Tips for keeping your gear fresh all season

Summary: The most important rule for keeping hockey equipment fresh is to dry it immediately after every session. Take everything out of the bag, open the Velcro straps and laces, and let it air-dry at room temperature—never on a heater. Underwear and shin guards should be washed after every use. Wash pads and gloves regularly according to the manufacturer's washing instructions, and never put helmets or skates in the washing machine. Also take care of the little things: sharpen the skates, clean the visor, and replace tape and laces when they are worn. Do a simple equipment check once a month, and it will last longer and smell less.

Introduction

Anyone who has a hockey player at home knows the smell. The bag opened in the locker room, the gloves that never really dry, and the shin guards that have been sitting in the car since Saturday. The smell is not just unpleasant. It is a sign that moisture and bacteria are breaking down padding, seams, and materials, and that the equipment is aging faster than it needs to.

The good news is that it doesn't take much to keep the equipment fresh. It is about a few simple routines done every time, plus a more thorough check now and then. In this guide, we will go through how to dry, wash, and care for every part of the equipment, from skates to helmet, and how to keep the bag organized all season long.

After every session—dry immediately

The most important tip is also the one that is most often forgotten: take the equipment out of the bag as soon as you get home. Moisture and sweat in a closed bag are what create the smell and break down the materials.

Here is what to do:

• Unpack everything. Every time, even if you are going to practice again tomorrow.
• Open everything. Loosen the Velcro straps, open the gloves, loosen the laces on the skates, and pull up the tongue. Remove the insoles if possible.
• Hang or lay out so there is plenty of airflow. Air should reach from all sides. A drying rack, hooks on the wall, or a drying stand works well.
• Dry at room temperature. Do not place the pads on a heater and do not use a hair dryer or tumble dryer. Intense heat can make plastic brittle, cause padding to shrink, and make glue fail.
• Let the skates dry upright, with the skate guards on so the blade does not rust.

The right bag makes a difference. A bag with ventilation lets the equipment breathe, even during the moments it is in the bag. Hockeyback 2.0 has large ventilation holes for faster drying and is available with or without wheels. With Flaps for Hockeyback 2.0, the bag works as a drying rack for shin guards and gloves, and several bags can be stacked securely. This is practical in a locker room with several players.

Wash the equipment correctly

Wash your undergarments, shin guards, and jerseys after every use. These are the garments that lie closest to the skin and collect the most sweat. A Hockey Wash Bag keeps game jerseys, shin guards, and practice clothes together in the wash, so nothing gets lost. The bag is 55 cm long, has an extra sock holder, and is available in seven colors. This is practical when the team washes the game jerseys together, as each player can have their own color.

Pads and gloves also need to be washed regularly, but how often depends on the pad. Many pads can be hand-washed or machine-washed at a low temperature in a mesh laundry bag, but not all. Always read the manufacturer's washing instructions on the label or packaging. Always air-dry afterward—never use a tumble dryer.

Helmets and skates should never be machine-washed. Dry the inside of the helmet with a damp cloth and mild soap. Avoid harsh solvents, which can damage the shell and padding. Wipe out the skates with a towel after every session and let them air-dry.

Between washes, you can wipe the inside of the pads with a damp cloth. This removes most of the sweat and reduces the smell.

Care for each part

The skates

• Wipe the blade after every session so it does not rust, and use skate guards when walking off the ice.
• Remove burrs and small nicks between sharpenings with the Unite Skate Blade Combini.
• Store spare blades in the Howies Skate Blade Case, which protects them in the bag and preserves the sharpness.
• Replace laces when they start to fray. Waxed Skate Laces hold their tension throughout the session. The right length is available in the guide for skate laces.

Helmet and visor

• Clean the visor with a soft cloth—never paper, which scratches the surface. Hockey Visor Spray cleans and prevents fogging in one step. If you want a pure cleaning spray for regular care, Plexus Visor Spray Lustray is available.
• Check that the screws and clips are secure. Replace loose screws with the Howies Hockey Helmet Repair Kit. A helmet with cracks in the shell should be replaced, not repaired.

The stick

• Replace the tape on the blade when it is worn or has absorbed water. Old, wet tape makes the blade heavier. Wax after every taping with Howies Hockey Stick Wax, so the tape does not absorb water. The technique is available in the guide for taping a hockey stick.
• Do not leave the stick wet in the bag. A Stick Bag Hockey holds two sticks and protects them during transport.

