Most families pile the gear bag in the garage after the last game. They do not open it again until two weeks before the next season.
By then something smells, the cleats are tight, and a strap has failed. Take an hour now.
This is the audit. Pair it with the disinfecting pass if the bag still smells like May.
Wash, empty, and size
Wash jerseys, sliders, sock liners, and mouthguards first. Air-dry fabric. Do not tumble heat that can cook foam and glue.
For mouthguards, use the care steps on the product label. Then dry them and return them to a vented case.
Empty every pocket of the bag. Wipe the lining. Leave the bag open in dry air for an afternoon.
Have the kid try cleats and shoes on now. Anything snug this month will be worse after a growth spurt.
Pass down or donate what is done. Anything still good gets newspaper or a shoe tree for moisture and goes in dry storage. Detail care lives in the cleat-care guide.
Inspect and list
Check helmets, pads, shin guards, and masks for cracks, collapsed foam, and broken straps. Questionable gear is replaced on a calm calendar, not in a parking lot before week one.
Follow manufacturer inspection and retirement guidance when it exists.
Note what wore through or was outgrown. Tape the list to the bag. When summer sales hit, you already know the budget conversation.
The season essentials guide is a reasonable starting point for common replacements.
One hour now usually costs less than a rushed October week of duplicate buys and emergency shipping. The exact dollar amount depends on what failed. The calendar control is the point.