Best Way To Wash Pads?

[ellawhirled]

Hi everyone,

I'm a new freshie, and my pads are starting to stink from wearing them during practice and free skate (especially my elbow pads). What's the best way to wash pads that won't ruin the foam. Washing machine? Hand wash? Soap?

Thanks,
Michelle

[Ginger]

Everyone has a different take on this subject.
I handwash mine and I use pine sol. I know it sounds odd, but it works. There are directions on the bottle on how much to add to water. I usually fill up the kitchen sink and add a capfull and soak my pads in there for a while, then rinse and hang them up to dry somewhere - this will take about a dayish so make sure you do it with pleanty of time to spare before practice. Wearing wet gear is like putting on a wet bathing suit. ick.

[Kar]

Like Ginger said, there are a ton of takes on this so you'll get quite a few suggestions... I use a combo: soak in vinegar and water until I can pass the bin they're soaking in without immediately smelling derby stank. Then I put them through the gentle cycle in the washer. I try to do this a couple days before my next practice so they can air dry but I've definitely put them in for a quick tumble in the dryer.

[Danger]

I soak mine in a combination of as many cleansers (baking soda, dish detergent, etc) as I can find in my home that I know won't interact in a way that creates poisonous gas and then I rinse thoroughly and let them air dry. Things are better if you actually don't stuff them in your bag and back into your trunk after practice- when I remember I try to bring them up to air dry in my apartment, but then your apartment smells like pads, but your pads smell more like apartment, so it's a question of priorities, really...

[Barbie Beretta]

To help reduce stank, some folks will cut the toes outta kid socks so elbow pads are not right on skin (slid sock over hand and up arm). Definitely get your gear outta your bag and ideally hang on a line to air- in a garage, etc. Spray that gear when you hang it. I wash my pads in Forever New or a soap Randi Mayhem makes. I use the gentle cycle on my washer. Remember, your gear is close to skin so consider what soap you use and if you want it all up on your flesh.
Smell you later!

[Vixen DeBrawl]

I just throw mine in the washer on gentle with regular detergent and oxi-clean (helps take out he stank) and then I dry them on the clothesline. What's key is to remove them from your bag after EVERY practice and spray them with some kind of bacteria killing stuff (Lysol, Bac-Out, whatever) and let them air dry. Seems to work pretty well. Personally, I did not have much luck with the vinegar soak.

[Crash]

I use Febreeze Sport (I can only find it at Target) and of course take ALL my gear out when I get home and let it hang dry. When it gets really stinky, I toss it in the washer on gentle and let it air dry.

[eVaden Xploit]

First, I ALWAYS hang up my pads first thing when I get home. I undo all the velcro and I use those clothespin hangers that have a hook on the top and hang them in the bathroom to air out. I also hang my helmet on the doorknob to air out. Keeping stuff in your bag is the worst thing you can do. Then every now and then I run them through the washing machine using Seventh Generation detergent. I put them in one of those laundry mesh bags that you can use in the washer. I try to do this on a sunny morning so I can then hang them out in the sun the whole day. I haven't had a problem with smelliness yet.

- X

[helenashworth]

I am a fresh meat too, but have had my pads a long time. I honestly am scared to wash them, but I used a lot of febreeze sport before I found out about a special antimicrobial spray called Antistank Spray. I buy it from F.U.B.A.R.bie (Christy Young) at Roller Derby Virginia Beach. It really works, and they have many scents. I have some you can smell next Sunday if you want.

Helen

[Ginger]

Be very careful of what you spray on your pads(or even wash your pads with), especially if you have allergies!
Personally Fabreeze is lovely stuff when sprayed on the carpet or the sofa, but if I put it on my pads I break out, it wasn't really meant for constant contact with your skin.
For some people it is no problem... but if you are one of those people that have allergic reactions to stuff its no fun.

[Thundercat_Hoe]

All of the above is great for cleaning, but lets say you made an oppsie once or twice, and forgot to take the stuff out of your bag... and WHAM!! DERBY STANK IN YOUR CAR!!

I recommend using baby laundry soap to wash them at that point. It's very easy on the skin (because it's made for babies) and it smells great (like a baby after a bath... which always smells amazing ) And use the baby softener to help with the feel. Both are hypoallergenic, no dye's, and make derby gear smell AMAZING!!

For the car, essential oils, candles (do not light them, just keep it near the windshield.) or fresh/dried flowers. Car fresheners are okay, but if you wanna get the smell out and not just cover it up, essential oils used for Aromatherapy are the way to go. For some reason it does a better job at getting rid of bad smells. Just get a cloth baggie, add some dried leaves from any flower (rose works better) and add a little of whatever scent you like. Hang it up in the car, and the fresh scent of what you made will hang around for around 4 months.

For the candles, just stick it near the windshield. Preferably a tea light (smaller). Don't need to light it, just let the sun do it's thing.

Both ways are cheap, and easy. I'll be making some baggies here soon for Christmas (peppermint leaves with cedar wood). If anyone wants one, just let me know.

TcH

[Ginger]

So I got all excited and thought I had learned a new way to wash my pads. The whole vinegar trick.
Vinegar is an acid.
It totally took me a couple of weeks to figure this out, but the places that I broke out where the clue...
My sensitive skin is all broken out on the backs of my hands from my wrist guards and on my legs from my kneepads. My elbows however have shown that they are a resistant body part and have remained unscathed. I'm going back to pine sol and thought I would share that for super sensitive skin people you may want to leave the vinegar alone.