How to Wash Fleece Lined Leggings

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Washing fleece lined leggings is a delicate process. One wrong move, and you could end up with a pile of soggy, shapeless fabric in your hands. Luckily I’ve compiled some instructions on how to wash fleece lined leggings so that they come out clean and smelling fresh.

How to Wash Fleece Lined Leggings

Fleece lined leggings are often worn in the winter and can be challenging to wash. Follow these steps to launder them without damaging the material. To start with,

  1. Look at the manufacturer’s tag or label for washing instructions. 
  2. Separate the fleece from any other articles of clothing in your load. 
  3. Make sure that the inside of the garment is clean before beginning any cleaning process. This will ensure that dirt and grim do not get stuck in the fabric’s fibers. 
  4. Next, turn your garment inside out and look for loose threads or small holes in the lining. 
  5. Fill your washing machine with cold water, add a mild detergent, and put in your fleece lined leggings. This will protect the fabric from excess wear and tear during the wash cycle.  
  6. Run a regular cycle for 30-40 minutes without adding fabric softener or dryer sheets so that it doesn’t ruin the waterproof lining of your garment.
  7. Now that your fleece lined leggings have been washed, they’re ready to air dry. Lay the garment flat on a towel and gently roll up the pants to get rid of excess water.
  8. Hang or fold your leggings to finish drying, making sure there are no creases in the fabric. If you try to wear them with wrinkles in the fabric, this could cause rips or tears.  
  9. You can also tumble dry on low heat if you need your fleece lined leggings quickly, though make sure to lay them flat again when they come out of the dryer.  

Steps on How to Wash Fleece Lined Leggings

StepsWhat to do
Step 1Read the washing instructions
Step 2Separate it from other clothings
Step 3Wash the inside of the garment
Step 4Turn it inside out 
Step 5Add cold water and mild detergent in your washing machine
Step 6Run a regular cycle for 30-40 minutes
Step 7Air dry
Step 8Hang them to finish drying
Step 10Tumble dry them on low heat
A woman wearing a fleece lined leggings

How to Prevent the Color Transfer on Fleece Lined Leggings

Color transfer occurs when the dye from one article of clothing comes off on another. This can often happen during washing, although there are ways to prevent it. One way is to use cold water during your wash cycle to prevent excessive dye from running. 

The other way is to put your leggings inside out and wash them that way. This will ensure that the outside fabric won’t come into contact with any dyes from other clothes you’re washing.

After following these steps, you should expect your fleece lined leggings to come out of the wash in pretty good condition. The dye will likely fade after washing, however, this shouldn’t prevent you from wearing them again.

What to Avoid When Washing Fleece Lined Leggings

Most brands of fleece lined leggings are designed with care, and you should always treat them gently to prevent damage. The protective lining that gives them their warmth might be the first thing to go if you don’t handle your leggings properly during laundry. 

With these tips in mind, you can maximize the lifespan of your fleece lined leggings.

Hot Dryer

Never put your fleece lined leggings in a hot dryer. Even if they look clean when you remove them from the washing machine, dryer heat can cause irreversible damage to garments made with this type of fabric.

Price Tags

If your fleece lined leggings have a price tag attached, make sure to remove them before washing the garment. Tags often contain chemicals to prevent them from stamping ink on other clothes in the laundry load, which can ruin your fleece lined leggings’ lining.

An image of a person facing back wearing a fleece lined leggings

Fabric Softener

Do not add fabric softener or dryer sheets to the washing machine when doing a load of fleece lined leggings. These products can cause the protective waterproof lining of your garment to wear off and will leave it moist and discolored.

High Heat

Never use high heat on fleece lined leggings. The material is very delicate and can easily tear if you aren’t careful when putting it in the wash or taking it out of the dryer. When drying your fleece lined leggings, use low heat to ensure that the fabric doesn’t shrink excessively.

Bleach

Never use bleach on fleece lined leggings for the same reason you should avoid high heat. This can make the material lose its color or even disintegrate. Chlorine can easily damage this type of fabric if not used sparingly, so stick to a mild detergent instead.

Sorting

As with all clothes, make sure that your fleece lined leggings are sorted by color when doing laundry. If you wash light and dark clothes together, the darker colors can bleed onto lighter fabrics and stain them permanently.

Zippers and Belt Buckles

Never put your fleece lined leggings in the wash with zippers that can tear through fabric instantly. Never also wash your fleece lined leggings with any belt buckle or hardware, as these items can catch on the fabric and tear it during the washing process. 

The friction between the two materials can cause damage to the lining of your garment.

A close-up image of a person wearing a fleece lined leggings

Overcrowding

When putting your fleece lined leggings in the washing machine, make sure to avoid overcrowding them with other items. If you overload the washer, this may result in excess wear and tear on the protective lining of your garments. The best way to protect them is to wash them alone.

How to Revive the Fleece in Leggings

Even if you follow the proper way of washing fleece lined leggings, there will come a time when the fleece might lose its original texture. These are some ways to help make your fleece look new again.

  • Use a lint brush to fluff fleece fibers while the leggings are still wet.
  • Add vinegar to your laundry during the rinse cycle. The vinegar can soften fabrics without harsh chemicals.
  • Heat and friction are the enemies of fleece. After washing your leggings, store the leggings properly in a cotton sack instead of plastic containers to allow the material to breathe.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Often Should You Wash Fleece-Lined Leggings?

Typically, fleece-lined leggings are commonly used during winter and spring, where you might need to wash the leggings after three days of wear time as the weather might discourage a lot of sweating.

However, if you wear fleece-lined leggings during summer or intense activities, you will need to wash them daily.

How Long Do Fleece-Lined Leggings Take to Dry?

Normally, the dry time for the fleece-lined leggings depends on the weather condition. For instance, if you dry the leggings in hot weather, it might take 2 to 4 hours.

On the other hand, if you dry the leggings during a cold day, they might take 8 to 10 hours, depending on the amount of humidity in the air.

How Can I Prevent Fleece-Lined Leggings From Rusting?

Generally, it is important that you wash the fleece-lined leggings together with like colors. For instance, you should avoid mixing white leggings with other dyed leggings, such as dark blue or black.

Normally, dyed leggings tend to leach dye during washing cycles which can give a gray or dull appearance to the white leggings if you wash them together.

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Conclusion

Fleece lined leggings are a staple in any winter wardrobe, making it easy to stay warm during the cold months of the year. When washing fleece lined leggings, take care not to mishandle them or expose them to chemicals like bleach that can cause irreparable damage to the material.