If you’re the type of player whom everyone moves two lockers away from when you sit down after a game, congrats: you’re officially the team “dumpster diver.” No one likes a smelly player, much less when you carry that scent around with you for hours after the game. To help avoid that scenario, here are some friendly tips on how to keep your shoulder pads clean.
What We Cover:
The Bath Approach
Washing
Drying
Related Resources
The Bath Approach
It’s about as simple as it sounds. Fill up your bathtub (preferably not the one your mom or dad uses) roughly halfway with warm water and add ¼ cup of your day-to-day detergent. Let that mix into the water for a few minutes before throwing your shoulder pads into the soapy tub. Drain the tub after half an hour and rinse off any excess detergent.
Washing
If you don’t mind your washing machine sounding like a beating drum, go ahead and throw your shoulder pads in. Set your machine to delicate and the water temperature to cold.
Tip: If you’re using high-end pads, take the bath route. It’s a little gentler than the washing machine.
Drying
Regardless of which method you use to wash your pads, it’s crucial that you dry your pads ASAP after washing them. Hang them up evenly on a rack or lay them out on a flat surface in front of a fan until they feel dry to the touch.