Shin guards

• Cut the tape after the session instead of tearing it off. This makes the shin guards last longer.
• Clean the Velcro of lint so that it sticks.
• Tape the guards to the shin guard before every session, so they do not rub against the skate and wear out both the guard and the shin guard. The full technique is available in the guide for taping shin guards.

Monthly check—and organization in the bag

Once a month, go through all the equipment:

• Has the padding become flat? Are there cracks in the hard parts?
• Does the Velcro stick? Do the straps hold?
• Are the laces frayed? Are the skates dull?
• Are the helmet screws secure? Is the visor scratched?
• Does anything still smell after drying? Then it needs to be washed.
• Does everything still fit? Children grow quickly.

Worn straps and damaged pads should be properly repaired or replaced. Tape is no solution for broken pads.

Organization in the bag. Tape, laces, wax, and scissors easily get lost in a large bag and become damp. The Howies Hockey Accessory Bag has two compartments and a transparent name pocket, so that everything is kept dry and easy to find. Mark the bag and helmet with Adhesive Letters & Numbers – White, so no one takes the wrong one in the locker room.

Always keep tape at home. Shin guards are taped before every session, so the tape runs out quickly. With Shin Guard Tape PRO (3-pack), you get tape delivered every other week, every month, or every three months.

Frequently asked questions about keeping hockey equipment fresh

1. How do you get rid of the smell from hockey equipment?

The smell comes from bacteria that thrive in moisture and sweat, so the most important thing is that the equipment dries properly after every session. Take everything out of the bag as soon as you get home, open the Velcro straps, gloves, and skates, and let everything air-dry at room temperature where air can reach from all sides. Equipment that is left wet in a closed bag starts to smell after just a few days. Wash your undergarments, shin guards, and jerseys after every use, and wash pads and gloves regularly according to the manufacturer's washing instructions. Between washes, you can wipe the inside of the pads with a damp cloth and mild soap. Also air out the bag itself and store it open at home. A bag with ventilation, such as Hockeyback 2.0, lets the equipment breathe. If the smell persists even though you dry and wash regularly, the padding may have become so saturated that the pad needs to be thoroughly washed or replaced. Avoid hiding the smell with perfume or fragrance spray, as it does not remove the bacteria.

2. How often should you wash hockey equipment?

It depends on which part it is. Wash your undergarments, shin guards, and jerseys after every use. They collect the most sweat and start to smell the fastest. Pads and gloves need to be washed less often, but regularly. How often depends on how much you practice and how well the equipment dries between sessions. Many people wash the pads a few times per season, more often if they smell despite drying. Always follow the manufacturer's washing instructions. Never machine-wash helmets or skates. Dry the inside of the helmet with a damp cloth and mild soap, and wipe out the skates with a towel after every session. The most important thing, however, is not how often you wash, but that the equipment dries properly after every use. Equipment that dries every time needs to be washed less often. A Hockey Wash Bag keeps game jerseys and shin guards together in the wash, so that nothing gets lost or mixed up.

3. Can you machine-wash hockey pads?

Many pads can be machine-washed, but not all, so always read the manufacturer's washing instructions first. It is often on a label inside the pad or on the packaging. If the pad can be machine-washed, put it in a mesh laundry bag or pillowcase, close the Velcro straps so they do not tear through other items, and wash at a low temperature with a mild detergent. Avoid fabric softener, which can build up in the material. Always air-dry afterward. Tumble dryers and heaters can make plastic brittle and cause padding to shrink. If the manufacturer advises against machine-washing, you can hand-wash the pad in lukewarm water with mild detergent, rinse thoroughly, and let it dry for a long time, as thick padding takes time to dry. Helmets and skates should never be machine-washed. It can damage the shell, padding, and glue joints. Regardless of how you wash, drying is most important. A pad that has been washed but not dried properly will start to smell again quickly. Flaps for Hockeyback 2.0 turn the bag into a drying rack for shin guards and gloves.

