How to wash activewear: a simple care routine

October 30, 2026

Wash your activewear cold, with like colours, and lay it flat to dry. That is the Fabric & Care instruction on each Ancarta product page, together with two more: do not bleach, and do not iron directly on prints. Our FAQ adds two habits, turning pieces inside out and skipping fabric softener and the dryer, and one rule that comes before all of them: always check the care label.

Here is that routine step by step, where to find the instructions for your own piece, and what to do before its first wash.

Where do you find the care instructions for your piece?

Start with the care label inside the garment. It belongs to that exact piece, so where it differs from general advice, including this article, follow the label.

Each Ancarta product page also has a Fabric & Care section. On every product page we checked for this article, across our Vital, Refine, Macy, Core, Pace, Skye, Form and Organic Cotton pieces, it reads the same: Machine wash cold with like colours. Do not bleach. Lay flat to dry. Do not iron directly on prints. Our FAQ has a short care answer too.

Do different fabrics need different care?

Our ranges use different fabrics. The Vital listings describe a seamless knit of 90% polyamide and 10% elastane. The Refine listings give 78% polyamide and 22% elastane, and the Core listings 75% nylon and 25% spandex. The Organic Cotton Relaxed Hoodie is described as heavyweight organic cotton.

Even so, the Fabric & Care instruction on each of those product pages is the same. If the label inside your piece says something different, the label wins.

How do you wash activewear?

Turn it inside out. Our FAQ suggests washing pieces inside out.
Use cold water. Every product page we checked says machine wash cold.
Wash with like colours. Keep deep shades, such as Obsidian and Coffee, in one load and pale shades, such as Soft Pink, in another.
Leave out bleach and fabric softener. The product pages say do not bleach, and our FAQ says to skip fabric softener.

Woman in the black Vital Tank in Obsidian, with thin white-trimmed straps, a white-trimmed scoop neckline and small white ANCARTA lettering on the front, holding the hem slightly above black bottoms with a white-trimmed waistband, against a white background. — Vital Tank in Obsidian, a deep shade to wash with other darks.

Woman in the pale pink Vital Tank in Soft Pink, with thin white-trimmed straps, a scoop neckline and small white ANCARTA lettering on the front, worn with pale pink shorts, against a white background. — Vital Tank in Soft Pink, a pale shade to wash with other lights.

How do you dry activewear?

Skip the dryer and lay each piece flat to dry. Our FAQ gives hanging or laying flat as the two options, while the product pages say lay flat, so lay it flat unless your label says otherwise.

Before you reach for an iron, check the label. The product pages say not to iron directly on prints, so keep the iron off any printed detail.

Should you wash a new piece before you try it on?

Try it on first. Our Returns & Exchanges Policy accepts change-of-mind returns and exchanges within 14 days of delivery for items that are unworn and unwashed, with all tags attached. Try a new piece on at home with the tags still on, and wash it once you are sure of the fit. This does not affect your rights if a piece is faulty.

If you are still choosing a size, our size guide and our notes on finding your Ancarta fit can help.

What if a piece does not look right after washing?

If you think a piece is faulty, email support@ancarta.co with your order number and clear photos. Our FAQ says a faulty or incorrect item is put right with a repair, replacement, exchange, store credit or refund, in line with consumer law.