Washing Instructions for Aerie Leggings & Activewear

Aerie is a lifestyle retailer owned by American Eagle Outfitters. In addition to lingerie, which is targeted toward the 15- to 25- demographic, they also sell activewear, loungewear, sleepwear, and accessories. As of 2024, there are more than 140 locations across the world.

More About Aerie by American Eagle Outfitters

American Eagle Outfitters was founded by a pair of brothers, Jerry and Mark Silverman, in 1977. The brand grew quickly in the 1980s. By the early 90s, there were more than 130 retail stores across the United States.

However, it wasn’t until the 2000’s that they launched their first sub-brand, Aerie. Before long, the sub-brand had grown into a standalone concept with its own fitness line. In 2006, the first Aerie store opened in Greenville, South Carolina; ten other locations soon followed. Currently, the brand is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

A Closer Look at Aerie Activewear

Aerie might be known for their lingerie, but they also sell a variety of activewear. Aside from their leggings, which are available in a number of styles, their catalog also includes yoga pants, sweatpants, bike shorts, swimsuits, sports bras, and more.

Price-wise, their products are very competitive. Sure, they might not be the cheapest, they’re not particularly expensive either. To give you a better idea, you can get a pair of their yoga pants for around $50. Some of their other items are cheaper, though. For instance, their swimsuits tend to go for less than $40.

Perhaps one of the greatest things about Aerie is that they offer sales on a regular basis. Almost always, they will have a clearance section—of course, their line of activewear is included as well.

Taking Care of Aerie Leggings and Activewear

As with all apparel, you want to pay attention to how you wash their leggings and athletic clothing. One wrong move in the laundry room and you can easily ruin a good pair of pants. Delicates, such as their sports bras, are particularly prone to damage—especially if you wash it with other items.

Want your Aerie clothes to last a long time? If so, be sure to wash them properly! Not sure how? Don’t worry, we will be going over the washing instructions in detail below. Before that, though, let’s check out some of the brand’s popular fabrics and collections.

Aerie’s Legging Collections

Aerie has three separate lines of leggings, all of which are made from different fabrics. Let’s take a look at what’s so special about each of them!

Chill Leggings

Their Chill leggings are designed for everyday wear. Made out of cotton, the material is both light and comfy. Not only is it not see-through, but the color will last longer than ever. On top of that, it features a wider waist brand that feels like a hug.

Play Leggings

Their Play leggings offer light support and are extremely soft to the touch. Not only are they great for the yoga studio, but they can also be worn to class or to the grocery store. They also feature an all-new waistband that will never slide down!

Move Leggings

Move leggings offer medium support that feels like a hug. Soft and cozy, it also features four-way stretch, which makes it perfect for workouts at the gym. The fact that its moisture-wicking will also keep you nice and dry.

How to Wash Aerie Leggings/Yoga Pants/Tights

Aerie leggings, tights, and yoga pants are machine washable. Some of their products, however, are prone to piling so you want to be extra gentle.

Note: Before you do anything, it’s always a good idea to read the sewn on care label.

Tossing Aerie Leggings, Tights and Yoga Pants into the Washer

Flip your pair of leggings, tights, or yoga pants inside out—this will prevent the colors from fading as well as the build-up of lint. As a bonus, it’ll be easier to wash! You can wash them with other activewear as long as their colors are compatible. To clarify, only put like-colors in the same load. Mixing light- and dark-colored items can lead to color bleeding. Avoid washing them with heavy garments such as jeans and jackets as there is a chance of snagging.

Want to protect them further? If so, put them in a mesh laundry bag—that way, you won’t have to worry about them coming into contact with your other clothes. If you don’t have one, you can make do with a clean pillowcase. Simply put the leggings in and tie off the end.

Add two scoops of ACTIVE detergent to the washing machine. Wash your leggings, tights and yoga pants with cold water on a gentle or delicate cycle. Do not use fabric conditioner; that will ruin the pants’ sweat-wicking finish. White vinegar is an appropriate alternative if you want to soften your clothes—just add a little bit into the washer.

Take out your leggings, tights and pants when the wash cycle is complete. Hang them on a clothesline to dry. Avoid putting them under direct sunlight. Never put them in the dryer; the warm temperature will quickly wear out the fabric and elastic.

Is it Better to Hand Wash Aerie Leggings, Tights and Yoga Pants?

Consider washing them by hand if you have time. It’s might not be the most convenient, but your leggings and yoga pants will last much longer.

