The stench of sweaty hockey gear turned into a unique business venture for Comox Valley entrepreneur Darin Tufts two years ago.
Tufts discovered Fresh Gear by Ozonenation Inc. while searching on Google. He was trying to find an easier, and more cost effective, way to clean his hockey gear. What he found was the Fresh Gear by Ozonenation cleaning machine, which resembled an over-sized stainless steel gym locker.
Inside, the machine has several white perforated PVC mounted poles to hang gear, and a concealed, computerized, electronic generator that controls the output of the Ozone cleaning agent. After 20 minutes inside, gear comes out deodorized and disinfected, and ready to wear.
"The cleaning process utilities ozone, which is one more molecule of oxygen added to the air we breathe; ozone is 3,000 times more powerful then bleach as a cleaning agent," said Tufts. "Ozone is tremendously effective at killing mold, bacteria, fungus, and allergens. By deodorizing and disinfecting your gear, it prevents build up of bacteria, and prolongs its life."
Staph infections from contaminated sports equipment, in some cases, can cause serious and even fatal illness to both amateur and professional athletes. The staph bacterium making contact with the skin can cause pimples, boils, and/or infected wounds.
Recent studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, concerning a bacteria known as MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus), indicate that infections caused by MRSA appear to be found more often, in places such as schools, locker rooms and among those involved in high contact sports.
Fresh Gear's C40 cleaning machine destroys harmful bacteria such as MRSA and helps to prevent the spread of skin diseases.
Tufts suggests that protective sports gear should to be properly sanitized every 15-20 uses. For some players that might mean every month, for others that means every three months, dependingr on the frequent use of the equipment.
Tufts hopes the demand for his sanitizing service to increase, with the legions of hockey, football, lacrosse, players, skiers, mountain bikers and BMXers in the area (in addition to fire fighters and police who have gear). The services he offers can be completed in an hour, if the client is willing to air out the equipment themselves, otherwise it can take up to 24 hours.
For more information, visit www.tuftsfreshgear.ca, or call 1-250-792-1455.
— Tufts Fresh Gear