How to Prevent Bacteria & Mold in Sports Laundry

In gyms, schools, training facilities, and sports clubs, laundry isn’t just about keeping uniforms clean—it’s about safeguarding hygiene, protecting skin, and ensuring that expensive athletic gear lasts. Sports laundry faces unique challenges, from synthetic materials that trap moisture to the sheer volume of soiled items that pile up daily. Without the right systems in place, bacteria and mold can quickly take hold, causing lingering odors and risking health and safety.

At Coronet Equipment, we help commercial and industrial laundry operations across Alberta tackle these issues head-on with the right equipment, detergents, and best practices.

Why Sports Laundry Requires Special Attention

The Problem with Moisture and Synthetics

Athletic wear is typically made from synthetic fabrics like polyester and spandex. These materials are great at wicking moisture away from the body, but unfortunately, that same moisture often remains trapped in the fabric’s fibers. When items are left in gym bags, hampers, or laundry bins for hours (or days), the warm, humid environment becomes a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and mold.

Not only does this lead to that all-too-familiar “locker room” smell, but it can also degrade the fabric over time and cause skin irritation for the wearer. For commercial laundry operators, it’s not just about cleaning clothes—it’s about breaking the bacteria cycle completely.

High Volume, High Stakes

Sports laundry rarely comes in small batches. Teams, clubs, and institutions often generate hundreds of pounds of laundry per week, including towels, jerseys, compression gear, socks, and more. When this volume isn’t managed efficiently, items sit too long before being washed, giving bacteria even more time to multiply.

That’s why the foundation of any sports laundry program should be a fast, efficient, and properly equipped laundry system—one that can handle frequent use without compromising on hygiene.

Best Practices to Prevent Bacteria and Mold

Prompt Sorting and Pre-Treatment

Speed is critical. Encourage staff to collect and sort laundry as soon as it’s removed after games or workouts. Even a few hours can make a difference in bacterial growth. Pre-treatment plays an essential role too. Heavily soiled gear can benefit from a soak in an enzyme-based solution that helps break down organic material and neutralize odors before the wash cycle begins.

Many of Coronet’s commercial washer-extractors can be programmed with pre-soak cycles to simplify this process and ensure consistency, no matter who’s operating the machine.

Use the Right Detergents

Choosing the right detergent can make or break your laundry results. General-use detergents often don’t go far enough to eliminate the deep-set bacteria in athletic wear. Commercial-grade detergents designed specifically for odor removal and disinfection are best, especially those that work well in high-efficiency machines and at varied temperatures.

These formulas are engineered to penetrate technical fabrics, break down oils, and remove microbes without damaging the material. Coronet Equipment works with several trusted chemical partners and can help you choose the right product for your specific load types and equipment.

Avoid fabric softeners, which can actually trap bacteria and residues inside fabrics—making them harder to clean over time.

Water Temperature Matters

Hot water helps kill bacteria, but not all performance fabrics can handle high heat. That’s where programmable wash cycles come in. Coronet’s commercial washers allow you to customize water temperature, wash duration, and spin speeds to suit different items. If high heat isn’t an option, pairing warm water with longer cycles and odor-fighting detergents can achieve excellent results without damaging your gear.

Rinse Thoroughly

A good wash cycle isn’t complete without a thorough rinse. Extra rinse cycles help remove detergent residue and any dislodged bacteria or mold particles. Coronet washers offer customizable rinse settings, ensuring that every load gets the finishing step it needs to come out truly clean.

Equipment Hygiene: Don’t Forget the Machine

It’s not just the laundry that needs attention—your machines matter too. In high-humidity environments or busy operations, bacteria and mold can build up inside the washer drum, detergent dispensers, and door seals.

Regular maintenance, including running cleaning cycles with machine-safe disinfectants and keeping washer doors open to dry between loads, can prevent this internal buildup. Coronet Equipment provides full support and guidance for machine cleaning protocols, helping clients maintain high performance and hygiene over time.

Proper Drying Prevents Regrowth

Even after a thorough wash, moisture left in fabrics can allow mold to return. Commercial dryers with accurate moisture sensing and programmable settings are essential for ensuring complete drying without damaging sensitive gear. Coronet’s dryers offer advanced controls and energy-efficient performance, giving you reliability and speed—two key ingredients in a successful sports laundry setup.

In high-throughput environments, consider adding airflow systems or dehumidifiers to your laundry room to prevent lingering dampness that can cause mold to spread to clean laundry or storage areas.

Coronet Equipment: Your Laundry Partner for Athletic Facilities

At Coronet Equipment, we don’t just sell machines—we help build high-performance laundry operations for athletic departments, fitness centers, sports teams, universities, and more. We understand the specific challenges of cleaning sportswear at scale and offer the expertise, equipment, and support to help you run your operation efficiently and hygienically.

From programmable washer-extractors to fast, reliable dryers and detergent systems, we tailor each solution to your facility’s needs. We also offer guidance on machine layout, workflow efficiency, and long-term maintenance planning.

Need help improving your sports laundry operation?

Connect with the experts at Coronet Equipment. We’ll help you find the right equipment, detergents, and practices to fight bacteria, eliminate mold, and keep your athletes’ gear clean, fresh, and game-ready.