The 'smell' of hockey is in the air!
Last Updated: September 25, 2008 8:54 PM
Ron Kuipers The Equipment Guy
It's hard to believe but the sights, sounds and smells of summer have already been replaced by the sights, sounds and smells of another minor hockey season. There's the invigorating sight of fresh, unblemished ice. Who doesn't love the sounds of excitement as the kids 'gear-up' in the dressing room? And the smell in that dressing room? Right now it's a breath of fresh air compared to the stench that will overpower that room in a few short weeks thanks to the aromatic enemy known as 'Smelly Hockey Equipment'!
Smelly equipment is as old as hockey itself thanks to the potent mixture of sweat, moisture and equipment. Left untreated, this combination becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and mold and other microscopic 'stuff' that smells terrible. In some cases, filthy equipment can also lead to skin problems and infectious diseases. That's why you have to keep your kids' equipment clean on a regular basis starting today.
I have two kids playing minor hockey so I'm no stranger to the sour smell of hockey. During the past few weeks at the rink I've been asking other hockey parents what they do to combat that unfortunate smell. Some people go to great lengths to keep their equipment clean, like the family who throws everything into their swimming pool when they first open it up in the spring because of the high levels of chlorine. Sounds good but if you don't have a pool, you'll have to settle for the tactics employed by the majority of Canadian hockey families.
The most common strategy used to help prevent that nasty smell from developing is 'airing out' the equipment. After every game and practice you have to get your equipment out of that dark, damp hockey bag. Bacteria and mold don't do well in a dry environment so 'airing out' the equipment has to become part of your regular routine.
Get your equipment out of the bag
As soon as you get home, take Johnny or Susie with you to the basement and have them pull everything out of the bag and either hang it or spread it out on the floor. If the weather is good let it dry in a shady spot outside or in the garage. It really doesn't really matter where you dry your equipment, as long as you get it out of the bag right away.
A lot of parents wash their equipment on a regular basis in their washing machine as well. Shoulder pads, elbow pads, hockey pants, shin guards and gloves should all survive a bi-weekly or monthly tumble through the gentle cycle in hot water. Adding a bit of deodorizing detergent can help the cause while some suggest a bit of bleach.
Once your equipment is rinsed, DO NOT use the dryer. Your equipment should head straight back to the basement to air-dry instead. Socks, neck guards, undergarments, jocks/jills and jerseys should all be washed as often as possible.
A few other interesting sanitizing tidbits from hockey parents include:
- At tournaments, put fabric softener sheets in your bag between games and driving home.
- Keep socks, undergarments and jocks/jills in a separate bag inside your equipment bag.
- Place skates upside down over heating vent to speed up drying process.
- Use deodorizing foot powder in your skates.
- Use no-tear shampoo for cleaning the inside of your helmet.
- Rinse your mouth guard after every on-ice session.
- 'Febreezing' equipment makes everything smell better.
- 'Febreezing' equipment makes everything smell worse.
