You may feel like a professional athlete when you're at the gym working out, but that intense workout can also leave your equipment smelling less than fresh. Gym shoes, padding on protective equipment and yoga mats also get a workout when you do, absorbing perspiration and the odors that come with it over time. Making your equipment an inhospitable environment for odor-causing bacteria will leave everything smelling fresher.
Aridity
Bacteria thrive in warm, moist environments. The odors that issue from a ripe pair of sneakers or a frequently used yoga mat arise from the same bacteria that live on your skin. When you bathe or shower, you reduce their numbers, leaving you smelling clean and fresh; your equipment doesn't get regular washings, so the bacteria living there form larger and smellier colonies. Allowing your equipment to dry thoroughly before you store it removes one of the elements bacteria need to survive. If possible, have at least two pairs of shoes for exercise and alternate wearings so each pair dries completely between uses. Unroll yoga mats if they're damp. Set foam or plastic pads and shin protectors out in a dry place instead of keeping them in a gym bag so residual moisture evaporates from them.
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Acidity and Alkalinity
Microbes can only live within a limited pH range. If their environment becomes too acidic or alkaline, they can no longer survive, and dead bacteria cannot contribute to sour odors in your sporting gear. Vinegar's acidity and baking soda's alkalinity naturally combat odor-causing bacteria. Swab non-porous materials with vinegar or a baking soda solution. Washable items like cloth benefit from a soaking in diluted vinegar or baking soda to remove odors. For shoes that have grown especially odoriferous, fill a pair of old socks with baking soda and place each sock in a shoe, leaving it overnight. The baking soda removes existing odors and absorbs moisture that could cause odor in the future.
Alcohol
Alcohol's antiseptic properties make it a staple in first-aid kits and operating rooms. It kills bacteria and evaporates quickly, leaving little smell of its own. Mix rubbing alcohol and water in equal amounts in a spray bottle and mist hard-to-clean equipment with the solution. You can also use a small bottle of this spray on stationary equipment at the gym to sanitize and freshen it before you use it.
Masking
Items that are difficult to keep dry or that you use daily can also benefit from using other scents to mask any odors that remain. Essential oils from fragrant plants such as mint, lavender or thyme have pleasant but not overpowering fragrances. Add a few drops of oil to alcohol or vinegar, then shake the mixture and spray it on the equipment. The vinegar or alcohol will evaporate and leave just a trace of the scented oil. Save this treatment for your personal equipment, not for public gym equipment; although you may find the scents pleasant, others may prefer a more neutral smell.
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