Mimi Hoberele, left, and Mike Daily hang up softball jerseys to dry at Riddell Sports in Burgettstown. During football season, companydrivers travel to high schools on Saturday mornings to pick up dirtyfootball uniforms for cleaning.

Every Saturday morning, Riddell Sports drivers start out on a soon-to-be stinky route. They each travel to 10 high schools in Western Pennsylvania, picking up large bags of sweaty, dirty football jerseys and pants.

High schools, colleges and NFL teams contract with services like Riddell to clean their uniforms during the season and sanitize and recertify equipment at the season's end.

Shawn Taylor of Chippewa Township is Riddell's representative who serves Butler County and surrounding areas. His territory covers many county schools including Moniteau, Freeport and Butler as well as area colleges.

During the Saturday uniform pickup, Riddell drivers keep their windows rolled down, Taylor said.

"The whole van is covered in spray bottles and air fresheners," he said.

When the drivers finish picking up the uniforms, they take them to the plant in Burgettstown and dump them on the floor.

"Fifty wet uniforms weigh about 80 pounds," Taylor said. "The ones on the bottom are just soaked with sweat. They reek."

Workers have to go through the piles by hand and take inventory of the pants and jerseys to make sure all were included after the game.

Each washing machine at the plant can wash two teams' uniforms. Riddell gets all of the grass stains out as well. Though most teams play on turf, Taylor said that the uniforms get just as dirty as if they were on grass.

Riddell takes care of game uniforms every weekend, but players are responsible for washing their practice uniforms during the season.

Taylor said not all players remember to take practice uniforms home during the week.

"Sometimes the smell gets so bad, the coaches make the kids take them home," he said.

At the end of the season, Taylor drives to each school in his territory and gathers practice uniforms for cleaning and repairs and all pads and helmets for cleaning and recertification.

With contractable infections like MRSA, teams have to be very careful with their equipment. At the end of the football season, Riddell uses an ozone machine to sanitize helmets and pads.

"It's actually my favorite time of year," Taylor said.