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mdamson

Washing Gear (Win and the Dishwasher)

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I have talked to several people now that say they wash their gear in the dishwasher, top rack. Does anyone else do this, and how well does it work? The people I have talked with say that they wash all of the gear, including gloves, helmet and skates. I am a little leery of doing this myself and would like to gain input from others as well. I have also heard good things about a detergent called Win that is formulated for sports gear. Does anyone on here use Win, and if so, how do you wash your gear, and what gear do you wash? Would it be possible to wash the gear in the dishwasher with Win, or would there be too many suds? I know from experience (my kid put dishwashing liquid in the dishwasher) that too many suds causes the dishwasher to overflow.

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I use Win, but not in the dishwasher. From what I see it doing in the washing machine though, I'd probably stay away from putting it in the dishwasher.

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i have no idea if this works. personally, with how much gear costs these days... i would just pay the $45 or so it costs to have it professionally cleaned at the LHS

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Personally, I've washed shoes, hats, and my lacrosse gloves in the dishwasher and had no problems at all. I just ran a regular cycle and it came out clean. I don't know why people are so scared of the dishwasher?

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Personally, I've washed shoes, hats, and my lacrosse gloves in the dishwasher and had no problems at all. I just ran a regular cycle and it came out clean. I don't know why people are so scared of the dishwasher?

Because water in your gear will break it down somewhat and any water left over when your done can create an excellent breeding ground for bacteria. Washing gloves is just about the worst thing you can do for them.

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Personally, I've washed shoes, hats, and my lacrosse gloves in the dishwasher and had no problems at all. I just ran a regular cycle and it came out clean. I don't know why people are so scared of the dishwasher?

Because water in your gear will break it down somewhat and any water left over when your done can create an excellent breeding ground for bacteria. Washing gloves is just about the worst thing you can do for them.

I usually just left the heated dry on til it dryed up and then ran lysol disinfectant on them when they were done. Actually I run lysol after every use. Boxing coaches always said to do that so I just kinda made it a habit. Didn't know it was bad.

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Personally, I've washed shoes, hats, and my lacrosse gloves in the dishwasher and had no problems at all. I just ran a regular cycle and it came out clean. I don't know why people are so scared of the dishwasher?

Because water in your gear will break it down somewhat and any water left over when your done can create an excellent breeding ground for bacteria. Washing gloves is just about the worst thing you can do for them.

I usually just left the heated dry on til it dryed up and then ran lysol disinfectant on them when they were done. Actually I run lysol after every use. Boxing coaches always said to do that so I just kinda made it a habit. Didn't know it was bad.

Warm air isn't good unless it is hot enough to sterilize. Warm air and dampness is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

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Personally, I've washed shoes, hats, and my lacrosse gloves in the dishwasher and had no problems at all. I just ran a regular cycle and it came out clean. I don't know why people are so scared of the dishwasher?

Because water in your gear will break it down somewhat and any water left over when your done can create an excellent breeding ground for bacteria. Washing gloves is just about the worst thing you can do for them.

I usually just left the heated dry on til it dryed up and then ran lysol disinfectant on them when they were done. Actually I run lysol after every use. Boxing coaches always said to do that so I just kinda made it a habit. Didn't know it was bad.

Warm air isn't good unless it is hot enough to sterilize. Warm air and dampness is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

gotcha, so what is the best way to go about cleaning gear?

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Personally, I've washed shoes, hats, and my lacrosse gloves in the dishwasher and had no problems at all. I just ran a regular cycle and it came out clean. I don't know why people are so scared of the dishwasher?

Because water in your gear will break it down somewhat and any water left over when your done can create an excellent breeding ground for bacteria. Washing gloves is just about the worst thing you can do for them.

I usually just left the heated dry on til it dryed up and then ran lysol disinfectant on them when they were done. Actually I run lysol after every use. Boxing coaches always said to do that so I just kinda made it a habit. Didn't know it was bad.

Warm air isn't good unless it is hot enough to sterilize. Warm air and dampness is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

gotcha, so what is the best way to go about cleaning gear?

Sunlight and fresh air to dry it out as soon as possible, ozone if it is already a little funky. I've been working on a design for a product that I think would work for some gear but don't have the money to bring it forward. It has been more than a year so far and still haven't seen anything similar yet.

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Warm air is fine as long as there isn't moisture. For example I regularly lay my gloves and gear over a radiator after use in the winter. The warmth of the radiator quickly evaporates all water out of the gear because the air is so dry inside. Once the gear is dry, nothing can grow in or stink up the gloves because there is no water whatsoever to live off of.

So the point is that warm air is fine as long as there is a place for all of the moisture to go. If there isn't then it won't help. For example it would be a terrible idea to leave a gear bag with all of your gear in it on the radiator because all of the moisture would be trapped in the bag for the critters to live off of.

