Hockey is a physically demanding sport which makes us sweat. Over time this sweat seeps into our clothing and sports gear. The collection of moisture makes it an ideal environment for harmful bacteria which may cause serious health issues and an unwanted odor.
To prevent this from happening you should:
- Shower after every match and practice session
- Ensure that you clean all clothing that was used during the game or practice
- Maintain a clean and disinfected hockey or gym bag
- Ensure that all your gear and garments are dry after wash
- Clean and disinfect protective equipment such as helmets, pads and goalie gear on a regular basis
- Do not share towels or personal hygiene products with others
By doing the above, you can keep away or limit the growth of harmful bacteria such as Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. This harmful bacteria has been known to cause several hard to treat human infections. Another crucial step in limiting bacteria growth is to ensure that your gear is stored in a cool and ventilated area and not left in your bag.
Maintain clean equipment ensures that you get to use gear that is effective and durable. As such, the following are some cleaning options you might consider for your hockey equipment.
Cleaning options for your hockey equipment.
These cleaning options depend on how often and what method you use to wash your gear. From your hockey ensemble, only your skates and helmet can go for a few wears without being washed either by hand or machine. The following are some options you might consider for cleaning your gear.When you do decide to clean your helmet and skates, you may want to use:
White vinegar
This is a relatively cheap cleaning agent that kills bacteria and neutralizes odor. It doesn’t affect the skin and is safe to use on leather and stitching.
Vodka
Vodka is a readily available option that kills bacteria and neutralizes odor.
Hand washing vs. machine washing
These two options are effective when it comes to cleaning your gear. Hand washing is regarded as the gentle option while using machines will be easier. If these two options tickle your fancy you should ensure that you use them to clean hockey gear to avoid odor and the growth of harmful bacteria.
Hockey gear cleaning services
We can all agree that playing hockey is a tedious activity. You may be too exhausted after practice or a game to think about cleaning your gear. You can opt to use professional cleaning services such as Simply Laundry to handle the cleaning of your gear. This great cleaning service offers wash and foldoptions for your regular hockey clothing. You can also opt for their laundry deliveryoption which will make your life way easier. You could also encourage your teammates to try the best laundry deliveryservices in Toronto. You may be able to take advantage of their pocket-friendly rates.
Whatever option you end up settling for, remember that maintain clean and odor free equipment is safe for both your teammates and yourself.