloom in your activewear clothing? This incredible trio of products can now be found in most mass retail and grocery stores nationwide. Check out Tide.ca for more information on their products and special offers.

I created this post as an ambassador for Tide. All opinions and advice are of my own and I only work with companies I either genuinely love or have used prior to being contracted.