{"id":3497,"date":"2020-09-17T08:25:55","date_gmt":"2020-09-17T12:25:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/?p=3497"},"modified":"2024-01-09T15:41:39","modified_gmt":"2024-01-09T20:41:39","slug":"washing-storing-sports-gear-guide-parents-athletes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/post\/washing-storing-sports-gear-guide-parents-athletes\/","title":{"rendered":"Cleaning & Storing Sports Gear: A Guide for Busy Parents"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Back to school means back to sports, and the muddy days of outdoor athletics are just around the corner. Whether you\u2019ve got a track star or a budding quarterback in your house\u2014or you\u2019ll be packing up winter sports equipment<\/a>\u2014you\u2019re bound to have a pile of dirty, stained gear on your floor at some point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Tis the season for parents everywhere to ask age-old questions like, \u201cHow do I remove these grass stains?\u201d and \u201cHow do I get sweat smell out of clothes?\u201d Before you take on the sweaty heap accumulating in your mudroom<\/a>, put these tips on cleaning and storing sports gear in your back pocket. Your sporty child will be looking so fresh and so clean in no time.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"muddy<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Airing Gear Out<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For every sport, airing out uniforms and pads is the most important part of maintenance. If you\u2019re one of the parents wondering how to get sweat smell out of clothes, know this: airing out your kid\u2019s gear can prevent many of the not-so-nice smells you might be used to. Always avoid storing just-used gear like pads and jerseys in lockers or closets\u2014they will not be able to air out and will develop an odor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you live in a dry climate, encourage your children to hang damp gear up on a hook or a clothesline. If you live in a more humid part of the country, dry equipment inside the house or put it into a clothes drier with little or no heat. Heat can cause leather and most synthetics to break down more quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Wash Jerseys<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"group
Photo by <\/em>Lars Bo Nielsen<\/em><\/a> on <\/em>Unsplash<\/em><\/a> <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s best to wash game and practice jerseys immediately after use. Do not dry clean, press, or iron jerseys\u2014the screenprinting can melt and any elastic areas can lose their stretch. Also, do not use chlorine bleach or fabric softeners, which can deteriorate garments that contain spandex.
Here\u2019s how to wash jerseys in order to keep them in top shape:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Wash jerseys inside out.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Use mild powdered detergent. Detergents with pH under 10 are recommended for athletic uniforms. For white uniforms, use a pre-wash spray and wash them using Oxyclean.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Use cold water and a gentle cycle setting.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Hang dry on wooden or plastic hangers.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    How to Clean Football Pads and Other Gear<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"Football
    Photo by <\/em>Alora Griffiths<\/em><\/a> on <\/em>Unsplash<\/em><\/a> <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    After use, spray pads down with an anti-odor disinfectant spray, scrubbing it into the pads with a cloth. When cleaning shoulder pads, separate plastic shells from fabric and wipe them down with a cloth soaked in a mixture of soap and water. For a more in-depth pad cleaning, start by using a wet cloth or sponge soaked in warm, soapy water to remove loose dirt. Then:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. Apply an enzyme pre-treat stain remover to any problem areas and let it sit for at least 15 minutes. The active ingredient will break down stubborn stains.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Before putting pads in the washing machine, put them in pillowcases and knot at the ends. This will protect them while they are tossed around.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Set the washing machine on the gentle cycle with warm water. Add a standard amount of laundry detergent. Don\u2019t use chlorine bleach or fabric softeners.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Take the football pads out of the washer and remove them from the pillowcase. Hang them on a hanger or a clothesline and allow them to air dry.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      For football pants, don’t remove the belt or pads. Fasten hooks and loops before washing so they don\u2019t bounce around in the washer. Cold wash and air dry. Never put football pants in the dryer; it will ruin the belt and can melt pads and fabric.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Helmets are one of the easiest things to maintain. Most mud and debris can be removed from helmets with a damp cloth. Don’t use abrasive cleaners or solvents to clean helmets, because they can be damaging to the paint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      How to Clean Cleats and Shin Guards<\/h2>\n\n\n
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      \"cleats
      Photo by <\/em>Markus Spiske<\/em><\/a> on <\/em>Unsplash<\/em><\/a> <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

      Grab a toothbrush and some soapy water\u2014it\u2019s cleat-cleaning time. If you want to save some time (and of course you do, you\u2019re a busy parent!) use a tool like Kleen Kleat to get rid of caked-on mud and dirt on the studs and soleplate. Then use a toothbrush and a mix of dish soap and water to scrub the upper material. Wipe it all down with a clean paper towel and you\u2019ve got clean cleats with a longer lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Spray shin guards with disinfectant after each use to prevent fungus and bacteria from growing. If the shin guards have removable pads, take them out of the lining while you wash it. You can wash and dry them the same way you’d wash football pads \u2013 cold, gentle wash, and a line dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      How to Clean Baseball Gear<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"baseball
      Photo by <\/em>Ben Hershey<\/em><\/a> on <\/em>Unsplash<\/em><\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      While baseball doesn\u2019t involve a ton of gear, the equipment that is <\/em>involved is pretty important. The previous sections went over how to clean cleats, uniforms, and helmets; in baseball, the other important stuff includes gloves and catchers\u2019 gear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n