[erikkellison]

For the record, I searched for information on this topic, and came up with nothing (save a few threads on cleaning disc brake pads).
I have noticed that my Roach Rally DH leg pads and my Mace Swat Jacket are getting visibly dirty and smelly, respectively. What's the best way to clean them that will not risk damaging the gear? I'd hate to have to repair my gear just because I threw it in the wash needlessly.

 

[Repack]

I soak mine in a trash can filled with water/detergent over night. Scrub by hand, use a hose to rinse. I put stuff on top to keep it under water.
Fabreeze also works well, and I have heard that mouth wash work well to kill germs in stuff that cannot be put in washing machines.

 

[zedro]

ask your mom, sounds like she washes your cloathes anyways.... :nuts:

 

[Silver]

I've always liked Oxyclean for hockey equipment...I'd imagine it would work fine with armor as well.

 

[Kntr]

I just spray them with the hose. Then spray with some sort of cleaner and scrub with a brush and rinse. Then let them COMPLETELY dry in the sun.

 

[erikkellison]

I think I'll try the soak and scrub w/ detergent method on the knee pads, then rinse with a hose. There's a lot of skin and crap like that - more than just dirt in my pads. Hopefully Febreeze will work on the body armor - I just don't want my armor smelling bad for when I actually run into my Whistler dream girl :love: . Thanks y'all

ask your mom, sounds like she washes your cloathes anyways.... :nuts:

Or should I just ask yours? She's usually around when I need something done... my mom is too busy with her own life.

 

[Kntr]

BUUUUURN in a Kelso voice from That 70s Show......

 

[zedro]

... my mom is too busy with her own life.

yeah, i guess i wouldnt feel like doing laundry either if i was up all night walking the streets... :devil:

 

[Acadian]

I just spray them with the hose. Then spray with some sort of cleaner and scrub with a brush and rinse. Then let them COMPLETELY dry in the sun.

same here

 

[ChrisRobin]

If it's really REALLY dirty (as in corvered in mud), hose it down and hang dry. If not, just hang dry.

I get my stuff dry cleaned once a year at the end of the season.

 

[w00dy]

Usually I come home from a ride in desperate need of a shower, I just bring the pads in the shower with me, and lay them on the floor. They get hot water, some residual soap, and stepping on the neoprene a bunch flushes out that really deep grossness which smells so awful. Hang them up to dry and you're all set. Yeah for multitasking!!!

 

[RaID]

with my leg and arm pads
i just chuck'em in the washing machine with the rest of my riding clothes
(i rinse the mud of them if it has been a muddy ride)

they come out sweet no probs everytime

 

[zedro]

hell, i needed to do an emergency cleaning at the hill because the stench was so rank (ask ChrisRobin). A hose and a hand full of public bathroom soap did the trick....

...i think the theme here is soap and water....

 

[buildyourown]

Hand wash in the bathtub with laundry detergent. Using a green scotchbrite kitchen sponge works great to get the muddy brown stains out of the white plastic. Hose rinse in yard and let dry in sun. This takes a while so I usually only do it twice a year.

 

[narlus]

with my leg and arm pads
i just chuck'em in the washing machine with the rest of my riding clothes
(i rinse the mud of them if it has been a muddy ride)

they come out sweet no probs everytime

i'm w/ raid. i used to do the bath tub and hand soap thing, but i've gotten lazy and now do the machine. two things to remember. use cold water, a laundry bag helps, and make sure all velcro straps are secured. that's three things.

 

[-BB-]

Laundry for leg pads... Shower for armor.

 

[Macrider]

For the record, I searched for information on this topic, and came up with nothing (save a few threads on cleaning disc brake pads).
I have noticed that my Roach Rally DH leg pads and my Mace Swat Jacket are getting visibly dirty and smelly, respectively. What's the best way to clean them that will not risk damaging the gear? I'd hate to have to repair my gear just because I threw it in the wash needlessly.

I fill the sink with warm water and some Woolite - take a good scrub brush and go to work - rinse well & hang outside to dry - the stench never REALLY goes away - but you can lessen it for a while....

 

[zedro]

- the stench never REALLY goes away - but you can lessen it for a while....

well, thats if you were careless enough to let it rot. Otherwise all our socks would be permanently stinky...

 

[RhinofromWA]

hell, i needed to do an emergency cleaning at the hill because the stench was so rank (ask ChrisRobin). A hose and a hand full of public bathroom soap did the trick....

...i think the theme here is soap and water....

No kidding. Soap and water. Is it that much of a trade secret? How the hell so I was my armor? Well maybe try soap and water!

It is like my little brother (when he was 15) was asked by our mother to wash the dishes by hand (we were camping) He said he didn't know how and was angry for being asked. I laughed and not so pollitely explained to him he was to use water some soap and remove the food from the plates ....are people that oblivious?

Now working on a carborator on a car or motorcycle I can't do but I assume people know the basics about washing things....soap and water.

Removed the foriegn stuff....make smell better.

erikkellison,

You are not the first to ask the question on RM or to me at races. I give everyone the same crap. If your stuff smells wash it....pretty simple. Washing isn't a mystery, alteast you know better than to just toss it in the washing machine right way.

That being said I washed all my gear except my knee/shin gaurds.... they be nasty....I better get on them before they attack all the rest of my gear.

 

[Macrider]

well, thats if you were careless enough to let it rot. Otherwise all our socks would be permanently stinky...

wait, you're saying your socks DON'T stink permanently?....interesting....

 

[toughguymagee]

I try to wash my stuff a few times a year. I use soap and water like everyone else...between washings, I always spray with Lysol after my ride when my gear is still soaked in sweat. Spraying them with Lysol kills most of the bacteria that cause funkiness.

 

[zedro]

just to add, if you leave your equipment to bake in the hot sun, it can kill off alot of the smelly bacteria. Its also a good way to sterilise utensils when camping...

 

[tazzmenn]

I use to do the bathtub thing but it became a pain. So now I just put my gear into pillow cases. And pop the tied up pillow cases with gear into the washing machine with my soft gear. works great. Febreeze just masks the smell it doent kill the bacteria that causes the smell.

 

[Russ]

And now for something completely different ... Nature's Miracle. You can get it in pet supply stores and is an enzymatic stain AND odor remover. It get's rid of the most gnarly odors and chemically breaks down the munge that accumulates on gear. Try it. It works great!