Sports and athletics are fabulous ways for your child to get exercise, maintain fitness, learn about teamwork, and healthy competition. Just about every sport has specific gear that needs to be organized, cleaned and maintained in order to remain safe and effective. This article gives some general information to address athletic and sports gear.

Balls:

Soccer, basketball, football, tennis and lacrosse balls all can be cleaned to help them to last longer. Leather balls can be cleaned and conditioned with leather cleaner and conditioner to maintain the leather’s softness and keep the leather from cracking. Fabric balls can be washed in a solution of  warm soapy water, rinsed and air dried. Tennis balls can be dried in the dryer with pillows to fluff the pillows as they dry.

Wooden Items:

Athletic items made out of wood can be wiped with a sanitizing cloth. Then wipe the item with another cloth just damp with a solution of Murphy’s Oil Soap and water. This will help to keep the wood clean and reduce the number of germs present on the item.

Plastic Items:

Most sports items are manufactured using plastics. These items can be cleaned with a mild solution of bleach water to disinfect and clean. Be sure not to saturate the item and clean off the bleach solution with a clean, damp cloth.

Shoes:

Athletic shoes often can be washed in the washer and then air dried. I use the gentle setting for washing shoes. If you aren’t comfortable washing them in the washer, you can hand wash them in the sink or tub with a warm soapy water and a old toothbrush. Put in direct sunlight in the spring and summer or over a heating vent on the floor to dry in the winter.

Clothing:

Athletic clothing needs to be washed frequently to avoid distasteful smells and embarrassing odors. Launder according to the manufacturer’s instructions and if using the dryer, remove these items promptly.

Duffle Bags/Gear Bags

Many backpacks, duffle bags and gear bags can be washed on the gentle cycle in your washing machine. I don’t recommend putting them in the dryer but instead letting them air dry on a warm, sunny day. This will help to keep these items clean and odor free.

Here’s a great idea for the team jerseys for each sport in which your child participated. Keep these jerseys together and label the team name and date/year that your child played on this team. When your child is in college, you can make a keepsake quilt from these jerseys as a cool reminder of their childhood sport experiences.

 

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