How to Clean Soccer Shin Guards (and Stop the Smell): A Coach's Method
A 30-year Australian football coach's simple method to clean your shin guards, kill the odour and make a pair last a full season.
Every soccer kit bag ends up with a pair of shin guards that have seen better days: crusted in dried mud, stiff at the straps and giving off an odour that clears the car on the drive home. After thirty years around junior and senior football in Australia, I have opened a lot of those kit bags. The good news is I know how to clean shin guards and they are simple to clean, and a short routine after each match keeps them safe, comfortable and lasting a full season. Here is the method I give every player and parent.
The Quick Method: How to Clean Shin Guards in Under 10 Minutes
Coach’s quick answer: wipe the mud off your soccer shin guards while it is still damp, then wash the hard shell and straps in warm water with a drop of mild soap, using a soft cloth or an old toothbrush for the seams. Rinse them, spray the inside with a diluted vinegar or sports disinfectant solution to kill the odour, then air dry them away from direct heat. Never leave them sealed in the kit bag wet, and never put the hard moulded guards through a hot machine cycle. Ten minutes, a couple of times a week in season, is all a pair needs.
How to Clean Slip-In and Moulded Shin Guards, Step by Step
The method is the same for slip-in guards and for strapped, moulded guards. The only real difference is that guards with a built-in sleeve or sock have a fabric part that can go through a gentle wash, while the hard shell is always cleaned by hand. Work through these steps:
- Knock off the loose dried mud outside, then wipe the shell down with a damp cloth while any remaining dirt is still soft.
- Mix a drop of mild soap into warm water and wash the hard shell and straps with the cloth, using the toothbrush on seams, vents and Velcro where grit collects.
- For guards with a removable sleeve or sock, put the fabric part in a mesh laundry bag and wash it cold on a gentle cycle, or hand wash it in the same soapy water.
- Rinse everything in clean water so no soap residue is left on the surfaces that sit against a player’s skin.
- Spray the inside of the shell with a diluted vinegar or disinfectant solution, leave it a minute, then wipe it down.
- Pat the guards dry with a towel and set them out to air dry fully before they go back in the bag.
Can You Put Shin Guards in the Washing Machine? (The Honest Answer)
The honest answer is that the hard part should stay out, and the soft part sometimes can go in. The moulded plastic shell and its foam backing do not belong in a washing machine: the spin cycle cracks the plastic over time, the heat warps it out of shape, and a warped guard no longer sits flat against the shin, which is the whole point of wearing one. Fabric shin guard sleeves and sock-style guards are different. If the care label allows it, wash them cold in a mesh bag on a gentle cycle. When in doubt, hand washing costs you two minutes and risks nothing.
How to Get the Smell Out of Shin Guards for Good
The smell is not really about how dirty the guards look. It is bacteria feeding on sweat trapped in the foam and the sleeve, and scrubbing the shell alone does not fix it. White vinegar is the cheapest answer: mix one part vinegar to four parts water, spray the inside and the sleeve, leave it a minute and wipe it off. A dedicated sports disinfectant spray does the same job if you prefer one. The two habits that keep the odour away for good are drying the guards fully after every match, and never storing them sealed in a wet kit bag, which is a perfect bacteria incubator.
How to Dry Shin Guards Without Warping the Plastic or Foam
Heat is the enemy of a shin guard. A clothes dryer, a heater vent or a hot windowsill in the Australian summer will warp the shell and turn the foam brittle and crumbly. Air dry them instead: stand them upright somewhere with good airflow, out of direct sun, and give them a few hours or overnight. If they need to be ready in a hurry, pat them down with a dry towel and sit them in front of a fan. Only pack them away once they are completely dry, because a guard that goes into the bag even slightly damp is where the odour starts all over again.
How Often to Clean Them: A Simple Post-Match Care Routine
A full wash about once a week in season is plenty for most players, with a quick wipe down and an airing after every match or heavy training session. Build it into the same habit as unpacking the boots. If you are still working out how a guard should sit in the first place, our guide on how to wear shin guards properly covers the fit that stops them sliding, and the shin guard size guide helps you match the guard to the player.
When a pair is cracked, permanently smelly or has lost its shape, it has stopped doing its job and it is time to replace it. Our roundup of the best soccer shin guards in Australia is the place to start, the full shin guards guide walks through choosing and fitting them, and you will find the rest of the protective kit in our player equipment hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wash my shin guards in the washing machine?
The hard moulded guards, no. The machine’s heat and spin warp the plastic and break down the foam, and a warped guard stops sitting flat against the shin. Fabric sleeves and sock-style guards can go in cold, in a mesh bag, on a gentle cycle if the care label allows. When in doubt, hand wash.
How do you get the stink out of shin guards?
Spray the inside and any fabric sleeve with a solution of one part white vinegar to four parts water, or a sports disinfectant, leave it a minute and wipe it down. The smell is bacteria in the foam, so the real fix is drying the guards fully after every match and never storing them wet in the kit bag.
Are shin pads washable?
Yes. The hard shell and straps are cleaned by hand with warm water and a little mild soap, and fabric sleeves or sock guards can usually be washed cold in a mesh bag. What you avoid is putting the rigid guards through a hot machine cycle or drying them with heat.
How often should you clean shin guards?
A full wash about once a week through the season suits most players, with a quick wipe and an airing after each match or heavy session. The airing matters as much as the wash: it is what keeps the odour from building up in the foam.
Can you clean shin guards that have built-in sleeves or sock guards?
Yes, and the sleeve is usually the part that holds the smell. Separate it from the hard shell where you can, wash the fabric cold in a mesh bag or by hand, clean the shell by hand as normal, and make sure both parts are completely dry before you put them back together.
