Proper cleaning of baseball gears and equipment help in enhancing their functionality and durability. Depending on the players’ positions, baseball players will have different gears and equipment. Catchers tend to have more baseball gear than the other baseball field positions. Apart from the usual uniform, catchers must wear plenty of baseball protective gear. How to clean catchers gear is really important because if you don’t wash the gear it won’t last as long and will hinder your performance.
Cleaning Catcher’s Baseball Gear
Catchers have additional baseball gear that they use during practice and when playing. Proper cleaning and maintenance of these gears are crucial in preparing for practice and matches. Clean baseball gear enhances the performance and comfortability of the player and creates a conducive gaming environment for other players. No team member wants to play with a teammate who has smelly gears.
The primary catchers’ gears for baseball players are:
- Face masks
- Catcher’s gloves/ mitts
- Shin guards
- Chest protectors
Clean and odor-free equipment will also prevent health issues. Proper disinfection is required to kill any bacteria. With catchers having different equipment, proper maintenance and cleaning can be challenging. However, every catcher needs to master cleaning their gear, thus ensuring the gear is durable and enhances performance in the field.
How to Clean the Catcher’s Baseball Equipment
There are different catcher’s gear, and each has a distinctive way of cleaning. Players shouldn’t clean their mitts the same way they clean their shin guards. Every gear must be cleaned properly using the proper cleaning materials. Below are the key steps to use when cleaning the following gears used by catchers.
Catcher’s Face Mask
- Take the face mask apart, undo the pads and straps.
- Shake the mask vigorously to remove any dirt particles and loosen the mask.
- Use a damp cloth to remove any remaining dirt and grime stuck in the mask.
- Freshen up and sanitize the face mask using deodorizing spray and disinfectant. Ensure the disinfectant is thoroughly sprayed on the metal cage. The deodorizing spray is sprayed on the inside part of the mask.
- Allow the mask to dry naturally, away from direct sunlight.
Avoid using deodorizing spray and disinfectant, which can harm or react with the material construction of your face mask.
Catcher’s Chest Protector
Most chest protectors used by catchers come in two main parts. The inner part is made up of fabric layering, and the outer part is made from rigid plastic or vinyl. The two layers help in trapping any moisture. Hence it’s essential to consider this when cleaning the chest protector and learning How to clean catchers gear.
- Take apart the catcher’s chest protector, undo the pads and straps.
- Shake the layers to remove any trapped dirt or dust particles, and loosen the chest protector layers.
- Use a damp cloth to remove any remaining dirt and dust from the layers.
- Using a disinfectant and a deodorant/ deodorizing spray, sanitize and freshen up the chest protector layers. Ensure you spray both sides of the layers, start by spraying the disinfectant, and then use the deodorizing spray.
- Allow the layers to dry at room temperature away from direct sunlight.
Catcher’s Shin Guard
- Take the shin guard apart, undo the pads and straps.
- Shake the parts of the shin guard vigorously to remove any trapped dirt or dust particles.
- Use a wet cloth to remove any remaining dirt and debris inside the shin guards.
- Sanitize and freshen up the parts of the shin guards using a disinfectant and a deodorant/ deodorizing spray.
- Allow the shin guards to dry.
Catcher’s Gloves/ Mitts
Baseball gloves are the most delicate items and helpful gear for baseball players. Unfortunately, there is plenty of misinformation on the proper methods of cleaning baseball mitts. Your baseball gloves will have a shorter life span and below-average functionality with misguided cleaning and maintenance tricks. Baseball gloves have to be cleaned on the inside and outside. This is why How to clean catchers gear is so important to know.
To properly clean your baseball mitts, you will need the following essential tools: dry clothes, glove conditioner, mild soap, glove oil, lukewarm and cool water. The soap should have no antibacterial properties and scent. Also avoid soaking your leather gloves in water because the leather fabric will shrink. The cleaning process is pretty simple.
- Wipe the gloves using a dry cloth. Shake vigorously to get rid of any stuck dirt and debris particles.
- Clean the gloves gently using mild soap and a damp cloth. Use a narrow stick to push the damp fabric to reach the narrow finger sections of the gloves. Be extra careful not to damage the gloves when cleaning the finger sections.
- Using a dry cloth, dry the inner parts of the gloves. You will need several clean clothes when cleaning your baseball gloves. Ensure no water or soap foam is remaining on the gloves.
- Allow the gloves to dry. Drying will eliminate any remaining moisture trapped inside the gloves. Use a dry cloth to dry the gloves before leaving them in a cool and dry place. Don’t place your baseball gloves in a microwave or under direct sunlight. To accelerate the drying process, you can fan the gloves.
- Apply the glove oil and conditioner to ensure the leather fabric construction remains soft and supple. Leather can crack or shrink after cleaning; hence it’s crucial to use glove oil or conditioner.
After every part of the catchers’ gear has dried, carefully assemble back together. Ensure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions when putting the parts together.
When cleaning your baseball gears, ensure the disinfectant and deodorant/ deodorizing spray you are using are for sports equipment. Sports-friendly disinfectants and deodorant/ deodorizing sprays will enhance the durability of your sports gear and prevent any health issues and the spreading of viruses. Sweat and rain damage most of the sports gear and equipment. How to clean catchers gear is important so they can perform to the best they can. After properly cleaning your baseball catcher’s gear, you must store them properly, especially during off-seasons.
Cleaning baseball gear is straightforward once you have the necessary tools. With our guide, you can effectively clean your baseball catcher’s gear. Read more of our guides for tips and tricks on baseball gears and equipment.
