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Regular cleaning, impregnation and taking care of training equipment and accessories is a must! Neglecting the proper washing and cleaning of sports equipment and accessories may not only result in their rapid destruction, but also skin problems or unpleasant infections. Check how to take care of sports accessories.

Contents:

  1. How do I clean my sports bag?
  2. How to wash sportswear?
  3. How do I take care of my running shoes?
  4. How do I clean my yoga mat?
  5. How to take care of the barbell?
  6. How do I take care of my boxing gloves?
  7. How to wash boxing wraps?
  8. How to take care of the punching bag?
  9. How to clean exercise bands?
  10. How to take care of trekking shoes?
  11. How to take care of clothing with a membrane?
  12. How to wash thermoactive underwear?
  13. How to clean a ski helmet?

Without taking care of accessories and sports equipment, unfortunately, we will not be able to enjoy physical activity for too long. Imagine the gallons of sweat per year that permeate your clothes, shoes, mats or bags. In order for our training items to perform well and not need to be changed often, they should be properly cleaned and cared for.

Even before using the newly purchased sports equipment, it is worth cleaning the product properly at the beginning. On its surface there are not only a lot of germs and bacteria left behind by customers or store employees, but also post-production industrial sludge.

We have collected the most important and most effective tips for the care of the most popular sports equipment. See how you have to handle them so that the equipment will serve you for many years.

How do I clean my sports bag?

Soft and light sports bags can be successfully washed in the washing machine. Information on how thoroughly it is washed can be found on the leaflet or the tag in the bag. If the bag is made of synthetic material, gentle detergents and washing cycles will work best.

What to do if the bag is stiffened? It depends on the manufacturer. If the manufacturer clearly says that the bag can be washed in a washing machine with stiffening without fear - let's do it. If not, the brace must be removed. All visible dirt and stains can be removed with a brush or a wet cloth soaked in detergent.

If the bag is not dirty,only it smells bad, you can iron it with a steam iron. Hot steam kills bacteria and removes bad smells perfectly.

How to protect the bag against unwanted odors? It is enough to ventilate it frequently. You can also add desiccant bags or tea bags inside.

How to wash sportswear?

In order for sportswear and accessories for sports to serve us as long as possible, we need to take care of them regularly - clean and maintain. Sportswear is made of specific materials that tend to clog the micropores and reduce breathable and waterproof properties.

If you exercise regularly, 2-4 times a week, you will still have to replace your training T-shirt about every six months (up to 2 years maximum). For other items of sportswear, replace:

  • bra - every year
  • sports socks - every 1-3 years
  • compression garment - every 6 months
  • waterproof jacket - every 5 years.

And whenever you notice the wear of your clothes: stretching the fabric, loosening the elastic bands, chafing, you should think about replacing it. Worn-out functional fabric will not fulfill its role - this especially applies to the compression cloth.

It is easy to find bacteria and fungi in training clothes - we sweat in it, leave the epidermis and collect bacteria from our body. In order to get rid of bad smell and stains, it is worth investing in special preparations for washing functional clothes, which are more effective in removing the unpleasant smell of sweat and protecting it better. We do not use softeners. We wash them at low temperatures, do not squeeze them. And most importantly: it's best to wash them immediately after training, don't hesitate - it serves the bacteria responsible for the unpleasant smell.

How do I take care of my running shoes?

If the dirt is slight, just wipe your running shoes with a damp cloth. A dirty sole can be cleaned with a sponge or a brush with detergent.

The unpleasant smell of shoes is best removed by replacing the insole with a new one. Then it is worth spraying the inside of the shoe with a special refreshing preparation.

Washing shoes in the washing machine is the last resort.Better not to do it more than once a month. Such a long contact with water and detergents weakens the structure of the footwear materials and may permanently deform the upper. Before we throw the shoes into the washing machine, remove the insoles, laces and put them in a mesh bag. The water temperature should not be higher than 30 degrees, and the program should be set to wash delicate items. Do not dry your shoes in the sun because they can fade and shrink. It is best if they dry naturally.

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How do I clean my yoga mat?

The yoga mat can be cleaned in several different ways:

  1. Cleaning the mat on the floor. It is done with a damp cloth. We wipe it thoroughly, collecting the dirt. Ideally, the cloth should be soaked in washing-up liquid or soap. To rinse it out, simply rinse the yoga mat in the shower, or wipe off the lotion first with a wet cloth and then with a dry cloth.
  2. Cleaning the mat in the shower. It is best to hang the mat on the wall of the shower enclosure and wipe it with a cloth with the addition of washing liquid. Then pour warm water from the shower over the mat and let it dry.
  3. Cleaning the mat using a bathtub. First, pour a little lukewarm water into the bathtub, then dissolve a little mild detergent in it, or simply wash gel or soap. We wet the mat and then wipe it with a cloth. The mat can be dried in the open air or, for example, on a table, near the radiator.
  4. Cleaning the mat in the washing machine. Yes! The yoga mat can even be washed in the washing machine! But this only applies to soft mats. We wash them at a temperature of no more than 30 degrees C. However, we must remember one important thing - we cannot dry the mat or spin it in the washing machine! Before throwing it in the washing machine, it is worth getting acquainted with the information from the manufacturer. Perhaps the mat we have is not suitable for such treatments.

Other important information:

  • Never wrap a mat that has not dried well!
  • Do not put it directly on a stove, radiator or other heat source - it may melt.
  • Do not expose the mat to the hot sun at high noon. Especially when it is dark in color.
  • For the mat to dry faster, simply drain it with a towel by pressing it firmly against the surface.

How to take care of the barbell?

It is best to take care of the barbells and dumbbells regularly, wiping them with a damp cloth and detergent after each workout. This equipment is extremely easy to clean and it is worth making sure that the metal does not become covered with rust, because if it does - we may have a bigger problem with the equipment.