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A friend of mine used a product called Staph Shot. Let his gear sit outside in the sun and it still smells (not as bad). What would you guys suggest next? Maybe another go at the Staph Shot. I was told this is the most intense legal cleaning supply you can get. Unfortunately there is not a Sani Sport anywhere near us.

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I wash shin pads, elbow pads, jock and hockey pants in my washing machine about once every month or so. Never had a problem but I live in SoCal so not a lot of moisture in the air. Always spray gear down when I get home with anti microbial Febreze or Febreze sport and let it air dry. When gloves get funky I go buy new ones, that is the only solution for smelly gloves I've found. I prefer hygiene over staph.

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anyone ever try GoldBond medicated foot powder. It smells like pepermint and kills all kinds of germs. I use it inside the gloves and everything else

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in the past players used to put things like Barbasol shaving creams in the palm (w/Lanolin) as it was supposed to have something that killed the bacteria. It was rub it in real good and let it dry in sunlight. It came from someone I respect so I followed the instructions but can't say if it helped and/or hurt.

I sweat a ton when I play but as soon as I get home I pull out all my gear, crack open a window for some venting, run the HEPA Air purifier and space out the gear. I'll air dry my tech stuff and typically wash it the following morning with some WIN/Penguin/etc. Most of the stuff (save my shins/elbows) is dry the next AM and goes back in the bag. In the past I've had a small dehumidifier to help dry everything overnight if I'm playing back to back (PM/AM).

Try to get the stuff hit with the ozone every year or so.

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I don't know why people are so scared of the dishwasher?

Because my caked-on glass cookware comes out warm to the touch and out of a cloud of humidity. Heated dry or not... my nylon MSH2s are staying out.

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About once a year I just hand wash all my gear (except skates and helmet, which for me never smell anyways) in a bathtub. I rinse them all a few times until the water stops getting super brown, then add some oxy clean detergent and let them soak for a couple hours, and finally rinse again until you get all the detergent out. I do it in the summer on a hot sunny day, when I can hang it all outside in the sun so it dries quickly. It probably breaks down the foams a bit quicker, but all my gear tends to last ages even washing it like this, and it DRAMATICALLY reduces the smell for months afterwards. The once a year washing combined with always hanging it up immediately upon getting home (and then spraying it with a 50/50 mix of rubbing alcohol and water) means that my gear really does not smell much at all.

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I wash my shin guards, elbow pads and shoulder pads in the washing machine on delicate cycle once every 90 days or so. No way in heck would I ever put my gloves in the dishwasher or washing machine. I'm even hesitant to put my pants in the wash machine.

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I put my pants, shoulders, elbows, & shin inserts in the wash on the delicate cycle about once a month. I have been doing this for the past 2 years and there has not been any breakdown. Also OxyClean has a new pre-treating spray for stains that I have been using before I wash and everything comes out looking brand new. I do not put my gloves, skates, or helmet in the wash. Those just get a a good air out and a healthy dose of Febreeze anitbacterial.

Has anyone that has washed their stuff in a front load washer (i.e no agitator) noticed any breakdown? It seems like the only people who warn of breakdown are the ones who don't actually do it.

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I put my gloves in a frond loader all the time, no issues

No issues at all? I'm worried they'd stiffen up on me. I really need to find a way to clean my gloves, my Warriors are about 5 months old and my hands smell awful after games even though I air them out.

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I agree with the poster above, in that for what we spend on all this stuff, it really is worth it to have it cleaned professionally. I just recently took my gear to a place that has one of these http://www.esporta.ca/esporta2.html machines. My stuff still smells good a month (8-10 skates) later. Not only that but the palms of my gloves (Bauer 4roll pro) are clean (I mean they are bright they're so clean) and soft, indeed, softer then when new.

My shin guards were getting to the point where I was considering throwing them away. Now, they're perfect!

Even the foam in my helmet (easton s9) is softer, like new even.

I highly, highly recommend this. Best $50 I've spent in a while.

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I washed my elbows and shins in a front load washer. Each piece wrapped in a towel. Came out looking brand new. Never washed my shoulders yet but that coming up soon.

*edit* I've washed my gear once. I usually just use Lysol or Odor Aid and air dry everything hung up.

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Wow....I've never washed my gear...ever.

I just lay it out near the woodstove in the winter or hang it on the clothesline in the summer. Sure it stinks a little. The girdle is probably the worst...but I dont go to church in it, lol...I just play hockey in it. I guess I'm a dirtbag :)

Ok, after reading this thread, I admit, I may throw some of my gear in the washer so I can start fresh when the ice comes back on next month.....thx

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