I have some padded bike shorts I'd like to wear on a bike ride, but I'm getting pretty in my head about poop particles getting into the shorts and not washing out in the wash.
I suppose that all laundry is finding the balance between preserving the clothes vs. getting them clean.
Right?! Start adding in energy and water consumption concerns, and the variables quickly spiral out of control. I started using a manual washer (imagine a giant salad spinner) for some of my gear. Manually washed bibs and jerseys have now lasted about 12 years. It's a pain and takes a bunch of time, but saves a bunch of electricity, a genuine concern on a sailboat with only solar to recharge. So that's a heavily qualified bonus. :D
I always wash my technical gear in cold water, delicate cycle. Line dry. Actually, I wash everything except my rags in cold water. I've had the same shirts and pants for 25 years. My clothes should be coming back in style any day now. :D