But nothing is impossible! Rust from the barbell can be removed with sandpaper or by using an angle grinder. When we remove the rust from the surface, it is worth impregnating the metal with a special spray for such a material and painting it. When it comes to choosing a spray - the best one will beresistant to various temperatures, it will protect the barbell against further rust coverage.

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How do I take care of my boxing gloves?

The basic problem in keeping boxing gloves hygienic is their smell. What to do so that they do not scare us away with an unpleasant smell?

1. Use boxing wraps. Boxing wraps, as is well known, are used to stiffen the wrist. However, this is not their only function! The wraps isolate the gloves from moisture that builds up inside the gloves. Sweat is simply the culprit, as the gloves are impermeable to air. Glove wraps can be washed even several times a week without worrying about their wear, as they are made of flexible material that can be washed repeatedly in the washing machine.

2. Dry the gloves. The wrappers alone are not enough to deal with the unpleasant odor. They also soak up moisture after some time, and sweat seeps into the gloves.

The unpleasant smell that comes out of neglected gloves is the effect of fungi and bacteria that start to develop inside them. Moisture, small space and limited access to light very quickly cause the development of germs in boxing gloves. To prevent this from happening, you need to dry them properly after each training! This must be done at a room temperature not exceeding 25 degrees C. The gloves must not be dried on radiators, stoves or other direct heat sources. Otherwise, the material on the gloves may crack or melt.

And what if we have already allowed the gloves to smell unpleasant?

  1. Freeze the gloves. This is the most effective and least costly way to remove mold and odor from gloves. First, dry them well, then put them in a plastic bag and leave them overnight in the freezer. After taking out the gloves, they should defrost for several hours. Remember to dry the gloves properly before freezing! Otherwise, the material may be damaged.
  2. Stuffing with newspapers. This is a good way to get the moisture out, and with it, the bad smell. Some athletes believe that better results can be obtained by wrapping coal or s alt in newspaper.

How to clean gloves?Do not wash them in a washing machine, and cleaning can only be done with a damp cloth, which you should gently wipe the surface of the gloves.

And how to maintain boxing gloves?Posewith the methods already mentioned, it is worth lubricating them, because natural leather requires such care. It is not necessary to grease only synthetic leather gloves.

How to wash boxing wraps?

They must not be washed at high temperatures or dried in a tumble dryer - in such conditions they may shrink and become permanently wrinkled. It is best to wash them in a washing bag to isolate them from other clothes, thanks to which Velcro will not stick to other items and tighten the bandage. One final note - if the wraps / boxing bandages are colored, they can dye, but it's worth checking first by soaping and rinsing them under warm water.

How to take care of the punching bag?

Cleaning the punching bag is very simple. Just wipe it regularly with a damp cloth to keep it fresh. Keeping the punching bag in good condition is not difficult due to the fact that the outside is covered with a leather coating, it is very easy to wipe it and it collects sweat or dust.

In order for the bag to serve us for many years, we only need to remember that it should not be kept in damp places and that it has good ventilation. Leather or similar materials have certain requirements that must be respected so that they do not get damaged:

  1. Do not expose the bag to high temperatures or direct sunlight.
  2. Let it dry completely.
  3. Do not wet it - just wipe it with a damp cloth.

How to clean exercise bands?

Rubber exercise bands made of rubber are best wiped with a damp cloth soaked in a mild detergent. The covered ones can be machine washed or rinsed in a bowl with lukewarm water, following the recommendations on the product labels.

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How to take care of trekking shoes?

Trekking shoes are made of natural leather: nubuck, grain, suede or leather-like materials. This makes washing them in the washing machine out of the question. So how to take care of them? With a soft bristled brush dipped in warm water.

We do not use strong detergents or washing powders for trekking shoes. In the washing machine, we can only wash the shoe insoles, and if they are made of leather - we clean them by hand. The shoes should dry naturally, preferably outdoors, but in the shade and exposed to the wind. After drying, impregnate the shoes with wax, petroleum jelly or spray. In the off-season, we store our shoes in a dry and ventilated place, not wrapping them tightly with foil - they must breathe so that the leather does notmoldy. To keep their shape, it is worth putting shoe trees or newspapers inside.

How to take care of clothing with a membrane?

Clothes with a membrane should be machine washed after each season. Dust and dirt clog the micropores in the fabric and the clothing loses its properties.

Before throwing clothes into the washing machine, empty the pockets, zip up the zippers, fasten Velcro, buttons and belts. We set the washing machine to 40 degrees and select the program for washing sports clothes (unless the manufacturer indicated otherwise).

Note! We do not use regular powder!We use the one that is intended for washing clothes with a membrane. After washing, rinse the clothes without using a fabric softener and hang them to dry. Spray the jacket and pants with an impregnant.

How to wash thermoactive underwear

We wash thermoactive underwear after each exercise. However, it cannot be washed with other clothes as ordinary liquids and powders can destroy its thermal effect. How to wash thermoactive clothing? Preferably in gray soap, soap flakes or in a delicate washing powder for children. Before putting the clothes in the washing machine, secure them in a washing bag. The washing temperature should be around 30-40 degrees. We give up spinning, and after removing the clothes from the washing machine, do not squeeze the water, just knead the clothes slightly. Thermoactive underwear cannot be ironed! We dry it by hanging it on a string.

How to clean a ski helmet?

The inside of the ski helmet is washed in the washing machine, and if the lining is permanently attached to it, clean the inside with a soapy brush, and collect the liquid with a damp sponge. Another option is to buy a helmet cleaning foam that penetrates the fabric, collects dust and dirt and removes odors.

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ABC of exercises