Cleaning Base Layers

[SirJW 207]

I did a little research last night trying to find out how to get the stink out of my base layers. The best answer I found on other forums were the new sport detergents (Penguin Sport-Wash & WIN Sport Detergent ), Oxy Clean and or baking soda. What works best for you?

[ambro 0]

I did a little research last night trying to find out how to get the stink out of my base layers. The best answer I found on other forums were the new sport detergents (Penguin Sport-Wash & WIN Sport Detergent ), Oxy Clean and or baking soda. What works best for you?

I usually just wash it like normal with cold water with similar clothes, and let it air dry. No fabric softener, either.

[freestyla 0]

I usually just wash it like normal with cold water with similar clothes, and let it air dry. No fabric softener, either.

Same here, regular wash and hang dry. They dry quickly so no problem with games on consecutive days, etc.

[noodle3872 40]

I use this on all my base layer and UA clothing. Works great but the biggest key is no fabric softener.

Shutout Solutions

[noodle3872 40]

Correct, NEVER use fabric softener on any polyester fabric, including your jerseys!

NEVER EVER!!!

[shooter27 116]

Sorry - Double Post

[shooter27 116]

I just wash it like normal with the rest of my clothes after each use and put it in the dryer like normal clothes - never had a problem with smell. The only issue I've ever head was with a pair of first or second generation WSI Wikmax pants (around 2001 or 2002) that melted in the industrial dryer our trainer used to wash our undergear in college, but I put UA stuff in the same dryer and never had a problem.

[Chadd 916]

I always use Oxy Clean, that stuff is fantastic for just about everything.

[Leb_CRX 0]

oxy clean, no detergent, air dry

[SirJW 207]

I just used regular detergent, spray and wash and added baking soda in hot. Every thing came out clean and fresh smelling. I used to use baking soda and just stopped for some reason a while back and it made the difference for me. I always line dry my base layers and jersey and never use fabric softener.

Thanks to everyone for their input.

[puckhoggy 0]

Correct, NEVER use fabric softener on any polyester fabric, including your jerseys!

i was not aware of this!! lol

[shooter27 116]

I wasn't aware of the no-fabric softener rule either. I've never had a problem using dryer sheet fabric softener with my undergear though.

[SirJW 207]

Sub, do some Pro EQM's use softener?What are some of the tricks they use?

How do you wash your jersey's and under garments?

[coryroth24 15]

i was not aware of this!! lol

I wasn't aware of the no-fabric softener rule either. I've never had a problem using dryer sheet fabric softener with my undergear though.

Take a look at the care instructions on any dry fit type shirt.

This topic is perfect timing too. I just told my finance about this and it blew her mind that I was right about not using softener when washing her yoga junk!

[Jeff 0]

Oxyclean with a little liquid detergent works for me followed by air dry.

[SirJW 207]

Speaking of softener, don't use it when washing towels because it reduces the absorbency.

They ALL use softener because the washing machines are commercial machines that are set to automatically drop it into the wash cycle.

Weird, just because you can, doesn't always mean you should...

[hockeymom 2]

Unders with silver fibers beat bacteria and don't build or hold the stink to the same degree as non silver fibre fabrics.

If you wash and hang to dry on a regular basis you should be good to go. However, if you find the stink lingering even with frequent washing OR if you've accidentally left it wadded up in your hockey bag and now have a big stink OR if you are playing in a tournament and don't have time to wash your unders between games (and want to get a good nights sleep without tearing up all night)... there are several products that will take care of it.

The stink is caused by bacteria from your sweat, and you need to attack that with an enzyme cleaner. Not just any enzyme cleaner; Proteases are enzymes that work on protein based stains/smells. You can pay a million dollars for a tiny bottle of enzyme cleaner specifically labeled for fabric, sports or sweat or you can get a bucket of it for relatively cheap if you go to your friendly neighborhood pet store and get one of their enzyme cleaners for pet urine.

"OMG", you say, "I don't want to use a pet pee product on MY unders! *gag*"

It's really the same enzyme to handle both protein uhh, problems. (If it makes you feel better, pour your pet enzyme product into a Fabreeze bacteria spray bottle, lol).

The stinky culprit in sweat is amino acids. When your body uses amino acids for energy it separates the nitogen from the molecule and converts it to glucose. The extra nitrogen is processed in kidneys into urea and peed out or, if your kidneys can't handle the load, the nitrogen is sweated out as ammonia. So, it has the same biological basis.

A couple of products off the top of my head are Pet-Zyme and Nature's Miracle.

[evor1 6]

get some ammonia from the grocery store. cheap and it works well to kill odor. i use it when i wash my equipment. equal part detergent and ammonia.

[tareatingrat 4]

I just wash my stuff after every game. All my hockey stuff (underarmour, socks, jerseys, etc.), on cold, heavy duty cycle, detergent. Put everything but the jerseys in the dryer, never had a problem.

I don't use fabric softener, though. Unless it accidentally gets in with other clothes. Even then, I've never really had a problem after a couple more washes.