Despite all the stains and sweat that football creates, keeping your gear clean can be relatively simple if you stay on top of it.  If you allow your pads and jerseys to get dirty and stay dirty week after week, practice after practice, they will not only be impossible to clean but can actually become a health hazard.  Mold and fungus can start to grow in the porous spaces of sweaty pads and staph infections can result. 

Equipment Cleaning Tips

• Allow gear to dry out
• Use disinfectant spray
• Read washing directions

The key to clean gear is diligence.

Cleaning Jersey/Gear

1. Hang your gear to dry. Hang your gear up outside or in a dry interior space.  A tight, enclosed space, like an equipment bag, is a haven for molds and bacteria. When hot, wet gear is allowed to fester.  Make sure all your gear is allowed to dry thoroughly.
2. Disinfectant. After your gear dries, spray everything down with a disinfectant spray. This will kill odor-causing bacteria and prevent fungal buildups.
3. Removing stains. When it comes to the fabric elements of your uniform (jersey, shorts, football pants, tee-shirts), you'll want to start by dealing with stains. Grass, blood, mud and dirt may seem like a challenge, but they are easy to handle if you don't allow them to set in.  In general, you should never use bleach.  Bleach can damage and deteriorate the materials used for sports clothing. If you feel your uniform needs a little extra cleaning, try a gentle, non-chlorine (color safe) bleach with the wash.  If generic detergent isn't working, try using a specialized sports detergent that is designed to remove odor without damaging sensitive fabrics.
4. Be careful. Be careful not to machine dry after the wash. The heat and static buildup in a drying machine is detrimental to polyesters, can fade colors and can eventually remove numbers and lettering from a jersey.

Cleaning Gloves
Receiver gloves can become extremely stinky after repeated uses. After a while, the smell will stick to your hands even after you take them off. Gloves can be relatively difficult to clean as the sticky pad on the outside palms can be damaged by basic solvents.

Start by drying out the gloves (as always). Once dry, fill up a sink with some warm water and mild soap. Dip your hands in the soapy water and put them in the gloves. Make sure to scrub the inside of the gloves. Repeat as necessary, then do it again with soap-less water to rinse.

After rinsing, allow your gloves to dry. As a final step, sprinkle in some baking soda before storing the gloves. The baking soda will absorb odors and help to keep your gloves smelling clean and dry in your equipment bag.

Cleaning Cleats
After a game, knock off all debris by hitting your shoes on the ground or a wall. Wipe them down with a damp cloth and buff the outer leather. Then, allow your cleats to dry thoroughly, preferably outside in the sun. To quicken the drying process, put newspaper inside the cleat.  Once the cleats are dry, sprinkle in some baking soda and/or foot powder to eliminate odors.  If you really want to be thorough, you can stuff the inside of your cleats with good-smelling dryer sheets for storage.

Cleaning Equipment Bag
The final piece of equipment that needs cleaning is your equipment bag. Keeping your bag clean will help to keep everything else fresh and will eliminate a major source of odor.

To clean, remove everything from the bag, shake out any debris, and then wipe down the inside with a disinfectant spray and a clean, dry cloth. Afterward, throw in a couple of dryer sheets with your gear.

Mold/Fungus Removal
If you follow the steps outlined above, you should never have a problem with fungus or mold on your pads. However, if a mold or fungus problem does arise, don't panic. You do not have to throw your gear away.

First, apply a small amount of liquid scrub cleaner on the moldy surface. Give it a few minutes to set in, and then use a bristle brush to scrub away the mold.

Repeat as many times as necessary until all the mold is gone. Then, take the gear outside and blast it with a high-pressure hose to remove any remaining mold particles as well as the excess cleaner. Allow your mold-free gear to dry, then spray with a disinfectant as a final step to prevent further fungal growth.