So, I definitely don’t mean to ramble on about sports, but as a woman who grew up with three older brothers I got to thinking about the sports equipment yesterday, the billowing stench from having it all in a storage unit outside and “on” went another light bulb!
Since we are about to face some of summer’s scorching rays, it’s time to think about how to get rid of the sweaty stinky stench that collects and manifests in our sports gear and our sports wear.
As much as I love to work out at home- and believe me, organizing and maintaining a functional household is a work out- I enjoy hitting up the gym. But, I notice that as it heats up, I tend to sweat more. And though I wash my clothes immediately when I return from the gym, I’ve heard some people say that after they wash and wear their gym clothes again, the smell comes back as soon as they start to sweat.
If you find yourself in the same boat, there are few tricks you can try:
1. You can add some baking soda (about ½ cup) to your laundry before you add the softener and wash on a gentler cycle.
2. Soak your gym clothes in a solution of vinegar after being washed- especially in the underarm area. You can also add bicarb soda to the same area.
3. Alternate gym clothes. Synthetic fibers, rather than natural fibers (cotton), hold onto odors.
As far as gym/sports equipment goes, I found a product called SportzGemz, which is a pouch that has a volcanic mineral inside that you place in your sports gear bag. Supposedly it soaks up all of the moisture and absorbs the stink. In my eyes, I am skeptical that it completely eliminates the odor as it claims and makes me wonder if the pouch then itself becomes the culprit of the smell. BUT if it does the job, someone please let me know because it sounds interesting.
http://www.sportzgemz.com/
Otherwise:
-Make sure that you let all of your equipment air out after use.
-Be sure to clean the items as well- bacteria build up is the source of the smell and can lead to infections
-Find a deodorizer that works for you- whether it be in spray or pack form.
-Bring your equipment INSIDE- keeping equipment outside to bake= quicker spreading of bacteria!