Bacteria, mold and fungus can grow heartily on the insides of athletic pads and football helmets. The foam, leather and fabric all serve as hosts to the contaminants that cause health conditions ranging from skin infections to acne and dermatitis. Rather than buying new pads and helmets when they get smelly and moldy, there are steps you can take to clean and recondition them.
Step 1
Clean football gear before stowing it away at the end of the season. Moisture, dirt and oil that stay in the padding over the summer tend to fester and grow bacteria while in storage. Hot weather provides a breeding ground for mold that will be more difficult to remove if you wait until the beginning of the season to clean.
Step 2
Remove pads from the athletic gear inserts and place them in a mesh bag in the washing machine. Scour the moldy spots with a cleanser made of 1 tbsp. liquid laundry detergent and 1/4 cup baking soda. Add white distilled vinegar to the scouring cleanser to make is pasty.
Step 3
Wash pads in cold water to avoid shrinkage, and let them air dry. Replace moldy cushions in the helmets; most are made of foam that is not refreshable.
Step 4
Wipe out plastic hard shells of the helmets and padding surfaces with a diluted bleach substance or disinfectant cleaner. Replace the pads after all the surfaces are completely dry.
Step 5
Clean helmets and pads with rubbing alcohol throughout the football season. Doctors at the Wake County Human Services Communicable Disease Program report that methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, and other harmful bacteria that spreads infections often are present in athletic equipment that athletes share or leave in dirty locker rooms.
Step 6
Use cornstarch on tough mold stains. Make a paste with cornstarch and rub it into the surface. Let it dry and brush off the residue. Sprinkle a small amount of cornstarch in the helmet and on the pads before using them to prevent moisture buildup that causes mold.
Tips and Warnings
- Send your pads and helmets out to a professional sports cleaning company once a year after football season for a thorough cleaning if you don't want to go through the hassle. Check with your local high school or college athletic departments to find out about local services that offer athletic gear sanitation services.
- Don't use bleach to clean padding in helmets and pads. While bleach will definitely kill the bacteria, it also can damage the protective equipment and make it less effective for safety.
Things You'll Need
- Mesh bag
- Laundry soap
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Diluted bleach
- Disinfectant cleaner
- Rubbing alcohol
- Cornstarch
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