Tried and Tested: The Best Laundry Detergent For Your Fitness Gear

If you've ever recoiled at your own scent during a class or been embarrassed at the odor coming from you post-workout while running errands, Downy Fresh Protect ($12) is the pick for you. Adding it to your wash helps protect clothing by neutralizing foul odors that might occur during wear — think of it as protection against the stink that settles in once sweat dries.

After washing a load of workout clothing in Downy Fresh Protect, I put an outfit to the test by doing back-to-back workouts: a 45-minute SoulCycle class followed by 90 minutes of yoga. Despite sweating profusely in both classes, my clothes smelled just as fresh as they did before exercising. The product can fall a little to the floral side, so if you're not keen on strong smells, I've found that it still does the job when I add half the recommended amount to my wash.