This is not actually my guide, it's pretty much straight from Ask A Clean Person:
How To Clean Your Roller Derby Pads on Jezebel. I'm just here to say that my stuff was bad, and what she said worked.
I do bring my gear home from every practice, but I'd been getting lax about actually unpacking my bag and letting my gear air out. That's really the first line of defense for staying at Stage 1, I'm back to that again. I haven't tried the thing with the vodka.
- Unpack and air gear after every practice!
But since I hadn't been airing it out, I'm sad to say that my gear was just about to transition from Stage 2 to full metal Stage 3. So I basically did the Stage 2 wash immediately followed by the Stage 3 wash, as follows:
- Put 1/2 cup white vinegar and 1/4 cup laundry detergent in a bucket or the tub, I used my five-gallon Home Depot bucket but maybe the tub is better.
- Fill with very hot water.
- Add gear, hold it down to saturate and then swish around for a few minutes.
- Then actually I let it soak overnight.
The next day, I drained the bucket and took the pads in the bucket to the laundromat. Meh, I don't put them in a bag but besides that I do:
- Tack down all velcro to itself.
- Use whatever combo of gentlest cycle and hottest water is available at the laundromat.
- Add 1/2 cup Borax, 1/2 cup white vinegar, and 1/4 cup laundry detergent, then gear.
- Remove gear after spin cycle and hang back at home to air dry.
And, it worked. So I think this is going to be my way, let things air out every night and then soak followed by wash say every other month.
