How to Get the Smell Out of Youth Hockey Gear
Quick answer: Youth hockey gear smells because kids sweat into pads and liners that rarely dry between practices. To handle it, wash jerseys, socks, and base layers with The Stink Solution Laundry Booster, and saturate the pads, gloves, helmet, and skates with the Hockey Odor Eliminating Spray, which breaks down odor on contact with OAM Technology. It is Plant Based, Made Without Harsh Chemicals, and safe around kids.
Why does kids' hockey gear smell so fast?
If you are a hockey parent, you have caught that smell in the back seat on the drive home. Kids skate hard, they sweat, and that sweat sinks into foam pads and fabric liners that get packed away damp. Because youth gear often gets handed down or worn for a couple of seasons, the odor has time to really set in.
You want it gone, and you want whatever you use to be safe on gear that sits against your child's skin.
Is it safe to treat gear a child wears?
Yes. The Stink Solution is Plant Based, Enzyme Free, Biodegradable, Vegan, Cruelty Free, and Made Without Harsh Chemicals. It is safe on skin and around kids, and it will not stain the gear. It eliminates the odor rather than covering it with a heavy scent, which matters for younger noses.
What is the simplest routine for a busy parent?
Split the gear into two piles: what goes in the wash, and what does not.
Washables (jerseys, socks, base layers, practice tees): Add The Stink Solution Laundry Booster to the load. Use 1/4 cup for small loads or 1/2 cup for large loads. A 64 oz bottle handles roughly 32 loads, so it lasts a full season.
Everything else (pads, gloves, helmet, skates, the bag): Saturate the liners and padding with the Hockey Odor Eliminating Spray. Apply heavily and let each piece dry open. The spray works on contact, so there is no waiting around before it does its job.
How do you make the smell stop coming back?
Build a two-minute habit after every practice. Open the bag the moment you are home so nothing sits sealed and damp. Pull the gear out to dry, hit the high-sweat pieces with the spray, and toss the washables in the laundry with a booster on your normal wash days. Kids will not do this on their own, but the routine is quick enough to run for them.
One kit for the whole setup
The Hockey Season Saver Kit bundles an Unscented Laundry Booster for the washables with 16 oz and 4 oz Coconut Lime sprays for the gear, so you are covered on both piles for $59.99 (regularly $69.99).
Want to compare options first? Browse the Hockey collection.
Youth Hockey Gear Odor FAQ
How do you get the smell out of kids' hockey gear? Wash jerseys, socks, and base layers with a laundry booster, and saturate the pads, gloves, helmet, and skates with a hockey odor eliminating spray that breaks down odor on contact.
Is odor eliminating spray safe for children's hockey gear? Yes. The Stink Solution is Plant Based, Made Without Harsh Chemicals, and safe on skin and around kids, and it will not stain the gear.
How much laundry booster do I use for hockey jerseys? Use 1/4 cup for small loads or 1/2 cup for large loads. A 64 oz bottle covers roughly 32 loads.
Can I use one product for the whole set of gear? The cleanest approach is a kit that pairs a laundry booster for washables with a spray for the gear that cannot go in the machine, like the Hockey Season Saver Kit.