How do you clean your gear?

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434stonemill
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How do you clean your gear?

Post by 434stonemill »

I am looking to mine the immense wealth of knowledge on this board to ask a relatively simple question:

How do you get rid of smoke odor from your technical garments, specifically jackets and pants (shell/waterproof/windproof)? I really don't like to wash my outerwear, I don't think my one rain jacket has ever seen the wash, and usually when camping, I try not to wear anything like that around the campfire. But recently, I was camping in Joshua Tree and forgot to switch out jackets for the evening. It had quite the smokey odor, and few other things ended up smelling from being all in the same packed bag on the trip home. While I was in Joshua Tree, the Marshall Fire was burning near my home. I am lucky as there was no damage to my home, but my gear that was stored in my garage also smells like I had been camping with it.

Besides just letting it air outside on a nice day, what are folks suggestions?
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two lunches
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Re: How do you clean your gear?

Post by two lunches »

Nikwax makes a few different products for washing, as well as re-waterproofing waterproof items. i usually do them by hand/tub and hang to air dry.
happy shopping, OP! : https://www.rei.com/c/gear-and-clothing-washes
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HikerGuy
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Re: How do you clean your gear?

Post by HikerGuy »

I have always used Atsko Sport-Wash Laundry Detergent on my smellier clothes/gear. Woolite was mentioned on Reddit as the best detergent to remove wildfire smoke smell, never tried it though.
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dwoodward13
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Re: How do you clean your gear?

Post by dwoodward13 »

I've used several of the different Nikwax products and those seem to do a good job. For something like my rain jacket, I'll use the tech wash, followed by their Tx Direct to revive the DWR. I'll do an extra rinse cycle or two to make sure all the product washed out.

Also note, that you should get in the habit of washing gear somewhat frequently. The skin oils, dirt, and grime will clog the pores of your rain jacket making it less breathable and faster to wet out.
Aphelion
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Re: How do you clean your gear?

Post by Aphelion »

Just wash your gear. It usually needs low heat to dry, but a wash cycle isn't going to hurt it. I've tried the nikwax soaps, but I'm skeptical that they really did anything more than a normal detergent.
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Trotter
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Re: How do you clean your gear?

Post by Trotter »

Ive had good results with a damp towel wipedown, and a couple days hanging it in a large room to air out
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JChitwood
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Re: How do you clean your gear?

Post by JChitwood »

I use Nikwax Tech Wash and follow it with another cycle using Nikwax TX Direct Wash-In then dry on low heat. I don’t do it every year unless I wear the jacket a lot. I read somewhere that the products and the dryer help restore the water repellancy but can’t verify if that’s true since I have so many jackets and it rarely rains or snows around here. I don’t think I’ve skied in the snow in 10 years and can only remember really getting rained on in the summer once. Of course that was in the Weminuche Rain Forest. Steer clear of that place in July and August unless you’re testing rainwear and tents.
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SchralpTheGnar
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Re: How do you clean your gear?

Post by SchralpTheGnar »

I wipe down my skis at the end of the day, otherwise I never wash my jackets but wash my pants and air dry them
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mtree
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Re: How do you clean your gear?

Post by mtree »

I rarely wash my jackets. Occasionally pants. Never shoes. If its just outer layers I just pop in washing machine and air dry. NO DETERGENTS. Seems to work out ok.
Everything else never gets washed. Air dry if needed, but I don't want to smell like a rose in the wilderness.
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Barnold41
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Re: How do you clean your gear?

Post by Barnold41 »

I haven't washed any of the gear I've purchased in the last few years, but I've heard the NikWax washes & repellants work well. The clothes under my outerwear usually keep the stinkiness out of the outer layers. I have used a cloth to spot wash the outside but don't like to soak anything.
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Hiker Mike
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Re: How do you clean your gear?

Post by Hiker Mike »

I often just rinse my outerwear instead of the whole wash thing. However, keeping a jacket clean is one of the best ways to keep its useful life. Dirt, body oils and sweat can cause problems with the breath-ability. So, I only do a full wash after heavy activity.

Mike
"Just because you love the mountains doesn't mean the mountains love you."
-Lou Whittaker
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