It might seem obvious, but apparently not to everyone: properly cleaning your gymnastics grips affects their lifespan! So, we've put together a thorough article for you at Wodandgo!

Why clean your grips?

Firstly, grips are heavily used during your workouts and gymnastics sessions. The materials undergo significant pressure during movements, and are attacked by sweat, chalk, and let's be honest, our hands touching everything during WODs leave a dark layer on the microfibre. All of this can weaken your pair over time! It's therefore important to maintain and clean them regularly.

Secondly, beyond the damage it causes to the materials, your CrossFit buddies will be happy not to smell that unpleasant odor from grips not washed for a while! By the way, a little tip: hang your grips on the outside of your bag between washes. All your equipment will smell much better.

Thirdly, dirty grips impact your performance... An impression that the grips don't grip as well as before. The microfibre has turned black and is sometimes full of chalk, sweat is no longer absorbed by the microfibre, and your hands slip inside the grip, leading to a feeling of loss of grip on the bar...

How to wash your grips properly?

Grips hate washing machines! Yes, it's much more convenient to throw them in the drum and let the washing machine do its job, but this destroys your pair, even with a cold wash. The materials used to create grips are not made to be completely soaked in water for 35 minutes and spun at 1400 revolutions per minute for 15 minutes. We ask a lot of them during gym sessions, so we can give them the proper cleaning... To clean your grips correctly, nothing could be simpler: grab a brush (a toothbrush works very well), some Marseille soap or black soap (avoid laundry detergent, as some detergents are not compatible with microfibre and other materials), and a water source (obviously). The steps are simple:

• Wet your grips
• Apply soap to the microfibre side
• Brush the microfibre
• Rinse off the soap
• Let your grips air dry

Just as the washing machine is to be avoided, so is the tumble dryer! A hairdryer to dry them faster is also out. Any heat source to dry them faster will damage your grips.

In conclusion,

It is important to maintain your grips correctly so that they last a long time. You must not neglect their cleaning and follow the advice and recommendations from WODANDGO regarding maintenance, as well as usage, to have equipment that matches your needs. Need more advice on maintaining your grips? Contact us.