The Science Of Odor And How To Get Rid Of It

Healthy young woman preparing for morning workout.

If you’re an athlete that regularly goes in and out of locker rooms, you know exactly what odor we’re talking about. Playing a sport for years might’ve pushed you into shrugging away the sweaty smell that your friends and family complain about, but doing so will only make the problem grow!

As frustrating as it can be to deal with cleaning out your gear, it’s worth the time investment. Our goal is to ensure that you don’t have to plug your nose every time you zip open your duffle bag.

Allow us to share our findings on the science behind gear odor and a few helpful steps you can take to avoid uncomfortable smells.

The Science Behind Sports-Related Odor

Ski and snowboard boots exposed in the rental winter shop

 

Though it’s no secret that playing sports encourages many unpleasant bodily smells, you might be wondering how that odor permeates your gear and why it’s so difficult to shake. To explain how it works, let’s use hockey as an example. Some hockey locker rooms have fans or high heating to assist in drying the equipment. This is a huge mistake because:

  • Bacteria, mildew, and mold, stem from wet and warm environments
  • Sweat is made of proteins that thrive in this environment which causes the unpleasant odor
  • Heated areas make it easier for bacteria to spread throughout the entire room
  • Warm environments also cause the body to sweat more than usual
  • Heat-drying your gear will make the odor stick for an extended period of time

As tempting as it may be to spray Febreze as a solution to gear odor, it will only make the problem long-lasting as the effects wear off rather quickly. 

How You Can Reduce Bacteria And Odor

Healthy young friends doing exercises outdoors.They do streching before their workout.

You’ve likely heard comments about the stench in your bag multiple times before. Breaking a sweat on the field or the ice isn’t something to fret about. Here are some ways you can reduce the chances of spreading bacteria around your gear:

  • Air Out Your Gym Bag:

    Athletes are always on the go. It’s easy to toss your stuff into a bag and have it travel from car rides to practices and back home again without realizing how much stench is inside. After every use, air out your gym bag to avoid leaving your sweaty clothes bunched together. The last thing you want to do is trap all the built-up odor in your gym bag. Once you return home, remove your gear and let your bag air-dry in a cold space. We recommend keeping it overnight in a basement or garage.

    Healthy young woman preparing for morning workout.

  • Daily/Weekly Clean:

    If you use your gear more than 3 times a week, we recommend doing daily cleans of all your equipment. Before putting your clothing items into your laundry machine, turn them inside out so that all the sweat, oil, and bacteria that has accumulated inside gets targeted. Try not to use more detergent than normal. While that may seem like it will clean your items more, it actually makes them harder to rinse.

Closeup low angle view of a late 20'sman doing some cardio workout on a treadmill. He's wearing gray sports t-shirt, soaked in sweat.There are three more people next to him, blurry. Back lit, Sun is flaring from the right hand side.

  • Have More Than One Uniform:

    We know how heartbreaking it is to let go of your lucky jersey, but it’s necessary if you want to reduce odor. Instead of relying on one uniform, get a backup. Alternating between uniforms will give you more time to properly clean out each set.

  • Toss Off Your Gear During Breaks:

    This tip might not be doable for every sport, but it does work for some. During breaks between games, toss off your jersey and let it sit out beside you. Your body continuously builds more sweat, even when you step off for a few moments. Letting your gear get some air between plays will reduce a bit of the odor.

Don’t Want To Clean Out Your Gear Alone?

Sports concept. Basketball, tennis racket, baseball, glove, soccer ball, football to left of unique wooden boards background. Selective focus on wooden boards.

If you think you’ve passed the point of no return with the odor in your bag, let us work our magic for you! Save yourself the hassle and time commitment by letting us do what we do best. With over 30 years of experience, we know what it takes to remove bacteria and stench by sanitizing, cleaning, and maintaining gear the right way.

At Love Your Gear, we use a specialized cleaning process that completely eliminates any potential bacteria, viruses, mold spores, fungus, and more.

We are dedicated to ensuring that all of your sports gear is odor-free with a money-back guarantee. To learn more about our sports cleaning services and prices, feel free to contact us today to get a free quote for gear cleaning.

 

 

 

How To Ensure Your Gear Lasts Long

Flat lay of sports equipment with smart phone on wood

Flat lay of sports equipment with smart phone on wood

Though it might be tempting to toss your sports bag aside after coming home from a practice or game, you could be causing your gear some serious damage. If you’re an athlete, then you’re well aware of the time-investment that’s involved when it comes to committing to a sports team. This makes it understandable that you may not always spend as much time taking care of your gear as you probably should.

Not only is it a large time investment, but it’s also a money investment. Sports equipment doesn’t come cheap, which is why we encourage you to take care of it as best as you can!

We’ve put together a list of tips you can follow to ensure that your sports gear stays in good condition:

Remove The Odor

Ice Hockey Equipment Isolated on White Background

 

You’ve probably heard your parents or housemates complain about the stench coming from your bag after you come home from breaking a sweat on the field. It’s natural to feel uncomfortable when someone brings up the smell. Unfortunately, the more you avoid your bag, the worse it will get. Here’s what we recommend:

  • Do a weekly clean: At the end of each week, toss your jersey into the laundry machine and leave your bag outside or in your basement to air out. Your equipment deserves to be cleaned after spending long hours at play.
  • Get into consistent habits: After each game, don’t close your bag airtight. Keeping your dirty clothes and equipment in a closed bag will trap all the odor inside, making it harder to get out down the road. The worse your equipment smells, the more inclined you’ll be to toss it out and buy more.

Maintain Your Equipment

Sports Background: Equipment on unique wooden boards background. 

Whether you play hockey, soccer, basketball, tennis or any other sport, it’s crucial to maintain the piece of equipment you rely on the most. For example, if you’re a hockey player, regularly get your skates sharpened and cleaned. The mindset of, “they’re just going to get dirty again,” will quickly deteriorate the quality of your equipment.

If you’re a soccer or basketball player, you might be thinking that you don’t necessarily rely on “equipment.” However, you probably think of your shoes as your holy grail. Rather than just tossing them in and out of bags without wiping them down, start to do a gentle clean after each use. While it may seem excessive, it will help prevent any signs of wear.

Switch Chemical Cleaning Products For Natural Ones

While commercial chemical products are always a “go-to” when it comes doing laundry, try out some natural options. Instead of tossing your gear into anything you can find, be cautious of what products you’re using on it. Check with the manufacturer of your gear to see what cleaning supplies they recommend for the best care.

A great alternative to regular cleaning supplies suggested by mass corporations is eco-friendly products. Chemicals eventually tear away at the quality of your items. Rather than tossing your jersey into a mixture of laundry detergents, switch to white vinegar. Using natural products will prevent any chemical coatings on your sportswear.

Let Your Equipment Breathe

Soccer athlete participates in soccer practice drills

 

After being worn over and over, it’s only natural that your equipment will need time and space to breathe. Everything from hockey helmets to tennis racquets require regular maintenance.

Regularly wiping down your gear and letting it air out will help clear out any excess germs or sweat. Setting aside time to clean will help keep your equipment looking as new as the day you bought it.

We’ll Take Care Of Your Gear

House cleaning product on wood table with green background

 

Dreading opening up your equipment bag? Don’t sweat it! At Love Your Gear, we have over 30 years of experience in thoroughly sanitizing and cleaning gear so that you don’t have to. Our unparalleled cleaning process completely eliminates potential bacteria, viruses, mold spores, fungus, and more.

We are dedicated to ensuring that all of your sports gear is odor-free with a money-back guarantee.

To learn more about our sports cleaning services and prices, feel free to contact us today to get a free quote.