The first step is to pre-treat everything. Begin by filling the sink (or a tub) with cold water. Add one scoop of ACTIVE detergent and mix to create a soapy solution. Carefully submerge the garments once it is mixed—check to see that all of the fabric is in the liquid. Soak the leggings, pants and tights for at least 30 minutes.

From there, wash the items by gently rubbing the material together; you can also swirl them in the detergent water. Repeat for all of the leggings and pants. Rinse them clean with plain water when you’re finished. Take them out of the sink and lay them on a flat surface. Never twist or wring them like a dishcloth—that will effectively ruin the elastic. Instead, hang them up on a clothesline; it shouldn’t take too long for them to air dry.

Pro-tip: Stains can also be removed with ACTIVE detergent. Mix it with water and apply the mixture directly onto the problem area with your fingers or a soft brush. If necessary, apply it from the underside. Allow it to soak through completely before hand washing as normal.

Other Ways to Remove Stains from Aerie Leggings, Tights and Yoga Pants

No luck with detergent? You can try using baking soda. Mix four tablespoons of it with warm water in a small bowl to create a thick paste. Locate the stain on the fabric and apply a liberal amount onto the spot. Allow it to sit for at least one hour. As the paste dries, moisture will be sucked up, which helps to lift the stain. Once it has dried, you can brush off the excess baking soda and launder the pants as normal.

White vinegar is also great for stain removal. Mix half a cup of vinegar with two cups of water in a spray bottle. Use it to saturate the problem area. Allow it to soak through the fabric completely before laundering as normal with detergent. If the stain persists, you can repeat the steps.

Washing Instructions Aerie Sports Bras

American Eagle sells a variety of sports bras through Aerie. Given how they’re close-fitting it’s a good idea to wash them after a workout.

Washing Aerie Sports Bras with the Washing Machine

Put your sports bra in a lingerie bag—this will ensure that it will not lose its snape in the machine. You can wash it with other delicates such as underwear as long as they are of similar colors. Do not wash them with coarse garments such as jackets, hoodies, or jeans.

Pro-tip: Some sports bras have removable pads. If that’s the case, you might want to take them out and put them in their own lingerie bag; that will allow for a more thorough cleaning.

Add a scoop of ACTIVE detergent and load the lingerie bags into the machine. Always wash your sports bra with cold water, on the gentlest setting (e.g. delicate). Steer clear of fabric softeners; these types of products are not made for synthetic fabrics. When used, they will hamper the bras’ ability to pull perspiration from the skin.

Take them out of the washer when the cycle is finished. Allow them to air dry on a drying rack or on a clothesline. Never put them in the dryer unless you want to buy yourself new ones.

Note: Sports bras will wear out eventually over time. In general, it’s a good idea to replace them every 6 to 12 months. However, it will depend on how often you wear them.

Washing Aerie Sports Bras by Hand

As with their leggings, Aerie sports bras will last much longer if you wash them by hand. After all, they do get tossed around in the washing machine, which takes its toll over time.

First things first—you want to pretreat the sports bra by soaking it in a soapy solution. To do this, fill the sink with cold water. Add one scoop of ACTIVE detergent; mix the liquid gently with your hand. Once it’s mixed, put in the sports bras. Be careful not to overload the sink with too many items. Let it soak in the water-detergent mixture for at least 30 minutes (longer if you had a particularly sweaty workout session).

Pick up each individual sports bra and wash by massaging the fabric between your fingers. Use water to rinse away the detergent when you’re finished—continue rinsing until all of the soap suds are gone. Avoid wringing the bra—those types of motions will damage the delicate fibers. Instead, use a towel to gently press out some of the water. Allow it to air dry on a drying rack or on a clothesline. Do not put it in the dryer!

Cleaning Aerie Shorts, Tank Tops, Long and Short-Sleeved Shirts

These items can be washed in the same way as their leggings. In fact, you can probably put them in the same load if they’re like colors. As always, it’s a good idea to protect them with mesh laundry bags. Place them into the bags, load them into the machine, and wash with cold water on a gentle setting. Remember to add one scoop of ACTIVE detergent (or two, depending on the size of your load).

Of course, they can also be hand washed. Ultimately, it’s the same steps as what you’d do for the leggings. Soak the items in a detergent solution, before massaging the fabric with your fingers. Pat off some of the extra water with a towel and hang them up to dry.

The Best Laundry Detergent for Aerie Leggings and Activewear

ACTIVE detergent is one of the best products that you can use for Aerie leggings and activewear. What makes it so special? It is specifically formulated for athletic clothing. In contrast to regular detergents, it is much more capable of lifting and removing dirt, sweat, and body oils from fibers. To top it off, the product is all-natural and fragrance free!