How to get rid of hockey gear smell
Hockey stink isn't a mystery. Warm, damp padding is a perfect home for bacteria, and they're what you smell. Get your gear dry after every skate, wash what you can on a schedule, and the smell fades and stays gone. Here's the routine, piece by piece.
Why hockey gear smells
Every skate soaks your padding with sweat. When that moisture stays trapped in the gear, along with dirt and grime, bacteria grow, and they cause the smell. Pure Hockey calls it "rink stink." Hockey Canada's equipment guide makes the same point: bacteria need moisture, so dry your gear after every use.
It's not only about the smell. Pure Hockey notes that damp, dirty gear breaks down padding, liners and stitching sooner, and raises the risk of skin infections in a sport where cuts and scrapes are common. The good news: the routine below fixes most of it, and you don't need special products to start.
After every skate: the routine
- At the rink: wipe your skate blades dry and open up your skates before they go in the bag.
- Empty the bag as soon as you get home. Not in the morning. Take out every pad, sock, jersey and base layer. Throw away old tape and trash.
- Hang everything up. Use a drying rack, hooks or a clothes rack in a warm, airy spot. Spread pieces out. Don't stack them.
- Open everything up. Undo the straps, prop gloves open, pull out skate insoles, loosen the laces and pull the tongues forward.
- Add airflow. Point a fan at the rack. Hockey Canada suggests one to speed up drying, especially when you play more than once a day. A boot and glove dryer helps with skates and gloves.
- Wash the soft layers. Base layers, hockey socks and jerseys go in the wash after every session.
- Spray the pads with a disinfecting sports gear spray, if you have one. Hockey Canada recommends an alcohol-based equipment disinfectant spray from time to time.
- Leave the bag open and empty so it airs out too.
- Pack only when everything is dry. Damp gear in a closed bag is how the smell comes back.
Wearing a base layer under your pads helps too. It soaks up sweat and goes in the wash every time.
What can go in the washing machine
Check each piece's care label first. Makers' instructions win over any general advice, including this page.
| Gear | Washer? | How |
|---|---|---|
| Base layers, hockey socks, jersey | Yes | After every skate. Hockey Canada suggests cool water for jerseys and socks so they don't shrink. Air dry. |
| Jock or jill | Yes | Wash regularly. Take the cup out first if you can. |
| Neck guard | Check the label | Hockey Canada says wash it regularly in cold water and hang it to dry, away from heat. |
| Shoulder pads, elbow pads | Usually | Gentle cycle with Velcro fastened. Don't overload the machine. |
| Shin guards | Check the label | Or hand scrub them with a little laundry soap, water and a soft brush, Hockey Canada's method. |
| Hockey pants | Usually | Check the label before any dryer. Wash removable pads a few times a season. |
| Gloves | Check the label | Never in the dryer. See the glove section below. |
| Helmet and cage | No | Wipe by hand. Never in a washer or dishwasher. |
| Skates | No | Wipe inside and out. Never soak them. |
| Goalie pads, blocker, glove, mask | No | Wipe with a damp cloth. Don't soak. |
How to machine wash pads:
- Fasten every Velcro strap so nothing snags.
- Take out removable liners and wash them too.
- For gear that really stinks, pre-soak it first. Pure Hockey's method: warm water, sports gear detergent and one cup of plain white vinegar for 45 minutes to an hour.
- Wash on the gentle cycle with a sports gear detergent, at the water temperature the label allows.
- Take the gear out as soon as the cycle ends and hang it to dry.
Never use bleach, detergents with bleach or harsh solvents on hockey gear. Pure Hockey warns they break down the materials.
Never use high heat on pads. Hockey Canada says direct heat breaks down fibers and padding and cracks leather. Skip the radiator, the space heater and the dryer on high. Gloves, helmets, skates and goalie pads should never go in a dryer at all. When in doubt, air dry.
Gloves
Gloves are slow to dry, and Hockey Canada notes leather ones take longer than others. After every skate, open the cuffs, spread the fingers and prop the gloves open on a rack or a glove dryer so air gets inside.
For washing, follow the label. Pure Hockey says gloves can go in the washer, but never in the dryer, because heat damages the palms. Hockey Canada's guide warns that soaking palms can make them brittle, so go easy. If a palm wears through, Hockey Canada suggests having it replaced at a leather or shoe repair shop rather than playing with a hole.
