stinky mask

[samster]

So I figured it would be a good idea to wash my mask insert to keep it smelling fresh. I did w/ some powder Tide. It smelled great for a few days but it started to get pretty odorific after the fourth day of fencing. So I washed it again. This time followed up by a soak in water spiked with baking soda (A&H) to kill the offending aromas.

Four days later, same stink.

I gave up. What the hell, you know? Athletes have a right to smell bad. But somehow, magically, the odors vanished! No washing at all. I've been fencing in the same mask for 5+ months and it pretty much smells OK.

My doctor friend/foilist says: "all that salt from your sweat creates an inhospitable environment for microbes." HAH! It's gross, but it makes sense.

[fencerbill]

Marvelous, thanks for sharing.

What kind of response would you like?

[Inquartata]

But somehow, magically, the odors vanished! No washing at all. I've been fencing in the same mask for 5+ months and it pretty much smells OK.

Maybe your nostrils have simply become inured to the stench and so you can no longer detect it. I attribute the ability of many epeeists to continue fencing at all to this phenomenon.

[uhl-mann]

hey its ok i've had my mask for 2 years same mask needed to wash. it turned green. it was blue.

[samster]

Marvelous, thanks for sharing.

What kind of response would you like?

Sure. Anytime...

No response required. Just thought I share the wealth of knowledge.

[Mergs]

Let it air dry after fencing and Fabreeze.

[D'Artagnan1673]

Let it air dry after fencing and Fabreeze.

I'll second that...

[samster]

Let it air dry after fencing and Fabreeze.

yes. i will try that! (next time it gets stinky.) and no, my olfactory senses seem intact. i asked my family members to take a whiff of the insert and they found it only mildly offensive.

[Heavenguard]

Hm, if that's true, then we could all be giving the linings saltwater baths. Of course, not the masks where linings and bibs are not removable ... rusty mesh is way worse than stinky liner!

[fatfencer]

It happens all the time actually with uniforms that don't have the powder detergent rinsed fully. Happened to my mask too.

The key is to rinse the **** out of whatever you are washing. whether liquid or powder the key is to wash and rinse thoroughly. The funkness will go away.

Fatfencer knows all...

Fatfencer

PS: You could just nut up and make your gal pal do your laundry. I do.

[Cry_Me_A_River]

Try wading in your own stench.
You'll love it.

[rdg]

The dishwasher works great on masks. About twice a year, when I can't stand the grunge, I scrube the bib and insides with soap, water and a soft brush, and then I stick it in the washer. The mask is FIE & stainless, so it doesn't rust.

Gudos to your family for smelling your mask. I'm glad we are competitors and not family - I don't think I could take that much luv.

What do saberist do with their masks? I would think they need more care than epee or foil.

Sam

[LTranter]

I keep a little personal size bottle of Febreeze in my fencing bag and immediately spray my mask, shoes, and jacket after fencing. I'm scared to spray my lame though, not sure if the Febreeze would damage the fibers if it can kill a cat.

For what is worth, I got these bottles in 2-for-1 deal and gave 1 to my son. My is 1/2 gone, his is still on the kitchen counter.

L

[Inquartata]

I wash my sabre mask the same way I wash my lamé: in a tub, cold water, Ivory Snow and a little ammonia. Gently squeeze the bib/lamé part to get the water and detergent flowing through it. Then rinse several times in clear water, squeezing the bib again to get all the soap out. Then I rinse it down again under the shower head and let it air dry.

[Barry Paul]

The dishwasher works great on masks. About twice a year, when I can't stand the grunge, I scrube the bib and insides with soap, water and a soft brush, and then I stick it in the washer. The mask is FIE & stainless, so it doesn't rust.

But the heat and dish washer soap might attack the glue holding the bib in places especially the hot melt glue bonded ones.

[Cara]

But the heat and dish washer soap might attack the glue holding the bib in places especially the hot melt glue bonded ones.

I just destroyed a Negrini mask (non-fie) trying to wash it in the dishwasher...

[fencerbill]

I just destroyed a Negrini mask (non-fie) trying to wash it in the dishwasher...

Details, pray tell? So we can avoid the same fate.

I remain skeptical as to what dishwasher detergent does to the protective fabrics in FIE masks. Specially because of the severe warnings on the sites that sell the same materials in protective vests.

[Cara]

Details, pray tell? So we can avoid the same fate.

I remain skeptical as to what dishwasher detergent does to the protective fabrics in FIE masks. Specially because of the severe warnings on the sites that sell the same materials in protective vests.

The black rubber strip around the mesh became unglued in several spots, and the rubber seemed to have expanded so the unglued parts were "longer" than the spots they were glued to; the plastic on the tongue and the border of the bib cracked in several spots, and the hard black plastic "thing" around the rear of the mesh seemed to have opened up and was no longer straight. I did not use the drying cycle.
Fortunately it was an old mask I tried this with, and my son is very happy to have a new LP FIE mask...

[fencerbill]

I am no expert on the chemicals that are in dishwasher detergent or what chemicals will affect the black rubber strip and the "wrapper" around the rear of the mesh.

But could it have been the hot water in the dishwasher that caused the troubles?

Even though you didn't use the drying cycle, there might have been hot enough water for long enough to have made the difference.

There is so much difference between dishwashers and the cycles they use that it could be true that A's dishwasher works miracles and B's dishwasher destroys the masks.

The problems with the black rubber strip and the "wrapper" around the rear of the mesh can sometimes be improved with hot melt glue. It is worthwhile to use the high temperature type of hot melt glue rather than all purpose or low temp glue.

Another thing you can try with the "wrapper" is to heat it up with a hair dryer or craft hot air gun, then clamp it tight with clothes pins or something while it cools.

The black rubber strip around the mesh became unglued in several spots, and the rubber seemed to have expanded so the unglued parts were "longer" than the spots they were glued to; the plastic on the tongue and the border of the bib cracked in several spots, and the hard black plastic "thing" around the rear of the mesh seemed to have opened up and was no longer straight. I did not use the drying cycle.
Fortunately it was an old mask I tried this with, and my son is very happy to have a new LP FIE mask...

[Mergs]

Did the mask go through the drying cycle? If so, then the problems described could have been caused by the high heat. My recomendation is to wash in dishwasher, but let air dry.