As a dedicated hockey parent, shuttling kids to and from practice, games and tournaments, is a labor of love and a great way to connect with my son and his team. I’m happy to be part of the “Carpool Brigade” and its main reason we got the minivan. 

But there’s a less glamorous side (if there can be glamour in carpooling), that we all know about but few discuss in front of the boys. It has to do with hard work and growing up and it’s a reality of all athletes; I’m talking about, of course,  the STANK that comes from every kid and how it has infiltrated my once beautiful minivan (I know, maybe an oxymoron, but it’s my beauty). 

The struggle is real and every parent in the Carpool Brigade knows it all too well. 

You know the routine: waiting outside the rink, maybe in line, to pick up the boys after practice, keeping the temp in the van at a nice 78 degrees. Here they come, hair wet (maybe from a shower, maybe not), shirts clinging to them (again, shower maybe?), bags slung over their shoulders and sticks in hand. The back  hatch is open as they pile the bags in and throw sticks (carefully) onto said bags. Closing the hatch, they themselves pile into the seats, chirping the entire time about this or that and only half-heartedly acknowledging the driver as they slide the door closed. 

That’s right when it starts; faint at first, but growing more powerful as each kid is dropped off, doors opening and closing, allowing fresh air in but taken over by the stank. 

Now, I’m home, only one kid and one bag left to be taken out, but the SMELL is more palpable than ever. It’s a mix of body odor, maybe locker room and gear stink that we are all familiar with. It’s everywhere and despite your attempts — rolling down the windows, A/C (maybe) to dry it all or that air freshener jammed in the vents, there is no escape from the STANK.  

It’s now in the very essence of your vehicle. And with each whiff, you sense the value of your minivan dropping by $1,000; those odors can be a deal-breaker for potential resale.

Just when it seemed all hope was lost, just when we were about to give in to the STANK, we found Fresh Gear — The Ultimate Odor Eliminator (as advertised) and my our greatest weapon against STANK. 

A couple pulls directly on the carpet (under the mats), in the hatch on the material floor and even on the material ceilings (we have leather seats so can’t spray on them) and the smells are dissipating. The minivan sits in the garage, treated now with Fresh Gear (maybe a 5 minute spraying process) and, letting it dry, I come out to find the STANK is gone. The new morning, as I get in the minivan for work (or maybe to drive to the rink), the STANK is still gone, replaces by the pleasant (but not overpowering) scent of Fresh Gear.  Truly remarkable. 

It has restored my faith in: ride sharing, hockey, resale…humanity; so much so, that I’ve become a Fresh Thinker, eager to show off my scented ride to fellow parents, coaches, rink managers — ANYONE in my circle, because, as they say, “It Works. Period.”

As a dedicated hockey parent, shuttling kids to and from practice, games and tournaments, is a labor of love and a great way to connect with my son and his team. I’m happy to be part of the “Carpool Brigade” and its main reason we got the minivan. 

But there’s a less glamorous side (if there can be glamour in carpooling), that we all know about but few discuss in front of the boys. It has to do with hard work and growing up and it’s a reality of all athletes; I’m talking about, of course,  the STANK that comes from every kid and how it has infiltrated my once beautiful minivan (I know, maybe an oxymoron, but it’s my beauty). 

The struggle is real and every parent in the Carpool Brigade knows it all too well. 

You know the routine: waiting outside the rink, maybe in line, to pick up the boys after practice, keeping the temp in the van at a nice 78 degrees. Here they come, hair wet (maybe from a shower, maybe not), shirts clinging to them (again, shower maybe?), bags slung over their shoulders and sticks in hand. The back  hatch is open as they pile the bags in and throw sticks (carefully) onto said bags. Closing the hatch, they themselves pile into the seats, chirping the entire time about this or that and only half-heartedly acknowledging the driver as they slide the door closed. 

That’s right when it starts; faint at first, but growing more powerful as each kid is dropped off, doors opening and closing, allowing fresh air in but taken over by the stank. 

Now, I’m home, only one kid and one bag left to be taken out, but the SMELL is more palpable than ever. It’s a mix of body odor, maybe locker room and gear stink that we are all familiar with. It’s everywhere and despite your attempts — rolling down the windows, A/C (maybe) to dry it all or that air freshener jammed in the vents, there is no escape from the STANK.  

It’s now in the very essence of your vehicle. And with each whiff, you sense the value of your minivan dropping by $1,000; those odors can be a deal-breaker for potential resale.

Just when it seemed all hope was lost, just when we were about to give in to the STANK, we found Fresh Gear — The Ultimate Odor Eliminator (as advertised) and my our greatest weapon against STANK. 

A couple pulls directly on the carpet (under the mats), in the hatch on the material floor and even on the material ceilings (we have leather seats so can’t spray on them) and the smells are dissipating. The minivan sits in the garage, treated now with Fresh Gear (maybe a 5 minute spraying process) and, letting it dry, I come out to find the STANK is gone. The new morning, as I get in the minivan for work (or maybe to drive to the rink), the STANK is still gone, replaces by the pleasant (but not overpowering) scent of Fresh Gear.  Truly remarkable. 

It has restored my faith in: ride sharing, hockey, resale…humanity; so much so, that I’ve become a Fresh Thinker, eager to show off my scented ride to fellow parents, coaches, rink managers — ANYONE in my circle, because, as they say, “It Works. Period.”