Helmets
Let the helmet air dry after every skate. To clean it, wipe the shell and padding with a soft cloth and mild soap and water, or a gear spray. For a deep clean, Pure Hockey says to take the cage and chin cup off first. Never paint it, and don't put it in the washer or dishwasher. Hockey Canada says painting can weaken the helmet and voids its CSA certification.
Skates
After every skate, wipe the blades dry, pull out the insoles, loosen the laces and pull the tongue forward so the boot can breathe. Wipe the inside with a damp cloth or a gear spray now and then. Don't soak skates, and keep them away from heaters. The full blade care routine is in skate sharpening and lacing.
The bag
Empty the bag after every skate and leave it unzipped. Hockey Canada says the bag should be cleaned regularly and sprayed with disinfectant from time to time, the same as your gear. Wipe it out, check its label to see if it can be washed, and let it dry fully before you pack it. Store your gear on a rack, not in the bag.
Deodorizing: what works and what to skip
- Works: drying everything, every time. It matters most.
- Works: a disinfecting sports gear spray between washes.
- Works: Pure Hockey's vinegar pre-soak for the worst pieces, before a gentle wash.
- Works: fresh air. A breezy spot helps gear dry faster. If you hang gear outside, bring gloves and skates in before they get hot in strong sun, since heat is hard on leather and glue.
- Works: professional cleaning. Hockey Canada recommends it at least once a year.
- Skip: bleach, harsh solvents, dryers on high and heaters.
- Skip: scented sprays that only cover the smell. If the gear is still damp, the smell comes back.
What makes it worse
- Leaving gear in the bag overnight. Pure Hockey says damp gear packed away lets moisture and bacteria break down the padding and makes the smell worse.
- Leaving the bag in the car. A closed bag in a warm car stays warm and damp, exactly what bacteria like.
- Stacking wet pads on top of each other, or leaving gloves folded shut.
- Skates laced tight with the insoles in. The inside stays wet.
- Tournament weekends. Playing more than once a day leaves little time for gear to dry. Hockey Canada suggests a fan, so bring one if you can, and wash everything when you get home. For the rest of the weekend, see tournament weekend fun.
A weekly and monthly routine
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| After every skate | Empty the bag, hang everything up, open it all, run a fan. Wash base layers, socks and the jersey. |
| Every week | Spray the pads, gloves, helmet and skates. Wash the jock or jill and the neck guard. Wipe out the helmet and skate liners. Air out the empty bag. |
| Every month, or after a tournament | Wash the pads the labels allow, and hand scrub the rest. Pre-soak the worst pieces. Wipe out the bag, or wash it if the label allows. |
| Once a year | Professional cleaning, as Hockey Canada recommends. Check everything for cracks, tears and flattened padding. |
Pure Hockey's rule of thumb fits this: dry after every skate, and give the gear a deeper clean whenever the smell builds, after a hard tournament weekend, or at least a few times a season.
A word about skin
Dirty gear rubs on skin all game. Wash your base layer every time and use your own labeled water bottle. If you get a rash, a red sore or a cut that looks infected, see a doctor. For the full list of gear and how it should fit, see the hockey equipment list.
While everything dries, you can play Brudvig Hockey 2027, a free 3-on-3 arcade hockey game, in your web browser. No download, no account.
Questions
Why does hockey gear smell so bad?
Sweat and moisture get trapped in the padding, and warm, damp gear is a perfect place for bacteria. The bacteria cause the smell. Drying everything after every skate is the main fix.
Can you put hockey gear in the washing machine?
Most soft gear can, including base layers, socks, jerseys, shoulder pads, elbow pads and pants. Use a gentle cycle and sports gear detergent, and check each label first. Helmets, skates and goalie gear are cleaned by hand.
Can you put hockey gear in the dryer?
Not on high heat. Check the care label, and when in doubt, air dry. Gloves, helmets, skates and goalie pads should never go in the dryer.
Does vinegar get rid of hockey gear smell?
It can help. Pure Hockey suggests soaking very smelly gear for 45 minutes to an hour in warm water with sports gear detergent and one cup of plain white vinegar, then washing it on a gentle cycle.
Can I use bleach on hockey gear?
No. Bleach, detergents with bleach and harsh solvents can break down padding and other materials and shorten the life of your gear.
How often should you wash hockey gear?
Dry it after every skate, and wash base layers, socks and jerseys every time. Give the pads a deeper clean whenever the smell builds, after a tournament weekend, or at least a few times a season.