Washing Hunting Clothes Using Baking Soda to Conceal Odor
Washing and Caring for Hunting Clothes: A Comprehensive Guide
In the world of hunting, keeping your clothes scent-free is crucial to avoid scaring away animals. Here's a guide on how to effectively wash and care for your hunting clothes, as co-authored by Susan Stocker and Hunter Rising.
Firstly, when washing your hunting clothes, use a machine wash with warm water below 30°C. Avoid bleach and fabric softeners, as they can degrade waterproofing and trap residual smells. Instead, add ½ cup of baking soda during the rinse cycle to help absorb odors. Use a scent-free detergent to avoid introducing new smells.
For drying, line dry your clothes in the shade to protect fabric treatments and avoid heat damage. Both air drying and gentle tumble drying on low heat are options, but air drying preserves technical fabric properties better. If using a dryer is necessary, ensure it's set to a normal drying cycle.
To prevent recontamination of odors during storage, use scent lock bags designed to contain odors, such as Auscamotek’s scent bags. These bags protect freshly washed hunting gear from airborne contaminants. Additionally, you can add natural scents like pine needles, cedar chips, or dry leaves to gear bags; these help mask residual odors and keep gear smelling fresh.
When it comes to details, keep Velcro closures fastened during washing to prevent damage to fabric and waterproof coatings. For long-term storage, ensure clothes are completely dry before bagging to prevent mildew and odor build-up.
In summary, wash with warm water and baking soda, air dry in shade, use scent-free detergents, and store with scent control using scent lock bags and natural masking materials to effectively remove and prevent recontamination of hunting clothes odors.
It's also recommended to clean your outerwear around once a month or when visibly dirty. To clean your washing machine before washing hunting clothes, run a hot water cycle with commercial cleaning tablets.
Susan Stocker, who runs and owns Susan's Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle, was one of the co-authors of this guide. This article has been viewed 51,625 times and has 9 references cited.
Remember, when hunting, it's important to mask your scent to give you the best chance of success. By following these guidelines, you can ensure your hunting clothes are always fresh and odor-free.
- After a month of use or when visibly dirty, clean your outerwear to maintain its quality.
- Before washing hunting clothes, clean your washing machine by running a hot water cycle with commercial cleaning tablets.
- In the realm of fashion-and-beauty and lifestyle, utilizing scent lock bags for stored hunting gear can help eliminate odors and extend the life of your hunting clothes.
- If you're into sports, specifically football, you might find the tips on washing and caring for hunting clothes useful, as they involve techniques for removing and preventing odors.
