Puma Activewear Clothing Ultimate Washing Guide

Puma is a multinational company that sells casual and athletic apparel. In fact, they are the third largest manufacturer of sportswear in the world. Aside from clothing, they also sell footwear and accessories such as bags, hats, socks, belts, and sports equipment.

More About Puma

Puma was founded in 1948 by Rudolf Dassler. Prior to that, he had owned a shoe factory with his brother, Adolf Sassler. Interestingly enough, the latter went on to establish Adidas, one of the brand’s largest competitors.

Despite having worked with many professional athletes, it wasn’t until the mid-80s that Puma became a public company. Since then, they’ve opened more than 600 stores across the world. What’s more is that their products are distributed in over 120 countries including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Japan, Hong Kong, Belgium, and more.

As of 2024, the company has a net income of €187 million, which translates to $210 million USD.

A Closer Look at Puma Activewear

Puma offers a variety of athletic clothing for women, men, and children. Aside from leggings and tracksuits, they also manufacture jerseys, sweatshirts, joggers, tank tops, and more.

While their clothing sells well, they are perhaps best known for their footwear. In fact, they have several collections that are designed for different sports. For instance, they have ones that are meant for basketball, soccer, running, golf, motorsport, and general training.

Taking Care of Puma Activewear

Puma is known for their quality. With that said, it’s important that you take proper care of their items if you want them to last. After all, clothes can easily wear out over time. For instance, it’s not uncommon for leggings and sweaters to pill—especially if they’re nearing the end of their lifespan.

Fortunately, it’s possible to extend the life of their clothing by using proper washing methods. In other words, you don’t want to just blindly throw everything into the hamper. There are certain things that you should do and things that you shouldn’t do.

Want to know how to wash Puma activewear? If so, you’re on the right page; we’ll be going over the washing instructions for their different products below. There’s just one thing to check out, before that, though—the various fabrics that they use for their products.

Fabrics Used by Puma

It’s not surprising that most of their activewear is made from technical fibers. After all, you’d want something that’d be able to last through your workouts!

Elastane

Elastane is a synthetic fiber that’s known for its incredible elasticity. Invented in the late 50s, the textile is often compared to rubber as it always reverts back to its original form. For this reason, it is used in garments where elasticity is involved such as sportswear, tights, and swimwear. Easy to take care of, it is resistant to tears and stains.

Puma uses elastane in their leggings, pants, tracksuits, shorts, and more.

Polyester

Polyester is one of the most commonly used synthetic materials in activewear. Despite being durable, it is made from recycled plastic, which makes it an inexpensive option. On top of being moisture-wicking, it is resistant to stains, abrasions, and tears.

In some cases, it is blended with other fibers such as elastane, spandex, or Lycra to give it some extra stretch.

Puma uses polyester in their leggings, joggers, tracksuits, jackets, shorts, and more.

Viscose

Viscose is unique in that it is a semi-synthetic fiber. More specifically, it is made from cellulose, a plant-based material that is derived from wood pulp. Structurally, it is very similar to cotton; however, it has more of a silky look. Biodegradable, it is absorbent, comfortable, and breathable.

Puma uses viscose in their tanks, shirts, and more.

Washing Instructions for Puma Leggings/Yoga Pants/Tights

Puma sells a wide array of leggings and tights that are designed for exercise. Learn how to wash them below.

Putting Puma Leggings, Yoga Pants and Tights in the Washing Machine

For those who are curious, yes—their bottoms are machine washable. You can wash them with other garments (ideally those that are also made from synthetic fibers) as long as you’re mixing dark with light colors.

Begin by turning them inside out. There are several benefits to this—first off, it will prevent lint from sticking onto the surface. Second of all, it will prevent the colors from fading in the wash. Thirdly, it will expose the inner layer to the outside, which will make it easier for the water and detergent to clean out the “gunk” (e.g. sweat, body oils, dirt).

Are you washing them with other garments? If so, you might want to put your leggings and pants into their own net laundry bag. That will add another layer of protection—it’s highly recommended if you want your bottoms to last a long time.

Pour in a scoop (or two, if it’s a large load) of ACTIVE detergent—be careful not to use too much. Load your Puma bottoms into the machine and select a gentle setting. Ideally, you want to use a permanent press cycle; this will allow your clothes to come out smooth and crisp. In any case, you want to wash everything with cold water; this is important as hot water will cause the technical fibers to deteriorate prematurely. Do not use fabric softener or bleach.

Pro-tip: Fabric softener is bad for athletic clothing as it will prevent them from pulling perspiration from the skin (this keeps you cool and dry during your workout). Try using a cup of white vinegar instead if you want to soften up your leggings. It won’t leave any noticeable odor whatsoever!

