Okay, so, here’s my experience washing my kid’s football pants with those built-in pads. It’s kinda gross, but gotta be done, right?
First off, I check the pants after every practice or game. You wouldn’t believe the mud and grass stains these things collect. I give them a good once-over, see if there are any really bad spots that need some extra love before they go in the wash.
Next, I pretreat any obvious stains. I just use some regular laundry detergent, the same stuff I use for our other clothes. I pour a little on the stain, rub it in gently with my fingers, and let it sit for about 15-20 minutes. Sometimes, if it’s a really stubborn stain, I’ll use an old toothbrush to work the detergent in a bit more.
Now, for the actual washing. I always use cold water for these pants. I heard somewhere that hot water can mess up the pads or make them wear out faster, so I just stick with cold to be safe. Plus, it’s better for the environment and saves a bit on the energy bill. I add a scoop of detergent, again, nothing special, just our usual brand.
- The important thing is to add one cup of white vinegar. I swear, this stuff is magic for getting rid of smells. I pour it straight into the drum with the pants.
- Once everything’s in there, I set the machine to a normal wash cycle. Nothing fancy. And I always make sure the water level is high enough to fully cover the pants. You want them to be able to move around freely and get properly cleaned.
After the wash cycle is done, I take the pants out and give them a good shake. This helps to fluff up the pads a bit and get rid of any excess water. Then, I hang them up to air dry. I usually hang them outside on the clothesline if the weather’s nice. Sunshine is a natural disinfectant, so that’s a bonus. If it’s raining or cold, I’ll just hang them up somewhere inside, like in the laundry room or over the shower rod.
It usually takes about a day or two for them to dry completely, depending on the weather. You definitely don’t want to put them in the dryer. Again, I heard that can damage the pads. Plus, air drying is just gentler overall.
Once they’re completely dry, I give them a good sniff test. No, seriously! If they still smell a bit funky, I might run them through another wash cycle with the vinegar. But usually, one wash is enough to get them smelling fresh and clean.
And that’s it! They’re ready for the next practice or game. It’s not a super complicated process, but it’s worked well for me. The pants stay clean, the pads stay in good shape, and most importantly, my kid doesn’t stink up the car on the way home!
