If you are competing or performing in your gym leotards then naturally you’ll want to look and feel your best.  Unfortunately mishaps can happen, and if you spill something on your leotards it may leave a mark.  The good news is that many blemishes can be removed from gym leotards with a little help from some common household ingredients.  You may even want to consider packing some of these solutions into a small ‘emergency kit’ to carry with you to important events just in case you do accidentally get something on your gym leotards at the last minute.

The first handy item we suggest you put into your gym leotards crisis kit is a packet of Huggies baby wipes.  You will find that these are invaluable for helping to remove traces of lipstick or make-up which may have found their way onto your leotards.  Hydrogen Peroxide (3%) is another helpful solution to have in your kit.  This can help to eliminate blood, coffee, ketchup and mustard stains from your gym leotards.  Dab some onto your leotards and leave for approximately five minutes before rinsing in warm water.   You can also try using club soda on other food-soiled areas, and corn starch is reputed to be effective when it comes to ridding leotards of tomato sauce marks.

For greasy and oily marks you will need to apply some kind of absorbent to your leotards.  Salt, cornstarch or talcum powder are all common absorbents that work well if the spot is relatively small and you treat it quickly.  Apply the absorbent to your gym leotards and allow it to sit on the grease mark for a couple of minutes before simply brushing it off.

Ink can be a problem on any clothing item, but if you do happen to get some on your gym leotards then reach for a bottle of rubbing alcohol.  Put the leotards over a light coloured towel and blot them with a clean white cloth until the ink is removed.  You can also try hairspray if you have some on hand, but the effectiveness of this solution will vary, depending on the alcohol content of your hairspray.  Be sure to rinse your gym leotards thoroughly after either of these treatments, as these chemicals can damage leotard fabric.

Don’t forget that you should always test any spot treatment method you use on your leotards by treating a small inconspicuous area on an inside seam first.  If the colour changes in that area, then don’t use this solution to treat the rest of your gym leotards.   For more information about how to care for your leotards and keep them looking new, click here.