Take your Puma leggings and tights out once the wash cycle is complete. Lay them flat to dry in the shade. If you want, you can also put them on a drying rack or clothesline. Whatever you do, do not put the bottoms in the dryer—the heat will damage the fabric, even if you choose the gentlest setting.

Washing Puma Leggings, Yoga Pants, and Tights by Hand

Fill a decently-sized container with cool water. Add in a scoop of ACTIVE detergent and mix—you should end up with a soapy solution. Carefully put your Puma bottoms in. Press down lightly on the fabric to submerge it in the liquid. Once you’re sure that it’s fully immersed, let it sit for 15-30 minutes. This is called “pre-treating”—it will make it easier to wash out the dirt and sweat later on.

Afterward, wash each pair by picking them up and massaging the fabric. Repeat until everything is cleaned. When you’re done, replace the dirty water with clean water; use it to rinse off the detergent that’s on the leggings and pants. Alternatively, you can hold it under running water—continue until all of the soap suds are gone.

Transfer the Puma leggings and pants onto a clean surface. Roll them up in a towel to get rid of the excess water; you can also pat them down gently. Avoid twisting the fabric like a dishcloth—that will stretch out and damage the technical fibers.

Lay them flat to dry; do not put them under direct sunlight. You can also line them dry or put them on a drying rack. As mentioned earlier, avoid the dryer at all costs.

Removing Stains from Puma Leggings, Yoga Pants, and Tights

ACTIVE detergent is not only great for regular washing, but it can also be used to remove stains. Mix half a scoop or so with warm water in a small bowl—you should get something that resembles a thin paste. Dampen an old toothbrush with the mixture and apply it onto the stained area on your Puma leggings. Make sure to saturate the entire stain; apply it from both sides if you have to.

Let the mixture sit on the stain for at least 20 minutes. Afterward, you can launder the item as normal. If the spot is still visible, you might have to repeat the steps again.

Note: These washing instructions can also be used to wash Puma shorts, shirts, and tanks.

The Best Way to Wash Puma Sports Bras

Generally speaking, you want to be more gentle with the sports bras as they’re considered delicates.

Putting Puma Sports Bras in the Washing Machine

Prior to putting the sports bras in the machine, check to see if the pads are removable. If they are, take them out so that you can wash them separately (you can put them in their own laundry bag or wash them by hand). Put the bras inside a mesh laundry bag—that way, you won’t have to worry about them getting damaged from all the throwing and tossing.

Note: You can wash the sports bras with other non-coarse items. In other words, don’t put them in the same load as heavy jackets or jeans. Make sure that they are of similar colors.

Pour in a scoop of ACTIVE detergent. Choose a gentle or delicate setting and wash the sports bras with cold water. Avoid hot water as the heat will cause the fabrics to deteriorate quicker. If necessary, pour in a cup of white vinegar—that will help to soften up the bras (and remove any odor they may have).

Take the sports bras out once the wash cycle is finished. Transfer them onto a drying rack or line them dry on a clothesline. Do not put them in the dryer or under direct sunlight.

Washing Puma Sports Bras by Hand

Fill the sink with water and add in a scoop of ACTIVE detergent. Mix thoroughly until there are soap suds. Put the sports bras in—gently press down to submerge the sports bras in the solution. Once you’re sure that it’s fully immersed, let it sit for at least 30 minutes.

Swirl it around a few times in the detergent mixture. Pick it up and rub the material together—gently. From there, rinse off the soap suds by putting it under running water. Alternatively, you can drain away the dirty water and refill with clean water.

Place the sports bra on a clean surface. Press out some of the extra water with a dry towel before lining it dry. You can also drape it on a drying rack. Do not put it in the dryer.

How to Clean Puma Shoes

Want to know how to clean your Puma footwear? Here are some tips.

Cleaning Your Puma Shoes with ACTIVE Detergent

Before you begin, it’s a good idea to remove any excess dirt or mud. You can do this by lightly hitting your shoes together.

The next step is to pour a little bit of ACTIVE detergent into a small bowl. Add warm water and mix to get a soapy solution. Dampen it with a soft brush and use it to gently scrub the outside of your Puma shoes—be careful around the stitching. When you’re finished, dry it with a clean towel.

Similarly, use the brush to clean the sole of the shoe. Remove any dirt or debris that might be stuck on the surface. Rinse it with water when you’re done before drying it with a cloth. Allow the shoes to dry fully before wearing them. You can stuff some newspaper into each shoe to get rid of any excess moisture.

Note: You might want to take out your shoelaces and insoles—that way you can wash them separately. You can either put them in the washer or wash them manually by hand (you can do this by soaking them in a detergent-water mixture).