Avoid bad smells in your gym bag!

A smelly gym bag and stinky gear are not pleasant. In the long run, a little smell is inevitable, but there are a few things you can do to keep your stuff smell-free for as long as possible. Here are 9 tips!

1. Air out your workout gear and use No Stink deodorant.

It's important to air out your gym bag and equipment as soon as you get home from training. This will prevent sweat odor from building up and bacteria and fungi from having optimal conditions to multiply.

As soon as you get home from training, you should therefore empty your bag and let everything air out well. If you have the opportunity to put things outside, the airing will be even better, and you will also avoid the smell spreading into the room. But be careful not to let the rain get on your things!

Also air the gym bag itself well, and leave all the compartments in the bag open so that air can circulate everywhere.

In winter, this trick works even better, as you also get a freezing effect (see point 6).

2. Wash your workout clothes

This may go without saying, but to avoid bad odors, you need to wash your sweaty workout clothes right away.

3. Use a laundry bag in your bag

Bring a plastic bag or similar in your gym bag, and put your sweaty gym clothes in it when you change. Also put wet towels and anything else that can spread moisture, sweat and bad odors here. This way you protect your bag from the worst, and keep the contamination to a controlled area. The plastic bag should not be used more than once.

4. Use something that draws out moisture

You can put something in your shoes, boxing gloves, hockey gloves, and the like that will draw out moisture, such as a pair of so-called “shoe dogs,” “no stink” or simply crumpled newspaper. This helps them dry faster and prevents bacteria and fungi from growing.

5. Clean the equipment

The equipment can be wiped down with disposable wipes, antibacterial spray or just a cloth with soap and water. It is a good idea to do this immediately after use, so that sweat and any other dirt do not have time to settle.

6. Freeze the equipment

Not all equipment can be washed. Training shoes, boxing gloves, and equipment for various sports cannot be washed in a washing machine, and even if you air the items, they will not get clean.

The freezer works great as a kind of washing machine for this equipment. Place it in a plastic bag or similar and leave it in the freezer for a few days. The low temperature kills many of the bacteria, and the equipment gets a much-needed cleaning.

It may be a good idea to give the equipment a chance to air and dry first so you don't put it in the freezer with wet sweat.

It's surprising how quickly things can be used after being deep-frozen. Your boxing gloves or sneakers won't get hard and shatter like the T1000 in Terminator 2, they'll just get cold. By the time you get to your workout, they'll be ready to use.

7. Wash the bag

After a while, it's not just the equipment that smells bad, the gym bag itself also becomes a stink factor. Not all bags can be washed, but it might be worth trying a wash in the washing machine.

8. Freeze the gym bag

Your gym bag can also benefit from a trip to the freezer or a trip out in the snow to get rid of the worst bacteria.

9. Buy new equipment

Eventually, there's nothing more to do - you have to replace your equipment with something new and fresh. Start with the most worn out items and replace what needs replacing. Don't underestimate the benefits of changing your gym bag at the same time.