Clean and Deodorize Your Camping Gear So It Lasts

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Tents

A good tent can last a lifetime. But if stored incorrectly, mildew and mold can damage the urethane coating and leave a musty smell. Be sure to dry it and inspect it after each use.

Suggested tools and materials:

• Vacuum;
• Zipper lubricant;
• Waterproof sealant (for repairs):
• Odor eliminator.

Before stowing, separate the tent and rainfly and hang them until completely dry. If you’ve been camping in a sandy or gritty place, clean the zippers using a canister vacuum with a brush, then apply a zipper lubricant. Tend to small tears with a waterproof sealant like Gear Aid Seam Grip + WP, applying it on the same side of the fabric as the taped seams.

If your tent smells musty, treat it with an odor eliminator like this one from Revivex. “Do not store it in the supplied stuff sack,” says Barry Robertson, a gear expert at Sea to Summit. Also avoid tightly rolling it or putting it in a sealed tote. Instead, fold it loosely and put it on a well-ventilated shelf or in a mesh bag.

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Sleeping Bags

Down sleeping bags can also be a once-in-a-lifetime purchase. I’ve now had my Marmot cold-weather bag for 30-plus years and my Montbell warm-weather bag for more than 20, and both are still going strong. Here’s how to make your sleeping bags last.

Suggested tools and materials:

• Down soap;
• Vacuum;
• Zipper lubricant;
• Waterproof sealant (for repairs).

If your sleeping bag smells at all musty, that’s the beginning of mildew, so wash it before storage. Use a down soap (or mild soap if your bag is synthetic) and follow the manufacturer’s directions.

You can usually tumble dry it, a good fix if the bag got clumpy in damp conditions. “Use a liner and you will not need to wash your sleeping bag anywhere near as often,” says Robertson.

If it doesn’t need washing before storage, you might still want to vacuum the zippers and apply a zipper lubricant. Attend to small holes with a sealant like Gear Aid Seam Grip + WP or a heat-activated tape like Stitch Witchery.

Finally, like tents, do not store sleeping bags in the supplied compression sack or a sealed tote. Instead, leave them uncompressed in a mesh bag or folded on a shelf.

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Performance Outerwear

To keep waterproof, breathable jackets and pants that contain Gore-Tex and similar technologies functioning and smelling good, they need washing from time to time.

Suggested tools and materials:

• Liquid detergent;
• Dryer or iron.

Make sure to refer to your manufacturer’s specific instructions, but in general, waterproof-breathable clothing can be machine washed on warm. Use a small amount of liquid or specialty detergent; no powders, fabric softeners or bleach.

Rinse them twice, and either hang dry or tumble dry on warm. With Gore-Tex, you also need to restore its water-repellent treatment (called DWR) by drying it for an extra 20 minutes on medium after it’s fully dry, or by ironing it. To iron, place a thin towel between the garment and the iron, set the temperature on warm and don’t use steam.

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Hiking Boots

Cleaning your hiking boots regularly keeps grit from grinding into the fabric, lengthening their lifespan. Full-grain leather boots also need to be moisturized. Full-grain boots look smooth on the outside, instead of a suede-like texture.

Suggested tools and materials:

• Boot brush, cloth, toothbrush or vegetable brush;
• Boot cleaner or lukewarm water and dishwashing soap;
• Water-repellent treatment;
• Boot drier (optional);
• Shoe deodorizer or other odor eliminator (optional);
• Leather conditioner (for full-grain leather boots only).

Remove the laces and footbeds or insoles. Shake out dirt, brush off loose dirt, then clean the outsides and the insoles with a cleaner or soapy water (use liquid soap and not detergents). Don’t forget to scrub out any dirt caked into the tread. You might need to soak just the outsoles to get it loosened.

Rinse the boots thoroughly. Stay away from bleach and resist temptation to just stick them in the washing machine.

If you have mold, clean with a one-to-five mix of vinegar and water. Reapply water repellant while the boots are still wet, but only if you noticed water is no longer beading up on the surface. Promptly dry your boots on a boot drier or let them dry naturally in moderate temperatures; never put them by a heat source. To speed up the process, use a fan.

