Cleaning your gear regularly is essential for any athlete. Dr. Paul Gold explains why and offers some easy-to-follow guidelines.

By Paul Gold, Ph.D., Microbiology
Gold Biotechnology,Inc.

How much is your health worth to you? $20, $200, $1000? 

We all know that there is no price we can put on a healthy body. Yet, many of us unknowingly risk our health every time we put on dirty athletic gear.  Dirty athletic gear can serve as the perfect environment for the growth of all kinds of nasty microorganisms (bacteria and mold).  While our bodies have evolved defenses against these “bugs”, it’s logical to assume that the more times we put ourselves in contact with these nasty bugs, the higher the chance of getting a nasty infection.  

Although there are many disease causing microorganisms that can live in your gear, by far and away the one you want to avoid is Staphylococcal Aureus.  Staph A., as it’s known to medical doctors and microbiologists is the bacterial equivalent of the modern army. It defends itself against attack and it hides in your body until its numbers reach optimal attack concentration. Only then does it unleash an armada of weapons designed to destroy your body tissue, which it can then use for food and to reproduce.  Staph A. can cause permanent damage to your body and even death. And here’s the scary part; some forms are resistant to the most common antibiotics. There are even some deadly forms of Staph A. that are untreatable!  

Therefore, it is essential that proper hygiene be practiced in order to reduce your chances of becoming infected with dangerous microorganisms.  Shower after athletic contests, monitor your body for any unusual physical characteristics (rashes and non healing sores), and above all, keep your athletic equipment clean. Since it is impractical to wash athletic equipment after every use, we recommend a strategy that includes the following protocol.

1. After the event, hang and air dry your athletic equipment as soon as possible.
2. Keep a log of the number of times your athletic equipment has been used and have the athletic equipment professionally washed at least once every 10 uses.
3. If the athletic equipment has a strong odor or is causing any skin problems, discontinue use until it is professionally cleaned.
4. Don’t ignore any suspected problems with the athletic equipment. It won’t go away.

By following these simple guidelines we feel that the sports enthusiast can more safely participate in sporting events that require the re-use of protective athletic equipment.