Disinfecting your martial arts gear after each use is an essential part of keeping it in good condition, not to mention keeping you free of germs. Sparring gear should be cleaned after each time you use it, between users when it is being shared, whenever it comes into contact with blood or other body substances, and before storing. We often put our athletic gear through a lot of wear and tear, and without taking the time to properly care for and clean said equipment, it can start to smell and break down. To help you avoid this, we’ve put together a quick guide on how to extend the life of your Macho gear. Read more below!
Daily Cleaning
When it comes to everyday care, martial artists should consider how intense their training was and then clean their gear accordingly. Perspiration can cause deterioration of the coating, so to avoid this we recommend that equipment be wiped down after each use. This will prevent sweat, dirt, and grime from building up on the gear and help keep the shiny colored coating intact.
Monthly Cleaning
In addition to doing a general wipe down every time you use your gear, we also recommend that you do a more in depth wash of your gear, including straps, with warm soapy water once a month. Once it is washed hang the gear to drip dry. This will help keep equipment free of odors. Another tip is to periodically brush lint from the hook portion of any hook/loop fasteners to keep them working well.
Advice for School Owners
For those of you who own schools we recommend a different cleaning regimen. Oftentimes gear is being shared among students, so when that happens performing a simple wipe down of gear between users is fine. However, once class has ended and your students are finished with their gear, it is a good idea to do a deeper clean to lessen the spread of any germs.
To do this, spray or dip the gear with a mild bleach solution (1/4 cup bleach per gallon of water). Thoroughly cover the gear with the disinfectant or bleach solution. Leave wet for 10 minutes for broad-spectrum disinfecting. Air or cloth dry and wipe away any bleach residue.
By following these steps you will be able to use your gear for (hopefully) many years to come, as well as lessening the chances of spreading germs from using old, dirty gear.
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