Wash Your Clothes!

by Meredith

Wash your shit.

Just because you're about to get it all sweaty again does not justify dragging a stinky gi out of the laundry and wearing it in to class to burn the nose hairs off of your fellow students. I always keep an extra gi and shirt in my locker. If you're one of those that sweats profusely (you know who you are) and you plan on working out before class or taking more than one class, by all means, bring an extra shirt to change into. Especially if you're going to be grappling. Or kickboxing. I hate kicking someone and then having to drag my foot along the floor afterwards until I wipe off their sweat and regain traction. Just bring an extra shirt. For me.

Also, wash your knee and elbow pads and handwraps. I've been guilty of letting this go too long once before and man... was it embarrassing. But I made up for it this Saturday when I was about to grapple and my partner asked, "What fabric softener do you use? You smell great!" And, yes, he was a heterosexual male.

Just wash your stuff. It makes for good hygiene and good neighbors.

Doc Dill has the following to add regarding the sorts of things you might find growing in your nasty old gear.

Yep, [keep your gear/clothing clean] and you reduce the chance of passing on or contracting an infection. Things like impetigo, pseudomonas, etc. Worse is getting an antibiotic resistant bacterial infection like the MRSA or the "flesh eating bacteria." You wind up in the hospital on IV antibiotics, which leave you with a good chance at permanent dizziness. It's not all that hard to contract either. So stop the stink!!! Wash your SHIT and don't try and cover it up with bad cologne either. That just makes you smell like an 80 yr old incontinent with a bad nose.

CC licensed image from Handforged.