Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/95789
SLAPS SHOOTER'S FUN ZONE HALLOWEEN IS LONG PAST, BUT A MONSTER REMAINS AND IT'S IN YOUR HOCKEY BAG. The STINK BEAST. CAN'T. HOCKEY IS A SWEATY GAME. BUT HERE ARE SIMPLE TIPS TO SHRINK AND CONTROL The STINK BEAST. CLEANED. THE FIRST SOLUTION WORKS FOR A WHILE AND THE SECOND METHOD MAY GIVE YOU SQUEAKY CLEAN GEAR. BUT YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING BETWEEN THE SHORT TERM FIX AND THE ALL OUT WAR ON STINK. OR ELIMINATING THE ODOR RANGE FROM DROPPING A PRODUCT INTO YOUR BAG TO HAVING THE GEAR PROFESSIONALLY OPTIONS FOR MINIMIZING FIND A PLACE IN YOUR HOME THAT YOU CAN REACH WITH RELATIVE EASE, CARRYING A FULL BAG OF HOCKEY GEAR. THE GREATER THE CHALLENGE TO GET TO THAT SPOT, THE LESS LIKELY THE BAG WILL GET THERE CONSISTENTLY. STEP 1: Location, Location, Location MAYBE EVEN A GREATER CHALLENGE WILL BE TO FIND A LOCATION AWAY FROM THE HIGH TRAFFIC AND LIVING AREAS OF THE HOME. DRYLAND WORKOUTS, A POST PRACTICE/GAME ROUTINE FOR YOUR GEAR SHOULD BE JUST AS CONSISTENT. YOU NEED A PLAN. JUST LIKE FORMING GOOD HABITS ON THE ICE AND YOUR DON'T LEAVE YOUR GEAR IN THE BAG!!! PULL IT OUT, HANG IT OUT OR SPREAD IT OUT. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOUR GEAR DRIES OUT, SO AIR IT OUT. IF AVAILABLE AND STEP 2: Pull It Out, Air It Out PRACTICAL USE A FAN TO CREATE AIR MOVEMENT. FOR SKATES, TAKE OUT THE INSERTS AND PULL THE TONGUES BACK. THEY WILL DRY OUT QUICKER. AT THIS TIME YOU MAY CHOOSE TO SPRAY THE GEAR WITH YOUR CHOICE OF PRODUCTS THAT REDUCE OR RID YOUR GEAR OF THE STINK. THE GENTLE CYCLE IN WARM/COLD WATER. A FRONT LOAD WASHER WORKS BEST. IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE AT HOME, CHECK OUT YOUR LOCAL LAUNDRYMAT. NEARLY ALL YOUR GEAR (BREEZERS, GLOVES, SHINGUARDS, ETC.) CAN BE WASHED AND SHOULD BE WASHED ONCE A MONTH ON STEP 3: Laundry Day, Wash Day • FOR YOUR HELMET, WARM WATER, GENTLE SOAP AND SCRUB IT OUT. • CLOTHES WORN UNDER THE GEAR SHOULD BE WASHED AFTER EACH USE. • SHAKE OUT AND WIPE OUT YOUR EQUIPMENT BAG. • SKATES SHOULD BE WIPED OUT AND INSERTS CLEANED OR REPLACED. NUMBER OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO GET RID OF THE STINK. MY HONEST ANSWER IS THAT YOU OVER THE YEARS I'VE HAD A MUCH OF WHAT YOU SMELL COMES FROM USE A PRODUCT THAT, BESIDES REDUCING THE STINK, WILL ALSO DISINFECT. BACTERIA AND MOLD. GERMS, 34 DECEMBER.2012 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM DO NOT USE YOUR DRYER OR HEAT TO DRY YOUR GEAR. AIR IT OUT AS BEFORE OR FIND THAT FAN THAT'S BEEN BLOWING THE STINK AROUND. ILLUSTRATIONS BY Mike Curti