Back to School: Tips for Dealing with dirty equipment, damp gym

By Margaret Ely ,

The beginning of the school year often means more backpacks, books and crayons invite cabinets and kitchen countertops. Fall Sports are back, too, and shirts in the laundry room and mud covered studs in the garage they stink.

There are simple ways to reduce the stench and dirt that come with active young people, says Good Housekeeping Heloise editor who has written several books on the board at home and life and "Tips from Heloise" column . We asked him what he had learned from years of response to the cleaning of the system and the organization of topics.

"Just a little extra effort, with a few tricks," Heloise said. Some of their advice.

Organize sports equipment

For children to play the different sports, have bags or ordered at the gym in various colors for every sport - basketball is green, football is red, baseball is blue. So if you're rushing from one activity to another, it is easy to pick the right over the back of your car.

As for what to do with football or baseball bat comes home, Heloise said to hold items in one place in the garage. Try it. Using plastic storage containers or new plastic garbage container for the rest

Shelves and air networks work well for items that are out of season, too. "You are on the way, but not yet in sight," he said.

Cleaning uniforms and sportswear

No need to be a football jersey with each washing practice: First, Heloise said, parents can breathe a sigh of relief.

"It is simply unrealistic, something every time you wash your child," Eloise said.

Instead, turn shirts inside out (weather permitting) hang with shorts and pants. Do not let children put their clothes away in their pockets. For heavily soiled items such as muddy shorts, let the mud dry before shaking out or vacuuming.

When it comes time to clean your clothes, use a liquid detergent directly as a pretreatment. Pour in the armpits of shirts and other stains and let it sit. This is the cleaning time to work. And finally, do not block too much on washing machine.

"The clothes clarify not good enough to be clean," Eloise said. "Many times disgust and easy-to-remove dirt and smelly clothes."

Make sure inside when washed shirts off, protect plastic each entry. And if you want to keep a particular sporting jersey after a season is over, be sure to clean before storing.

"It is always a special shirt you wore when you got the shot or out of the basket, and you want to keep forever. If you want to keep, wash and air dry. Not back costume sale to".

Cleaning machines

Most items - shin guards, gloves and protects - can go in the washing machine. Use warm, not hot water, and always air dry. For filled plastic items (shields, for example) put them in a washing bag laundry bag or pillow case with zipper. This will protect the machine and equipment from the ground. It is also good to check the care instructions on the label of the cleaning.

● Gym bags

"We know that feeling," Heloise said. "There is a body odor., You played football, basketball and fencing, and welding. A part of it is bacteria."

Prevent odors put softener sheets in their pockets, or spray the inside of the bag with a deodorant spray that kills bacteria. This also works well for padded helmets, collecting sweat.

● Staples

If the mud or dust is still wet, let it dry, if you have time, Heloise said. It is much easier to remove. Use a toothbrush to remove dirt whip-doped plastic, and use a grill brush metal studs.

● Water Bottles

Water bottles are often damp musty smell after a season (or two) of the sport.

"If you really cleaning if you are using a brush, you may have scratched plastic," Eloise said. "Penetrate these small scratches where bacteria can and that smell."

Try using vinegar, which is safe and environmentally friendly to kill mold and mildew. Fill the bottle with a mixture of vinegar and half water half and let it sit overnight before rinsing. If you have a screw, soak in a mixture of baking soda and water.

● hats

Easier (and more fun than Heloise), how to make a baseball cap is in the dishwasher. Use the top shelf, Heloise and a clothespin zipper said before the start of a wash cycle. It is then removed and air dried. To a coffee, make sure that the cap holds a rounded, dry, or put it exploded in a balloon.

Another possibility is the shampoo that is designed to break body oil use. If the shoe looks dirty especially around the side of the head, a toothbrush and scrub with shampoo and water.

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