4. How do you dry hockey equipment the fastest?

By letting the air reach it. Take everything out of the bag immediately after the session. Open the Velcro straps, gloves, and skates, pull up the tongues, and remove the insoles if possible. Hang or lay out the parts so they are not stacked on top of each other. A drying rack, hooks on the wall, or a drying stand works well. A fan blowing cool air toward the equipment can speed up drying. However, do not use heat. Heaters, hair dryers, tumble dryers, and saunas can make plastic brittle, cause padding to shrink, and make glue fail, and this shortens the equipment's lifespan. Place the equipment in a room with a normal temperature and good air circulation, not in a damp garage or storage room. The gloves dry faster if you open the cuff and stand them upright. The right bag also helps. Hockeyback 2.0 has large ventilation holes, and with Flaps for Hockeyback 2.0, it can be used as a drying rack. Washed shin guards and undergarments dry fastest on a drying rack.

5. How do you care for hockey skates?

Wipe the blade with a towel immediately after every session so that it does not rust, and wipe out the inside of the skate. Loosen the laces, pull up the tongue, and remove the insole if possible, so that the skate dries properly. Let it air-dry upright—never on a heater. Use skate guards when walking off the ice, but take them off when the skates need to dry, as moisture otherwise remains against the blade. Sharpen the skates regularly and remove burrs and small nicks between sharpenings with the Unite Skate Blade Combini. Store spare blades in the Howies Skate Blade Case, so they are protected in the bag and retain their sharpness. Replace laces when they start to fray or become thin. Waxed Skate Laces hold their tension and keep the skate secure throughout the session. Regularly check that the skate has not cracked, that the rivets are secure, and that the lace holes are intact. Skates should never be machine-washed, as this can damage the glue and materials.

6. How do you wash hockey gloves?

Follow the manufacturer's washing instructions, which are often on a label inside the glove. Many gloves can be hand-washed in lukewarm water with a mild detergent, and some can be machine-washed at a low temperature in a mesh laundry bag. Rub gently in the palm, which collects the most sweat and dirt, and rinse thoroughly so that no detergent remains. Gently squeeze out the water instead of wringing, so that the padding does not deform. Let the gloves air-dry for a long time, preferably upright with the cuff open, so that air can get in. Never use a heater, tumble dryer, or hair dryer, as heat can make the palm material hard and brittle. Between washes, drying is most important. Open the gloves after every session and let them dry properly. Flaps for Hockeyback 2.0 work as a drying rack for gloves. Regularly check the palm. When it becomes thin or breaks, you will have less feel and grip, and it is time to have the gloves repaired or replaced. A good grip on the stick means you do not need to hold it as tightly. Grip Tape on the shaft provides a secure grip even with sweaty gloves.

7. How do you clean the helmet visor?

Clean the visor before every session, and always with a soft cloth, preferably microfiber. Paper towels and regular towels can scratch the surface, and scratches scatter light and make visibility worse over time. Spray on a cleaning spray made for visors and wipe carefully. Hockey Visor Spray cleans and prevents fogging in one step, which is especially valuable when the temperature difference between the locker room and the body causes the visor to fog up again. If you want a pure cleaning spray for regular care, Plexus Visor Spray Lustray is available. Avoid window cleaner, alcohol, and other harsh cleaning agents. They can damage the visor's surface and any anti-fog coatings. Store the helmet so that the visor does not lie against other equipment in the bag, as this is how most scratches occur. Also check that the screws holding the visor are secure, and replace loose screws with the Howies Hockey Helmet Repair Kit. A visor that has cracked or become heavily scratched should be replaced.

8. How does the team keep game jerseys and laundry organized?

When the team washes game jerseys together, or when parents take turns washing, it is easy for shin guards and jerseys to get mixed up or lost. A Hockey Wash Bag keeps each player's game jersey, shin guards, and practice clothes together in the wash. The bag is 55 cm long, has an extra sock holder, and is available in seven colors. Give each player their own color, or write the number on the bag, so the right clothes end up with the right player after washing. Also mark helmets and bags. In a locker room full of identical bags and helmets, it is easy to take the wrong one. Adhesive Letters & Numbers – White are clearly visible on black bags, and Adhesive Letters & Numbers – Black are suitable for light surfaces. Create a game jersey washing schedule early in the season, so that the responsibility is shared evenly among the families. Make sure the game jerseys dry properly before they are packed, as a damp game jersey in a bag will start to smell by the next match.