Ask Dan Question & Answer

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 Index of Subjects page)

Question #152:
Dear Dan: I'm an adult who plays several time a week year round in men's leagues. My equipment does not smell. I think it's because I wash the nylon pads in a tub full of water once a year with several boxes of baking soda to get the yellow sweat out of the pads. I also wash my leather gloves, but I have always used Sno Seal and make several applications which disappears after playing for several weeks but no moisture seems to get into the glove leather (everyone raises their eyes at that one). I also dry my equipment in the basement next to the furnace, so I think your Japanese goalie friend may be onto something with the dehumidifier idea. C.Z.

Dan Replies:
Dear C.Z.: I don't think my gear smells either. Seriously, the Japanese goalie you mention (Shohei Itami) came to my camp last summer and I snuck a whiff... his gear smells like new. Of course, I'm so used to "eau 'd hockey" (as my sister calls it) I don't notice it but thanks for the tip and the confirmation for Shohei's methods.

There is a industry springing up to take the odor out of sports gear. I've seen it advertized in hockey magazines. But like I said before, "What odor?"

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