Most people take their sports equipment and gear without any care leaving them full of bacteria and never washing them. The only problem with that is you might end up causing more problems for yourself than you once thought.
1. MRSA
MRSA which is also known as “staph” can develop in your nose and skin. Because of this, sports gear becomes a breeding ground for it. When this happens and you never wash that gear, you are putting yourself at risk especially if you have a cut or an open wound. This cut or wound allows the staph to get into your blood stream causing boils and more. It can also be passed around easily. Safe to say, this is one danger of dirty gear.
2. Strep
Strep throat is a viral infection and it is also contagious. It can be found anywhere including your gear. People who have ever had strep throat know how bothersome it can be. Speaking from everyone who has ever had strep, wash your gear.
3. Norwalk Virus
The Norwalk Virus is common in locker rooms and places where people are in close proximity of each other. Although reproduction with this virus is not fast, it is still a lingering virus. Many people often mistake this for the stomach flu but I can assure you that they are not the same thing. Some of the problems that come from this include stomach issues, diarrhea, vomiting, and weakness. But wait, there is more.
4. Mold
Mold breeds in places like sports gear for one simple reason. That reason is that sports gear is a breeding ground for mold because of its high moisture levels. Not washing your equipment for weeks on end can allow for mold to build up, and if this happens, then you are in some trouble. You can begin to experience problems involving asthma, respiratory issues, coughing, rashes, headaches, and even an upset stomach.
5. Ringworm
The last danger of dirty gear is the infamous ringworm. Ringworm can be pretty obvious to spot as its name lines up with the description. It generally looks like tiny circular red patches and can be very itchy. Furthermore, ringworm has more side effects than just itchiness. It can also alter appearance in nails and infect them. Once infected the color of their appearance can change and possibly come off completely. This is easily spread through gear if it becomes contaminated.
Conclusion
To conclude this article, it should be quite obvious how important it is to wash your gear. Not washing your gear and taking care of it can lead to problems including ringworm, mold, the Norwalk virus, strep, and MRSA. These are problems that you do not want on your hands and can be avoided easily. There are simple ways to wash your clothing and gear with a washer and dryer system. Also, there are people who are willing to do it for you and disinfect it 100%. If I were you, I would consider the possible dangers that might come with not washing your gear and your teammates who could become infected with this stuff as well.
*References: http://www.esportaedmonton.com/services/possible-dangers-of-dirty-gear/