Clean Your Safety Gear

Cleaning your gear! 

Skate gear is an investment and can be expensive. The best way to ensure you get the most out of your investment is to take care of it, which means replacing it when needed and cleaning it when required. I’m going to share a few tips on how to keep your gear clean and bacteria-free. 

Don’t leave your sweaty pads in your bag after practice. 

You’re tired from practice, and all you want to do is hop in the shower and relax. Do yourself a solid and take the time to empty your derby bag first. It can be harder to get the smell out of pads than regular clothes, and the bag itself will start to smell. Unpack everything, spread it all out, and let it dry overnight. Leaving a bag of sweaty gear in your car during a hot, sunny day will be the kind of mistake you only make once. Exposure to high heat over time may cause extra wear on your gear. 

Use a deodorizing spray. 

You can purchase name-brand and locally produced deodorizing sprays. There are also easy recipes online to make your own. Apply it to the outside and inside of your pads and the inside of your helmet. A quick spritz of inexpensive deodorizing spray at the end of practice can help in the fight against funk. Don’t forget to periodically spray your derby bag, too.

Wash your mouthguard. 

Mouths are dirty, germ holes full of bacteria. Mouthguards can be brushed with toothpaste and a toothbrush. It’s also an option to soak it in mouthwash or denture cleaner for an extra clean and a little minty kick.

Don’t heat dry your pads. 

Plastic melts. Just hang them up or spread them out on a table to dry. It may take up to two days for them to air dry completely. 

Clean your helmet liner. 

The padding of your helmet can sometimes be removed and washed along with your pads. If you have a helmet that doesn’t disassemble so easily, try spraying it with a deodorizer, barbicide, or an antibacterial spray like Lysol.

Wash your gear in the washing machine, bathtub, or sink.

• The washing machine. Close up any Velcro straps so there are as few parts hanging free as possible. Pads can be placed in a pillowcase that’s either knotted shut or closed with a rubber band. Pads can also be placed directly in the washing machine if you don’t mind the noise. Wash on a gentle cycle with hot water and an extra rinse cycle if available. For incredibly stinky pads, you can soak them for 30 minutes to an hour before starting the wash cycle. Remember, NO HEAT DRYING. 
• The bathtub or sink. Fill your tub or sink with just enough water to fully submerge your pads. Add around ¼ cup laundry detergent and ¼ cup white vinegar. Let the pads soak for at least 30 minutes. Rinse very well and air dry. Don’t worry, the vinegar smell is light and disappears while drying.

Once the smell reaches a certain level of odor, pads will no longer be recoverable, leaving you with the only option of replacing them. Having super smelly pads could be a way to avoid the number of hits you take because no one will want to be so close to you! But seriously, periodic cleaning is good for bacteria management, smell management, and just being kind to other people’s noses!