The easy part? Always wash your kit gently.
The tricky part? A good pair of bibs often sees very different conditions – and that’s worth keeping in mind before you throw them in the wash.

No doubt about it – putting your bib shorts (or any cycling kit, really) through the washing machine is one of the toughest things you can do to them. But let’s get one thing straight right away:
No, this doesn’t mean you can skip a wash every other time.
You need to wash them – after every single ride.

I’d go as far as to say this: if there’s one piece of clothing you really shouldn’t leave sweaty and crumpled after a ride – it’s your bib shorts. They sit closest to your body, constantly in contact with your most sensitive areas. Which makes them the ultimate collector of sweat, heat, moisture, salt, and dirt.

Everything your skin tries to get rid of – ends up right here.
Over time, it can break down the elasticity, leaving the fabric dull, stiff, and eventually stripped of all functionality.

It might sound counterintuitive, but a gentle wash protects your bib shorts better than letting them dry while still sweaty. Sweat is full of salts and acids that break down fabric over time.
The best way to take care of your cycling kit? Wash it.

If you don’t wash them, bacteria get free rein. And that’s not just bad for the fabric — it’s bad for your skin too. For many, this is exactly where saddle sores and irritation begin.

So let this be your reminder: wash your bib shorts after every ride – and do it as soon as you can.

THE SOLID STARTING POINT

How you wash them also plays a major role in how long your bib shorts will last.

It’s obviously not rocket science. And sure – all our bibs come with an inside care label, and if you follow that, you’re doing fine.

But based on the many conversations we’ve had with customers in the showroom, most people don’t actually understand all those washing symbols.

And then there’s probably quite a few who do what I’ve often done myself with new clothing: cut off the care label right away, toss it – and never think about it again.

The good news? The basics are actually pretty simple. And maybe not even new to you. If you follow the steps below, you’ve already got the essentials covered:

• Always wash your bib shorts after every ride. The sooner, the better.
  
  
• Use a gentle cycle at max 30°C. A sportswear or wool programme works well.
  
  
• Always turn them inside out before washing – it helps protect both fabric and prints.
  
  
• Whatever you do, don’t wash them with anything velcro. Velcro is like sandpaper in a washing machine.
  
  
• If you really want to treat your bibs well, avoid washing them with your jerseys. Zips wear down fabric far more than soft materials – though we get that separating items can make laundry a bit more of a chore.
  
  
• If you do wash them together, at least zip everything up first – it helps minimise damage to the rest of your kit.
  
  
• Use a mild, fragrance-free detergent. Skip the fabric softener – it ruins elasticity.
  
  
• Air dry them. Never tumble dry, never on a radiator.
  
  
• Avoid drying in direct sunlight – it fades the fabric over time.

PROBABLY THE WORLD’S MOST UNDERRATED BAG

The laundry bag. For god’s sake – don’t forget the laundry bag!

Combine the steps above with a mesh laundry bag for your bib shorts, and you’re instantly levelling up your wash game. More importantly – you’re seriously extending the life of your bibs.

Maybe this all sounds like common sense to you – nothing new under the sun. But that wasn’t the case for me. The laundry bag only really became a thing for me during the development of 2NED. And what a revelation it turned out to be.

Using a laundry bag comes with real benefits. One of the biggest is that it reduces the mechanical stress caused when your kit gets tossed around and rubbed against other garments or the drum of the machine. Especially the fine fibres that help maintain elasticity get better protection.

It also makes it much safer to wash bibs and jerseys together. And trust me – I get it. You’re not always up for splitting your wash into separate loads. It just makes the whole process way more complicated.

To be honest, I rarely manage to separate them either. The reality? Strip off the sweaty kit, throw everything of the same colour in the machine – and hit the shower.

But I always remember the laundry bag. That smart, cheap little fix. Because it prevents that direct clash between bibs and jerseys – especially bibs and zippers. And that means less wear. Simple as that.

THREE BONUS TIPS

Now that we've covered the basics, it's time for three bonus tips. Bibs in the shower, household vinegar, and baking soda might sound a bit over the top—but trust me—the more care you put into washing your kit, the longer you'll enjoy your favourite pair of bib shorts.

1. Rainy days call for extra water
If you've had a wet ride, your kit is bound to be extra dirty. The reward for braving the rain? A bit more washing up to do. Simple as that.

Sure, it's tedious—but this minor effort does wonders for your bib shorts, and it's really not complicated. Just give your bibs a quick rinse in cold water straight after the ride. A quick splash—under the shower or in the sink—will remove most of the dirt, sweat, and salt before it sets into the fabric. This simple extra step will undoubtedly extend the life of your shorts.

And you're not just extending the lifespan of your bibs—you're also doing your washing machine a favour. Small stones, sand, and grit stuck in your clothes aren’t exactly friendly to your machine. And let's be honest, you don't want that grit coming back next time you slip into your shorts.

2. The miracles of vinegar
Cycling and vinegar seem to go hand in hand these days. There's certainly a growing trend among cyclists using pickle juice to combat cramps. Pogacar grabbing a bottle of pickle juice during Roubaix probably hasn't done much to slow down the hype, either.

While Pogacar might need pickle juice, your bib shorts can skip the cucumbers and settle for plain vinegar instead. Here, vinegar also works wonders—especially if your bib shorts feel stiff or if they've lost that soft, almost-new feeling. Try soaking them briefly in lukewarm water with a splash of household vinegar. It sounds old-school, but it works.

Vinegar neutralises soap residues, removes limescale, and freshens the fabric—without damaging elasticity. Just rinse thoroughly afterwards. It won't fix scuffs or scrapes, but it'll bring your bibs back to feeling like themselves. All for about five minutes and five quid's worth of effort.

3. Forgotten them in the washing machine? You're not alone.
We've all been there. Bibs go into the machine. You forget the wash. The next day, the machine door opens—and out comes that distinctive smell reminding you exactly why damp sportswear shouldn't be left behind.

Don't panic. Let them air dry thoroughly, then give them another gentle wash at a low temperature, preferably adding a teaspoon of baking soda. It helps eliminate that musty, forgotten-in-the-machine odour, allowing your bib shorts to (almost) forgive you for your sins.

LOVE YOUR KIT

Longevity matters to us. A lot.
Whenever we develop new styles, it’s a constant focus. A core element that calls for a lengthy process of research and testing—so we can make sure the fabrics, zippers, pads and other components actually contribute to the lifespan of the final product.

Hopefully, this wash guide will help you extend the life of your favourite pair of bib shorts. Follow the steps, and I’m confident you’ll feel the difference.
It might not be a stretch to say: your kit deserves the same kind of love you give your bike.