Washing equipment in regular washing machine

[Ice Pirate 0]

I've always washed all my gear with a garden hose outside and just let the UV of the sun do it's work. My gear stays nice this way. Might be harder if you live in a harsh weather climate.

[whizbang 0]

i wash my rbk 9k shin liners, elbow pads, and 6k girdle (roller) with cup still attached in a top load washer once a week. detergent, and liquid fab softner, and then i throw them in the dryer.

this is what i have learned.....

the shin liners after a while dont adhere well to the velcro after about the 30th wash. you have to press them really hard to get them to stay. and it usually helps if you tape over your shinnys as well, just to make sure they dont go anywhere. elbow pads..... avoid the dryer. they make a lot of racket. and the girdle, if you wash it on the gentle cycle and dont over load it will hold up. however my frist couple of time washing it, i cramed it in the machine with 2 pairs of pants, shin liners, and about 4 jerseys, and i wound up stiching it back together.

i am the best smelling player on the rink.

[kevineleven 0]

Funny this should come up -

I was just at pickup talking with my buddy about how bad my gloves were stinking. I tried to drink some water and almost barfed from the smell. He had suggested washing them in the washing machine. I hadn't even thought of it until he mentioned it.

My Vapor XII nylon gloves came out looking fine, but I would hesitate to try it with an expensive pair of leather gloves.

I would like to reiterate what a previous poster said about the alcohol solution spray...If I am diligent and spray down my gear after use, and hang it to dry, I rarely have bad odor problems.

Kevin

[sn1per 0]

I do my elbows and shins in a top load washer. I typically put them in laundry bag so they don't get any damage however I've never really washed them without the bag, so I don't know if they'd get damaged without the bag. Only thing I find with the Ozone machines is that although they sanitize and kill anything and everything, they don't get the salt buildup from your sweat out of your gear that somewhat causes them to crustify...

[1stLiner91 0]

my washing machine has a setting for sport equipment, foot ball, hockey etc... so i use it on that

[scorer75 9]

I've done all of the equipment you mentioned including a pair of X70's in the laundromat washing machine without any problems.

None of the equipment got damaged.

[bpmd210 0]

I do mine and my son's outside in a big tub with laundry detergent and just agitate it with a pole. Spray the heck out of it to rinse, and leave it in the sun. No damage to anything, nothing has ever developed a funk smell.

[forbs02 20]

I wash everything in a front load washer, gloves included. I have nylon vapor 40's, and I haven't had any problems. It washes all the slime out of the leather and they smell nice and clean. I hang everything to dry. I do this a few times a season.

If your gear is old and fragile to start with, the washing machine probably isn't going to be great. I've stitched elbow pads back together that fell apart in the washer.

[mwerth 5]

Why not just leave everything out in the rain?? Kidding, but I'm sure some of us have been there before...

I personally would hesitate to wash any glove in the machine - the palms likely won't be the same after taking on so much water. As for pants, elbows, shins, girdle, etc., removable liners and pads are key. It's not very good for the foam in any equipment to be washed vigorously because it speeds up the breakdown of the material, and the dryer is definitely a no-no because heating foam and/or plastic for that long can slightly alter protective properties (kind of like plastic tupperware softening in the dishwasher).

Best bet would either be washing by hand or just playing with equipment that smells like effort and hard work.

[calixguy18 8]

I have a high efficency top load washer, wash my shins, shoulders and elbow pads about once every 6-8 weeks. My machine doesn't have the spindle thing in the middle, just a big bowl that sprays water and soap so my equipment doesn't come out any worse for the wear. I would guess that if you're gloves don't have leather on them it won't do anything to them but mine do so I have never washed them. When it comes to gloves if they start to smell badly even with Febreze after every game and air dry then it's time to get new gloves. I refuse to be the guy on the team that smells like shit and we all know a guy like that. It's disgusting.

I totally agree. I usually just buy new gloves/equipment when they start to smell REALLY bad. That being said, I air out my equipement after each use so it takes a very long time to smell bad. I wouldn't put hard plastic gear or gloves in the wash, but that's just my opinion.

There is always that one guy that stinks like ass and it bugs the heck out of me. They are usually the lazy guys that never take their gear out of their bag except to wear it. Totally gross.

[Rags81 0]

I've done all of the equipment you mentioned including a pair of X70's in the laundromat washing machine without any problems.

None of the equipment got damaged.

Thanks.

I have back-to-back games on Sunday and Monday so i am going to go to the local Laundromat next week to wash my stuff.

Any advice on how much soap to use? What cycles? I'm no expert on washing machines.

[jcp2 2]

One cup detergent. Delicate cycle. Make sure all the velcro is done up so it's not hanging loose to catch on something else.

[sickwilly 37]

Just take a spray bottle, mix in 3 parts rubbing alcohol and one part water, and spray liberally. Then use the sun to dry, maybe a fan as well. Then spray with anti-microbial Febreeze and repeat drying process.

You should be fine unless you have some asshole teammate who diahrrea farts all over your bag! :D

I think I'd smell like I was sweating out a hangover.... the again shinny is on Sunday am.

[stuie7 6]

I've got a Jofa 390 helmet coming from the 'Bay shortly, just for fun more than anything else.. although I dont have it in my posession yet I imagin it'll have soaked up plenty of sweat over the years, any ideas as to get it clean?

[SirJW 207]

Re: helmet, I take mine and spray it w/ Lysol and then clean it out in the shower w/ warm water, seems to work for me.

As far as washing gear, it's an opinion. I wash mine in front loaders about once a year, the wear and tear is worth it to me to have clean gear, including gloves.

Wash cold in the delicate cycle use a little bit of detergent not a full cup so it rinses all out and air dry. I actually put some of the gear in the dryer on low to get more of the water out.

[CamNeely 0]

Yeah I usually air dry all my stuff. I wash my gear right away with shutout detergent then if its nice out I'll hang it up outside on a hockey rack(I have a hanger rack for my gear) and if it's not that nice ill throw a few things in the dryer and leave a few other in the basement.