How to Clean Football Pads: Simple Steps for Fresh, Safe Gear

Do you know how to clean football pads without professional help? Shoulder pads collect and trap dust, mud, sweat, and germs as you play. If you use them continuously without washing, they will stain, stink, and embarrass you. Soiled, bacteria-infested shoulder pads can cause skin irritation and discomfort. 

Regular cleaning is one way to maintain your shoulder pads and avoid buying others too soon.

By learning how to clean football shoulder pads effectively, you can keep yourself clean and safe and prolong the life of your sports gear. Here is a detailed post on how to clean football shoulder pads after use. 

Different Types of Football Shoulder Pads 

Cleaning football pads at home begins with understanding the type you own. Each football pad product features unique construction materials, explaining why the cleaning techniques vary slightly. The cantilevered pad types are ideal for players who face direct contact with their opponents.

They are heavier, more protective, and harder to clean. The non-cantilevered shoulder pads are less heavy and ideal for players who must run faster to receive the ball. Football shoulder pads feature unique materials, including foam padding for shock absorption and cushioning. 

It can be of the EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) or polyurethane type. The plastic shell is often polycarbonate, giving the pads a rigid structure. Their work is to scatter the force from an impact, keeping you safe. 

Football pads also have a polyester or nylon mesh fabric that reduces heat and sweating. Lastly, any football pad comes with metal parts such as rivets and buckles. These help secure different components in place. Cleaning football pads starts with understanding the unique materials used to make your gear.

How to Clean Football Pads—The Process

Every cleaning task requires thorough preparation. You do not want to stop the cleaning process several times to find a missing detergent or tool. Do these steps instead: 

1. Determine Where to Clean Your Football Pads and Get Them Ready

How to clean football pads begins by setting up a suitable area for the task. This area should have good ventilation to ensure your safety when using different detergents. An outdoor space that is easier to clean afterwards is a good choice, or even your garage. 

Once you select a suitable space, place a tarp or an absorbent piece of cloth on the surface. This is to protect the surface from cleaning detergents and water. 

2. Collect Cleaning Aids

How to clean football pads is easy if everything you need for the process is within reach. Here is what you need: 

• Detergents – You probably have a mild detergent in your bathroom. If you need a specific detergent for washing your football pads, you can get it online. 
• Disinfectant – Many disinfectant products are not ideal for sterilizing your sports gear. You can get specific products online from some of the best local brands. These include disinfectant wipes for spot treatments and urgent cleaning. Disinfectant sprays are ideal if you love mist-like cleaning products. 
• Cleaning Tools – Besides detergents and disinfectants, you will need a brush for scrubbing and removing stains. Go for the softest brushes to scrub your pads while protecting the construction materials. Another item you will require is a bucket. Get two buckets to use one for mixing your detergents and the other for rinsing.  Lastly, use lukewarm water to wash and rinse your football pads. 

Once you gather your cleaning detergents, disinfectants, tools, and water, arrange them in the cleaning area for easier reach. 

How to Clean Stinky Football Shoulder Pads in Three Steps

Here is how to clean football pads after preparing yourself: 

Step one: Remove Surface Dust and Dirt

Perhaps you played your last game on dusty or muddy ground. If it has been a while since you played, your football pads are still dusty, muddy, and smelly. This is how to clean football pads. Start the cleaning process by removing the dirt from the surface. Shake off the gear and then use your soft brush to loosen any sticky debris. Dirt can hide in the stitched areas or crevices. Use the brush to dislodge any hidden or embedded dirt. 

Step Two: Deep Clean Your Football Pads

Next, on to clean football pads entails deep-cleaning them in a soapy solution. This is how to do it:

• Take the bucket meant for detergent mixing and pour some lukewarm water into it. Add some washing detergent according to the manufacturer’s recommendation. Mix the two thoroughly. 
• Disinfect your pads with your favorite spray. Splash every part of the gear to sterilize and kill germs. Wipe the spray off with your wipes.
• Scrub the Pads thoroughly with the detergent solution. Dip your soft brush into the mixture and scrub a small section at a time. Some areas trap sweat, including the straps and inner linings. Take the time to scrub these areas with your brush. As for the hidden crevices and metal hardware, a tiny brush or a soft cloth will do. 

Step Three – Rinse and Dry Your Football Pads

The third step to clean football pads is rinsing and drying. After washing your football pads, pour clean lukewarm water into the other bucket. Do not dip the entire pad in the rinsing water. Soak a piece of clean cloth in the water, squeeze it, and wipe away the soapy solution.

After finishing, air-dry your football pads. Some of you may wonder if it is okay to dry your gear in a dryer. This is wrong because the heat from a regular dryer could damage the material of the football pads. Consider using a sports equipment dryer, as these pads require drying in a well-ventilated, shaded area.

Storing and Maintaining Football Pads After Cleaning

The steps to clean football pads are easy and quick to do at home. Focus on selecting the right cleaning chemicals for the materials used to make your football pads. After cleaning and drying, maintain and store your football pads safely.

Gently squeeze the pads without twisting to ensure they are dry before storage. Any wetness can encourage mold formation. In addition to shoulder pads, remember to clean your football gloves regularly. Wiping them down after use and air-drying them helps prevent odors, bacteria buildup, and maintains their grip for better performance on the field.

Keep your gear in a breathable bag or box to prevent sweat, mold, and bad odors. Place the storage bag or box in a cool, dry place to ensure proper ventilation. 

To ensure the pads last long, inspect them after every use. You will see signs of damage early. As you may not have the time to clean your pads after every use, wipe them with a dry cloth to prevent sweat and odor buildup. 

Moreover, scrub the stained spots with your disinfectant wipes. This will help you avoid deep-cleaning your gear after every game. Here is how to clean football pads with vinegar if they have a smell. Make a solution with equal parts water and vinegar. Spray this solution onto the football pads and let them air-dry to prevent molds from forming. 

You may be looking for tips on how to wash football shoulder pads in the washing machine. No matter how much you dread hand-washing your football pads, it is the safest way to clean them. The agitation action of the washing machine can damage the rigid structure of even the best-quality pads. 

Wrapping Up

How to clean football pads is a quick DIY task. These shoulder pads require thorough deep cleaning and continuous maintenance to stay in good shape. Avoid cleaning mistakes such as using hard-bristled brushes, harsh detergents, or a washing machine. 

Another don’t is to avoid submerging your football pads in water, as it may degrade the material. With these detailed tips, we hope you will clean your football pads well after each use.