Here’s how to fix it.
Clean skin and dryness are the keys to killing odor causing germs.
By Dr. Alison Carrigg, board certified dermatopathologist
Youth sports make good humans by providing hard-won lessons in physical and emotional endurance. But the equipment that absorbs their sweat and tears can’t be laundered and develops a stench that is far less inspiring!
This scent is due to a variety of germs that thrive on the proteins and secretions in sweat. The smells and bacteria growth are intensified by the moist environment of a sealed bag of wet gear. Luckily, eliminating odor in sports equipment does not require labor intensive scrubbing and laundering after every practice. In reality, there are some easy methods you can use to destroy the environment these smelly germs love, reduce your child’s risk of skin infection and protect the entire team. Here's everything cleaning experts recommend.
Attack the source of odor producing germs on their skin.
Many of the bacteria that make equipment stink during their sports season, live on your child’s skin all year long. These germs thrive in protected sites or “reservoirs” on the body. The typical shower does not address these areas: inside the nose, the armpits, the groin, the nail beds. Luckily, The Benuka Kit and its companion App ensures a full body, thorough cleanse from nose to toes. The Kit provides surgical grade disinfectants, and the App guides your child with music and spoken instructions through a cleansing protocol that is proven to reduce the risk of skin infections. The Benuka App even sends them reminders to shower and to use clean towels. BONUS: Athletes that regularly complete full body skin cleansing routines like Benuka’s, protect their teammates from skin infections by reducing the likelihood of sharing germs. So, it’s not just about the smell!
Air it out!
The easiest and fastest thing you can do when a sports bag doesn’t smell good is to open it up. This circulates fresh air and releases the contaminated air.
Dry it out!
Bacteria and fungi that make smells need water to create that big stink. So, anything that dries out the equipment will eliminate odor. Investing in a boot dryer is key. It’s a small, inexpensive appliance that silently emits a slow current of warm air that can dry out the wettest equipment overnight.
Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) acts to displace the water and speeds evaporation. Try putting a small spray bottle filled with rubbing alcohol in your child’s equipment bag. Even if they just open the bag and spray a few times, they’ll minimize the moisture and reduce the smell.
Wipe down the bag!
While we know the kids’ pads stink, it’s easy to forget that their bag can contribute to that stomach-turning smell. The buildup of germs and dirt in the bag itself can perpetuate the problem if not addressed. A quick wipe down with a disinfectant cloth like Clorox Free & Clear Compostable Cleaning Wipes will reduce this issue.
