You’ve just come off the ice after a hard-fought game, and the last thing you want to do is go to the laundry room and start washing all the hockey equipment you wear. That’s enough anxiety as it is; you don’t need to add more by having to wash clothing by hand. It’s the end of the season, and you’re looking for ways to make your life a little easier. You want to wash the equipment as soon as possible, but the question is how? If you’re using the traditional laundry route, you’ll soon discover that hockey equipment is not exactly like other clothing items, and it needs special handling.
Table of Contents
Why Should You Wash Hockey Equipment?
You should wash your hockey equipment because it’s dirty. It gets dirty fast, even if you only have a couple of games a week, so you might as well get started early. There are a few things that make hockey equipment special, and one of them is the fact that it takes a bit more water to clean it than other clothing items. Another cool thing about washing your equipment is that most of the work is done by machines, so you don’t have to worry about doing all of the work by hand. You’ll find several different machines on the market that are specifically made for washing hockey equipment, which simplifies the process.
How Do You Wash Hockey Equipment?
To start with the easy ones, you have the wool mask and the helmet. You don’t have to worry about your glove, as those are the only two things that come in direct contact with the puck, and therefore are the most important ones. When it comes to the rest of the equipment, you have two options. You can either hand wash each piece separately, or you can take them all at once and go through them together. Most hockey players recommend the former, as it allows you to start off with the easiest pieces and then add the rest later. It also minimizes the risk of damage. You don’t want to wash your equipment too quickly, or else the water will cause the rubber to deteriorate. In both cases, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Wash By Machine
There are several different appliances specifically designed for washing hockey equipment. Many people with small homes or those who travel a lot for work have resorted to renting a machine instead of washing their equipment by hand. They are the perfect solution for people who need to keep their equipment clean and dry, even if it’s only temporary. The majority of these machines work on wet-dry cycles, which allow you to start off by throwing in some soap and water, followed by a couple of short cycles to get the dirt down. It’s then up to you to let the machine do its job for a while before you put in another load. That way, you ensure that all of the water has gone and dried, without causing any problems. This is a much safer option than having to wash your equipment by hand and then risk drying it out. You can’t control how quickly you use the machine or how many times you have to interrupt the process to bring in more water. That’s where the risk comes in. Renting a washing machine is not only cost-effective, it’s also a reliable solution that ensures your equipment stays clean and dry, no matter how many times you use it. It even helps keep the rubber from deteriorating.
Wash By Hand
If you’re hand washing your equipment, you’ll need to start by removing the hair and any excess grease before you start the clean water stage. It’s best to do this before you begin, as the water and soap will fight each other if you mix them together while your hands are still full of dirt and oil. After you’ve cleaned your hands, you can proceed with the water stage. The longer you let the water soak in, the more dirty it will get, so it’s best to do this stage last. Most people recommend doing the water stage for at least 10 minutes before you begin the clean water stage, to ensure all of the dirt has been washed away. This ensures you’re starting with a clean slate and prevents the rubber from deteriorating. If you start with dirty equipment, the last thing you want to do is ruin your chances of playing in the next game. It’s a pain to have to buy new equipment, and that’s why you should wash it as soon as possible after every game. If you wait until after the season to wash it, there’s a chance you’ll be doing it without proper equipment. It’s also worth noting that you should always wear gloves when washing your hands, as the water tends to shed and stain your nails quick enough that you won’t be able to remove it without gloves. After you’ve removed the gloves, continue to wash your hands until the water turns a faint pink color. It should be a clean, fresh pink color—if it’s not, then you’ve got some soap residue that needs to be removed. This is why you must wash your hockey equipment separately; the water cannot penetrate the pads and stay where it belongs. Once you’ve washed your hands, dry them thoroughly before you put your gloves back on.
It gets even more complicated when you start adding in the sweatpants and the jerseys. If you wear them alone, you’re fine—you just need to remove the excess water and let the air dry out. The problem is when you start adding more items to the mix. The moment you start moving around is when the problem starts. You’ll find it extremely difficult to remove all of the water, and it will either soak through or else create an illogical bubble that will eventually burst. These kinds of complications are the main reason why most people recommend washing your equipment separately, as you can then proceed to the next piece and add it back on when you’re done. One benefit of this process is that you’ll prevent the water from becoming tangled and knotted, which could lead to serious problems if you’re not careful. It’s also worth noting that your equipment gets dirtier as the season goes on. It’s the nature of the game; you’re always having pucks fly over or through you, and the more you wear, the more you’ll end up stinking like a hockey player. It’s not something you can avoid, so you might as well get used to it.
How Long Does It Take To Wash Hockey Equipment?
The length of time it takes to wash your equipment depends on how much you use and how dirty it is. It takes about as long to wash your gear as it does to dry it, so you might as well do both at the same time. You may need to do this a couple of times to make sure all of the dirt is gone, especially if you have a very dirty or long piece of equipment. Remember that the rubber will deteriorate if you wash it too often or too quickly, so make sure you don’t do that. You can also use an additional towel to help remove the water, as it will otherwise soak through your regular clothing, even if it’s not perforated. When you’re washing all of your sports equipment at once, it is imperative that you go in order of size, as the last thing you want to do is scramble to find a small sock among a sea of NHL jerseys. You should also use a gentle, non-bead soap for the most accurate cleaning.
Protect Your Equipment
It’s a common mistake for people to put the wet clothes right on the ice, thinking that the cold temperature will help keep the water from expanding and ruining the fit. That’s not true at all, as the heat from your body will help drive the water towards the outside and beyond, where it will stain your clothes. That being said, you should always put some ice in the washing tub to keep your equipment cold until all of the water has drained, especially if you’re doing the wash at home. This will also prevent any ice from forming on the clothes during the drying process, as it can otherwise cause serious damage. You may also add a couple of ice cubes to the washer for an additional chill. Just make sure you remove them before you start the laundry cycle, as they can cause serious damage to your machine if they’re not removed in time.