1.Air it out; don’t let the wet gear sit.
First of all, don’t let it sit! The worst thing you can do is let the wet sweaty equipment sit. An indoor clothing rack will become yourbest friend. They’reeasy to find and you can purchase at your local housewares stores. Somewhere like Fernie Home Building Center is sure to have what you need. Add a heater, a fan, or a dehumidifier to help speed up the process. On those bluebird days, lay it out on the deck. The cold temperatures will surely kill any smelly bacteria that may be lingering.2.Wash what you can, regularly.
Aside from airing it out, it’s important to wash our hockey equipment to keep it fresh. A lot of hockey
equipment is safe to add right to the washing machine! Both front or top loading machines will do the trick. (make sure you leave enough room for equipment to move once it’s in the machine. A washing machine overfilled will lead to tears in equipment.)Here is a list of the hockey equipment you CAN and CANNOT wash in the machine.WASHING MACHINE FRIENDLY- Socks, Jerseys, and base layers.
- Jock (don’t forget to remove the cup as it cannot be washed in the machine. Fasten the Velcro so it doesn’t attach to anything else in the wash.)
- Shin Pads*
- Hockey Pants*
- Elbow Pads*
- Shoulder Pads* and
- Gloves*
DO NOT use bleach; white vinegar CAN BE added to the wash is a great alternative, as it will kill odor-causing bacteria.
*DO NOT put equipment in the dryer. Allow it to air-dry.
NOT WASHING MACHINE FRIENDLY- Goalie Pads
- Goalie Mitts
- Skates
- Helmet
3.Don’t forget the inside of the helmet.
In addition to our body equipment, an important piece of equipment that we never forget to play without, but sometimes we sometimes forget to wash, the helmet. To effectively clean the inside of your helmet you will need to follow these simple steps.- Mix a bowl with hot water and no tears kids shampoo.
- Dip the sponge in water/shampoo mix, ring well, and scrub inside of the helmet.
- Repeat process with only water and dry out.
