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Dirty lacrosse gear can lead to bacteria growth, unpleasant odors, skin irritations, and even infections. Regularly washing your lacrosse jerseys, gloves, and pads ensures your safety and comfort during a live game and practice session. It also extends the lifespan of your sports equipment, reducing the need for frequent replacements and saving you money in the long run.
In this guide, we will show you how to clean lacrosse gear properly, ensuring it stays fresh, functional, and ready for every game.
Proper preparation is important for ensuring your lacrosse gear gets thoroughly cleaned. This preparation stage helps remove surface dirt and grime, setting the stage for a deeper clean. By disassembling and pre-rinsing your jerseys, gloves, and pads, you can significantly improve the effectiveness of the cleaning process.
Disassemble the Gear: Separate all parts, including the lacrosse pads from your jerseys, glove liners, and other removable parts. This allows you to clean each component more effectively, reaching and sanitizing all areas.
Pre-rinse Your Gear: Use cold water to rinse off any excess debris, dirt, or mud. This is especially important for lacrosse pads and jerseys that have been in contact with the ground. Pay special attention to heavily soiled areas, such as the elbows of jerseys and the leather palms of gloves. Sweat usually accumulates in these parts as well.
High-Tech Lacrosse Gear: Some manufacturers add antimicrobial properties and moisture-wicking features to their lacrosse products to help keep them fresh. However, this doesn’t mean you can ignore their maintenance. Regular cleaning is still essential to maximize their effectiveness and longevity.
Like other sports uniforms, lacrosse jerseys absorb sweat and endure a lot of wear and tear. Proper washing is crucial to maintain their appearance and ensure they remain hygienic and comfortable.
Use a Sports Detergent: Choose a sports detergent specifically designed to tackle odors and tough stains in athletic wear. These cleaning products are formulated to break down sweat and grime without harming the fabric, ensuring a thorough cleaning that preserves the material’s integrity and performance.
Machine Wash the Lacrosse Jerseys: When washing jerseys, turn them inside out to protect printed and embroidered elements. Select a gentle cycle in your washing machine and use cold water to prevent fading and shrinking.
Let Them Dry Completely: After the washing machine cycle, take your lacrosse jerseys out. Avoid using a dryer because the heat can damage the fabric and cause shrinkage. Air-dry the jerseys in a well-ventilated area instead. This simple drying method helps preserve elasticity and shape.
Lacrosse gloves often bear the brunt of the game, absorbing sweat, dirt, and oils from your hands. They are excellent breeding grounds for odor-causing bacteria and vulnerable targets for wear and tear. Handwashing is ideal for lacrosse gloves because they are sensitive to the aggressive agitation of a washing machine. Avoid putting them in a washing machine if you want to retain their padding, stitching, and overall structure.
Hand Wash the Lacrosse Gloves: Fill a basin with cold water and add a small amount of mild detergent. Submerge the lacrosse gloves in the soapy water and use a soft brush to scrub them gently. Pay attention to the palms and fingers, which tend to be the dirtiest parts.
Rinse Thoroughly: Use cold running water to rinse the lacrosse gloves thoroughly. Squeeze them gently to ensure all detergent is washed out. Thorough rinsing is crucial because soap residue can lead to material degradation and skin irritation.
Hang in a Well-Ventilated Area: Squeeze out the excess water from your lacrosse gloves, but avoid wringing them to keep their shape. Allow them to air dry in a well-ventilated area, hanging them on a clothesline or laying them flat on the ground. Avoid exposing the wet lacrosse gloves to direct sunlight or heat sources, such as radiators.
Lacrosse pads get dirty from body checking, diving shots, scooping ground balls, and more. The physical nature of the game simply leads to dirty lacrosse gear. Spot cleaning and deep cleaning are both important to maintain your lacrosse pads. Here’s how to clean lacrosse pads with these two methods.
Spot Clean Your Lacrosse Pads for Minor Stains: Use a damp cloth with a mild detergent to gently clean the lacrosse equipment. Focus on the areas with visible dirt and stains. Spot cleaning is ideal for maintaining your lacrosse pads between deeper cleanings.
Deep Clean Them for Major Stains: Fill a basin with cold water and add a small amount of mild detergent. Submerge the sports equipment in the soapy water and agitate them to lift and remove dirt. Avoid using hot water, as it can damage the padding.
Remove All Traces of Soap: Use cold running water to rinse the lacrosse pads thoroughly. Squeeze them gently to remove excess detergent and water. If you don’t, you may leave soap residue that can lead to material degradation and skin irritation.
Let Them Air Dry: Allow the protective gear to dry on their own in a well-ventilated area. You can hang them up or lay them flat on the ground. Avoid direct heat sources such as radiators and the sun. They can warp the padding material.
Knowing how to clean lacrosse gear is not enough to keep them in top shape season after season. Here are other maintenance tips that can extend the life of your lacrosse jerseys, gloves, and pads.
Regular Cleaning: After each game, take a few minutes to wipe down your lacrosse equipment with a damp cloth. This helps remove dirt and kill odor-causing bacteria, simplifying your deep cleaning routines.
Odor Control: Use a deodorizing spray specifically designed for sports gear. You can also use a natural deodorizer such as baking soda. Lacrosse equipment can develop odors despite regular cleaning, and these odor control techniques help neutralize these odors.
Damage Inspection: Look for signs of wear and tear, such as tears in your jerseys, broken stitches in your gloves, and cracked shells in your pads. Repair or replace them immediately to maximize your performance and safety.
Storage: Store your lacrosse equipment in a cool and dry place, such as a dedicated sports locker or an underbed storage bin. You can also put them in a well-ventilated lacrosse bag.
Olympic Aspirations: Lacrosse was included in the 1904 and 1908 Summer Olympics. There are efforts to reintroduce lacrosse to the Olympic Games. This is the perfect time to play the sport.
A consistent maintenance routine not only prolongs the life of your lacrosse equipment but also fosters a sense of discipline and respect for the sport. By keeping your lacrosse equipment clean, you minimize health risks and allow yourself to focus entirely on the game.
Complement your clean lacrosse gear with our customizable lacrosse apparel. From lacrosse uniforms to lacrosse socks, our collection has everything you need for a complete lacrosse setup. Browse our selections today and play lacrosse like a professional!