How can I keep clothes from getting overly funky at sports camp?
June 29, 2010 4:50 PM Subscribe
How can I keep clothes from getting overly funky at sports camp?
My son will be attending fencing camp in July. 3 work outs a day, non-air-conditioned dorm rooms. The fencing facilities are cooled, but still... He is 16, and boy. Even if we could get him to do laundry, we only air dry his fencing stuff so it would never dry in time for reuse the next morning. Also, fencing gear is expensive, so sending him with fresh jackets and knickers for each day is not going to happen.
I found a previous Ask Mefi that suggested a spray bottle of cheap vodka is good for this type of situation. However, that isn't going to work for a 16 year old at camp on a college campus. Other than Febreeze, does anybody have other suggestions on how to keep his stuff smelling not as bad as it might for the week? He will have two pairs of knickers and 2 underarm protectors, so he'll be able to rotate the items most likely to smell the worst. And hopefully he really will switch t-shirts often, and hang stuff up to dry each evening.
My son will be attending fencing camp in July. 3 work outs a day, non-air-conditioned dorm rooms. The fencing facilities are cooled, but still... He is 16, and boy. Even if we could get him to do laundry, we only air dry his fencing stuff so it would never dry in time for reuse the next morning. Also, fencing gear is expensive, so sending him with fresh jackets and knickers for each day is not going to happen.
I found a previous Ask Mefi that suggested a spray bottle of cheap vodka is good for this type of situation. However, that isn't going to work for a 16 year old at camp on a college campus. Other than Febreeze, does anybody have other suggestions on how to keep his stuff smelling not as bad as it might for the week? He will have two pairs of knickers and 2 underarm protectors, so he'll be able to rotate the items most likely to smell the worst. And hopefully he really will switch t-shirts often, and hang stuff up to dry each evening.
Awww, com'on, mom. Why should you son be different from all other sons?
I think if you can get him to spay the fefreeze on his things, and pay attention to his own hygiene, he will do fine and better than a lot of his peers. What is really necessary (like drying closets perhaps) the camp will know more about than we do.
posted by Some1 at 5:11 PM on June 29, 2010
I think if you can get him to spay the fefreeze on his things, and pay attention to his own hygiene, he will do fine and better than a lot of his peers. What is really necessary (like drying closets perhaps) the camp will know more about than we do.
posted by Some1 at 5:11 PM on June 29, 2010
Take a large spray bottle. Fill it with 1/3 water, 1/3 Febreeze, 1/3 rubbing alcohol. Shake and spray on gear.
I use this on all of my hockey equipment and it works wonderfully. The alcohol will help kill the bacteria on the equipment that causes the smell and the Febreeze will just make the gear smell better instantly so it's not choking everyone in the dorm.
A really small box fan works well for drying out gear quickly too. They probably have some at the camp. =\
Does he actually care about this though? Almost every guy I've ever played sports with just shoves all their gear in their bag after practice \ games and then opens it up when they need to gear up again.
posted by zephyr_words at 5:41 PM on June 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
I use this on all of my hockey equipment and it works wonderfully. The alcohol will help kill the bacteria on the equipment that causes the smell and the Febreeze will just make the gear smell better instantly so it's not choking everyone in the dorm.
A really small box fan works well for drying out gear quickly too. They probably have some at the camp. =\
Does he actually care about this though? Almost every guy I've ever played sports with just shoves all their gear in their bag after practice \ games and then opens it up when they need to gear up again.
posted by zephyr_words at 5:41 PM on June 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
If he has access to a freezer, storing stank things overnight in the freezer -- in a plastic bag of course -- will kill some bacteria and tamp down the smell.
posted by Countess Elena at 5:54 PM on June 29, 2010
posted by Countess Elena at 5:54 PM on June 29, 2010
Response by poster: //Does he actually care about this though?//
For a 16 year old boy, his attention to hygiene is not horrible.
Fencers shove their gear in the bag too. Then a week later all the moisture from the sweaty clothes has rusted their $150 each weapons. My son is actually pretty good about hanging his stuff up after practice, rinsing his lame after competitions, etc.
posted by COD at 6:47 PM on June 29, 2010
For a 16 year old boy, his attention to hygiene is not horrible.
Fencers shove their gear in the bag too. Then a week later all the moisture from the sweaty clothes has rusted their $150 each weapons. My son is actually pretty good about hanging his stuff up after practice, rinsing his lame after competitions, etc.
posted by COD at 6:47 PM on June 29, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by GnomeChompsky at 5:08 PM on June 29, 2010