Image via WikipediaEventually the sweat adds up - if you're doing a good job working one up! So you will have to contend (not just with your sparring partner) but also with gear's odor.
A girl came up to me after one of our kickboxing classes one day and said, "Geez, my wraps are starting to smell. I guess I need to buy a new pair." Are you kidding me? Hello-o! I didn't say anything (I just smiled) but I was thinking, 'C'mon, woman, just wash the damn things!'
Does your gear smell? Are you the odorous ogre in your martial arts class? Here are a few tips for cleaning your gear (instead of spending your hard-earned on buying more!): hand wraps, (non-leather) gloves, protective gear, headbands, etc.
First of all, at the end of your class, don't just stuff all your "wet" gear into your bag and leave it there until your next class. That is the worst thing you can do. Once you're in your car, lay it out so that it can air out.You might even want to run your fingers along each side of your hand wraps and fold them nicely to get the wrinkles out.
Another trick is to buy these little balls that you can find in the laundry section of your grocer, for sneaker odor control, and put them inside your gloves between classes (besides airing them out).
But, at least once a month (once a week for the ambitious), soak your gear in a bucket or sink with a little (a very little or you'll have too many suds) Dawn Dish washing Soap. They now make one specifically for ODOR CONTROL. Soak your gear for about 45 minutes to an hour and then rinse and squeeze until you've removed all the detergent and gotten them as dry as you can by hand.
Now you will want to hang them out to dry. A little sun in the summertime won't hurt them. You can even leave them out overnight. Just be sure you're giving yourself enough time between classes, so that you will have dry gear for your next event. Do NOT use bleach or put the gear into a dryer. Air drying is best. Hanging them over a heating vent in the winter might also work.
And for when you forget (and you will), there's always the Travel Sized Lysol Spray or any regular type deodorant spray you can keep in your gym bag... just in case.
For your LEATHER gear, a different approach is necessary. You do NOT want to SOAK them. Here are some more detailed instructions:
http://www.mademan.com/mm/how-wash-leather-gloves.html
