Okay, so, I’ve got these football shoulder pads, right? They were starting to smell kinda funky after a few games, so I figured it was time to give them a good wash. I wasn’t really sure how to go about it, but I thought, “Hey, I can figure this out.”
Gathering Supplies
First, I grabbed a bucket, some mild detergent (didn’t want anything too harsh), and a soft brush. I also got a hose ready in the backyard. That’s pretty much all I needed.
Prepping the Pads
I took the pads outside – no way I was doing this in the house. I laid them out on the grass. Then, I removed any detachable parts, like the extra padding and straps. It was pretty easy, just a few snaps and Velcro strips.
Washing Time
- I filled the bucket with lukewarm water and added a bit of the detergent.
- Then, I dipped the brush into the soapy water and started scrubbing the pads. I made sure to get into all the nooks and crannies.
- I paid extra attention to the areas that get the most sweat, like under the arms and around the neck.
Rinsing
After scrubbing, I used the hose to rinse off all the soap. I kept rinsing until the water ran clear, making sure there was no detergent left. This part took a while, but I wanted to be thorough.
Drying
Once they were rinsed, I squeezed out as much water as I could. Then, I laid them flat on a clean towel in a sunny spot. I didn’t want to put them in the dryer because I was afraid the heat might damage them. I also flipped them over a couple of times to make sure they dried evenly.
Reassembling
After a few hours, the pads were completely dry. I put all the detachable parts back on, snapping them into place. It was like putting together a simple puzzle. And there you have it! Clean, fresh-smelling shoulder pads, ready for the next game. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be, just took a bit of elbow grease and patience.
