Discover ways to set up hockey gear simply (and decrease the odor of smelly hockey gear too)!
After I turned a hockey mother, I used to be fully unprepared for the entire gear, equipment, luggage, and simply common “stuff” that got here together with the game. (And the odor… I used to be completely unprepared for the odor. ?)
However now that we’re a number of years into it, we’ve been capable of nail down some programs to maintain all of our hockey gear neat and arranged and as smell-free as attainable! (We use these programs for hockey in our home, however most of them may simply be tailored for different sports activities as nicely.)
Find out how to Set up Hockey Tools
This publish incorporates affiliate hyperlinks. For extra info, see my disclosures right here.
Storing Hockey Tools within the Storage
Essentially the most useful factor we’ve finished to arrange hockey gear is to create a hockey storage part in our storage. This retains the smelly gear out of the primary a part of the home and provides it a “dwelling” to return to when it’s not in use.
We used the ALGOT system from IKEA to create a wall of cabinets to carry hockey luggage and a few bins of additional gear that we’re ready for the boys to develop into.
[FYI… IKEA recently discontinued their ALGOT system and replaced it with BOAXEL, which is very similar.]
We additionally put in a number of further hooks on the wall the place we are able to cling sweaty gear to air out in between practices.
Lastly, we added a number of mesh baskets to the shelving unit to carry hockey pucks, so the boys all the time have a giant provide after they’re taking part in outdoors.
Proper beside the cabinets, we used wall hooks like these ones to create a spot to hold the hockey web and blocker that Connor makes use of within the driveway.
We used further wall hooks to neatly retailer hockey sticks in order that they’re up off the ground and simple to seize when the boys want them.
Associated: A Tour of Our Organized Storage
Together with our hockey station within the storage, I additionally use a drawer within the dresser of our visitor room to carry further hockey socks, jerseys, and tape.
After I carry Connor’s hockey bag as much as the laundry room (about as soon as per week) to clean all of his gear, I additionally examine and see if I must replenish any of the provides that he retains in there. If I do, I can seize them from this drawer the place they’re neatly organized.
I take advantage of SKUBB packing containers from IKEA to carry the various kinds of tape Connor makes use of for his stick and gear, in addition to the spandex base layer (high, backside) he wears below his gear.
I take advantage of the submitting methodology (aka the KonMari Technique) to fold further jerseys and hockey socks so we are able to simply see all of our choices and seize the colour we want for numerous leagues and practices.
Organizing the Hockey Bag
Connor’s hockey bag is one other organizing impediment in and of itself! We’re at the moment utilizing a tower bag (slightly than the duffel fashion) to hold round his gear, and I like that it has totally different sections for numerous items of kit.
There are holes for Connor’s skates and his helmet on the high. I maintain the follow jerseys he wears on a weekly foundation below his helmet.
There’s a mesh “shelf” the place we maintain smaller objects like gloves, elbow pads, and shin guards, and greater gear like his pants and chest protector go within the bigger part on the backside.
The flap of the bag has two pockets. We use the highest zipper pocket for further small equipment just like the neck guard, wrist guards, and mouth guard. The bigger pocket holds hockey socks and a toiletry bag.
Contained in the toiletry bag we maintain further tape, scissors, laces, a helmet restore equipment, spray to maintain the face masks from fogging up, and wipes that we use to wash off Connor’s helmet and different gear if wanted.
Washing Hockey Tools (and Eliminating the Scent!)
Since I used to be completely blindsided by the odor of hockey gear once we first acquired into the game, I needed to ensure I touched on how we go about minimizing the stinky-ness as a lot as attainable!
Every week I attempt to discover the most important hole between practices and video games and convey Connor’s hockey gear as much as the laundry room. I put the whole lot besides the helmet, skates, and mouthguard into the washer and use this particular sports activities detergent to clean it.
When the washing cycle is full, I cling something that’s padded to dry, solely throwing the jerseys, socks, neck guard, and wrist guards within the dryer.
If objects undergo the washing cycle and are nonetheless smelling (this typically occurs with the gloves particularly), I’ll put them in ziplock luggage and stick them within the freezer for about 24 hours.
I realized this tip from Becky at CleanMama (who’s SO sensible!), and he or she says that freezing the gear kills the micro organism and eliminates the odor. I may even put the helmet within the freezer (inside a bag) a number of instances per 30 days.
After the gear is all dried (or completed being frozen!), I pack the whole lot neatly again into the bag so it’s prepared for one more week of use!
Some other hockey/sports activities mothers on the market? I’d love to listen to any suggestions or methods you employ to maintain your children’ gear organized, clear, and smell-free, so let me know within the feedback beneath!
You will get extra details about the programs we used to arrange our youngsters’ areas of the home within the posts beneath:
Our Boys’ Organized Shared Bed room
Our Boys’ Organized Shared Closet
Our Organized Playroom
[Psssttt… You can find ideas for organizing every single room of the house in this post!]
Sources
IKEA BOAXEL System
Mesh Baskets for Hockey Pucks
Hooks to Maintain Hockey Web
Hooks to Maintain Hockey Sticks
Toiletry Bag
Odor-Eliminating Laundry Detergent
Completely happy Organizing!
This publish incorporates affiliate hyperlinks. For extra info, see my disclosures right here.