Exactly How to Organize Workout Clothes To Simplify Your Life 

This post is all about how to organize your workout clothes in your closet and drawers. 

Building a consistent workout routine really does include more than just the perfect workout schedule. 

Small habits like organizing your workout clothes, filling up your water bottle the night before, and getting to bed on time really do add up. I have found that the fewer barriers I have to working out, the easier it is for me to commit to a consistent routine. 

Streamline your workout routine by creating a designated area for your workout clothes where they are stored efficiently and ready to grab and go! 

This list will cover plenty of storage solutions that work for small spaces to ensure your workout clothes are easy to find and look tidy in your closet or drawers. 

Where to keep workout clothes?

Try to keep your workout clothes away from your regular day clothes to simplify your routine and ensure they are super easy to find. 

If you are trying to maintain a consistent workout routine, finding even tiny ways to simplify the process (like organizing your exercise clothes!) will minimize barriers to getting your workouts in! 

Here are some quick places to store workout clothes:

• Hanging them in your closet
• Dedicated drawer in a dresser or shelving unit 
• In separate baskets or storage bins 
• Over-the-door organizer for smaller items like socks, headbands,  sports bra etc. 
• In a rolling cart with your gym bag or other workout equipment  
• Seasonal workout gear can go in under-the-bed storage 

Best Way to Organize Exercise Clothing

1. Sort your exercise clothes by type or activity

If you are anything like me you probably enjoy different types of workouts throughout the week and each one can require slightly different clothes. 

Try to group your workout clothes by activity (yoga/pilates, gym clothes, running clothes, swimming gear etc.). 

Or if you tend to do the same workouts you can separate them by type like tops, bottoms, sports bras etc. 

2. Drawer dividers in your dresser and baskets for smaller items

If you are using drawers, pick up some of these drawer organizers to keep everything sorted. 

Create a section for tops, bottoms, and accessories. 

Then use small baskets in the last section for socks, sports bras, and any other smaller items.

*This is the method I have always used and it works great for my relatively small collection of workout gear! 

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3. File fold or roll items for a tidy workout drawer

File folding (standing clothes upright) or rolling your clothes neatly keeps them perfectly compact. 

This saves space and helps you to easily be able to find everything at just a quick glance! No digging through your drawers is needed. 

*This method is great for leggings, shorts, and workout tops

4. Designate a shelf in your closet for bins and baskets of exercise clothes 

If you have a closet storage system, designate one shelf specifically for workout clothes.

Pick up a few baskets for each category of clothing like tops, bottoms, accessories etc. 

5. Organize matching workout sets with slim hangers 

Keep matching workout outfits together by using thin nonslip hangers to hold both the matching top and bottom. 

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6. Organize workout leggings with multi-clip hangers to maximize closet space

These hangers are seriously a game-changer if you are obsessed with workout leggings. You can easily fold your yoga pants in half and then hang them vertically. 

*These clips also work great for exercise skirts and skorts 

7. Use an over-the-door organizer for smaller items 

Smaller items can get lost in your drawers if you’re not careful so keeping them in a door organizer is a great way to see everything. 

These work great for things like headbands, sports bras, grip socks (pilates/yoga), swimsuits etc. 

8. Clear bins for out-of-season workout clothes 

Keep your closet strictly for the items that you use regularly. The less visual clutter there is, the more relaxing it will feel when you go to grab your workout gear. 

Keep off-season items like swimsuits, shorts, thick leggings, winter workout layers, and more in clear bins! 

Make sure there is a tight seal so your stuff stays protected and you can slide them under your bed or get smaller ones to stash at the top of your closet! 

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9. Label everything for easy access

If you choose to use bins or baskets in any part of your workout clothes organization journey-make sure to label everything! 

It seriously will streamline your mornings when you need to grab and go. 

These clips work great so if you need to rearrange your organization system you can! 

10. Use a drying rack for sweaty gym clothes 

Part of organizing your athletic wear unfortunately includes the boring process of laundry but it is a necessary step for an efficient closet storage system! 

Rather than dumping your sweaty workout clothes directly into your hamper, dry them out first (preferably outside!).  

This will keep your workout clothes smelling fresh so that when it is time to store them away they don’t stink up your beautifully organized storage space. 

11. Declutter your fitness clothes drawer regularly 

Athletic clothes just like any other clothing will start to wear down. Try to get into the routine of every few months going through your collection and parting ways with items that are just not their best. 

Here are some things to look out for when decluttering your workout clothes: 

• Items you never wear
• Items that don’t fit physically or your personal style 
• Clothes that are ripped, stained, too much piling etc. 
• Stinky workout clothes. Sometimes as much as we try, the stench from repeated workouts just will not come out. It happens to everyone! If there is a permanent odor-It’s time to part ways! 
• Leggings or tops that have worn out or stretched and are a bit see-through 
• Mismatched socks 

Should you hang or fold workout clothes?

Either way is fine! For the most part, workout clothes don’t really crease because of the flexible fabric they are made out of. 

It also depends on how much space you have to organize your clothing, what you prefer, and what organization system you will be able to realistically maintain. 

How to organize and store workout clothes

I hope these workout clothes organization tips make the process more simple and stress-free! The best way to organize workout clothes is truly whatever storage method you can keep up with in your busy schedule. 

The fewer barriers you can create to working out, the easier it will be to stay committed and reach your fitness goals! A well-organized workout clothes collection truly makes the process more enjoyable. 

Have any other organizing ideas for workout clothes? Let us know in the comments below! I’m sure others in the community would love to learn from you as well.

Stay well, 

Maggie

This post was all about how to store your workout clothes.

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