If you have waterproof-breathable boots, don’t use waterproofing waxes or greases, which will damage the breathability. If you have full-grain leather boots, apply leather conditioner once they’re dry. If you need extra odor control, try shoe inserts or an odor eliminator. Also, check for manufacturer-specific recommendations, especially with leather boots.

Store boots in a temperature controlled environment, not in the shed or anyplace that’s hot or unventilated.

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Air Mattresses

After a few nights of un-showered bodies sleeping on an air mattress, it’s important to clean it before storing it.

Suggested tools and materials:

• Mild solution of warm water and dish soap;
• Piece of cloth;
• Waterproof sealant (for repairs);
• Odor eliminator (optional).

Wipe down the mattress outsides with the soap and water, and rinse if needed. Repair any small holes with an adhesive like Gear Aid Seam Grip +WP. “You can also kill mold spores with Revivex Odor Eliminator, but this will not remove the discoloration,” says Robertson.

Before storing it, make sure the mattress is completely dry, inside and out. Fold it loosely or leave it flat (perhaps under a guest bed) with the valve open to allow internal moisture to dry out.

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Hydration Bladders

Keeping your pack’s hydration bladder clean and free from bacteria is vital for your health and safety, and it prolongs the life of the product.

Suggested tools and materials:

• Warm water and mild dish soap;
• Performance detergent (optional).

Wash the inside of the bladder after every hike or trail run. Use special care to rinse it until all traces of soap are gone, and then let it dry with the top open. “A Pro Tip is to keep your bladder in the freezer after rinsing it out, which will prevent any bacteria from forming,” says Jennifer Rust, senior product line manager at Nathan Sports.

If you also need to clean your pack, wash it in cold water with a performance detergent. This will also restore its water repellency, breathability and moisture-wicking properties.

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Pots and Dishes

Many camping-specific pots, dishes and cutlery are not dishwasher safe, so it’s best to hand-wash them with dish soap and warm water before drying them thoroughly for storage. If you damage a pot, it’s probably not repairable, but check with the manufacturer just in case they stock small spare parts.

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Camping Stoves

Dirty camping stoves can attract bugs and animals, in the outdoors and in storage. Moisture left sitting in stoves can also cause them to rust and malfunction.

Suggested tools and materials:

• Warm water and mild dish soap;
• Sponge or scrubby.

If you have a liquid-fuel stove, remove the fuel tank prior to washing. Don’t take off the burners; that can cause the stove to not light well in the future.

If you have a propane stove connected by a fuel line, turn off the tank and light a burner to use any fuel in the line before disconnecting the tank. On propane stoves, you can usually unscrew the burners and wash them separately.

For both types, hand wash everything with soap and water. Rinse and let it dry upside down thoroughly before reassembling. Do not use oven cleaner.

Store in a plastic bag that’s tied shut to keep out bugs. For liquid-fuel stoves, drain the fuel before storing it to prevent buildup in the fuel line. Also, oil the pump cup on the plunger with light machine oil before each use, and at least twice a year.

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Camping Chairs and Carpets

Cleaning your camping chairs and outdoor carpets and mats prevents the spread of bugs and plant species. Not only can stowaways be icky to find crawling around in your storage room, they can damage ecosystems if they end up in places where they become invasive.

Suggested tools and materials:

• Warm water and mild dish soap;
• Sponge or scrubby;
• Broom;
• Odor eliminator (optional).

Shake them out or sweep them off, then hand wash with mild soap and water. Rinse thoroughly and let them dry on a clothesline or fence before storing. If they seem mildewed or otherwise smelling strange, treat them with an odor eliminator like Revivex.

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Kayaks, Canoes, Paddleboards and Fishing Gear

Watercraft can spread aquatic invasive species (AIS) like zebra mussels from one body of water to another. That’s why it’s important to clean your boats, kayaks, paddleboards/SUPs, waders, bait buckets and any other gear that’s touched the water before storing it or using it in another location.

Suggested tools and materials:

• Warm, soapy water;
• Towels or rags;
• Bucket (optional);
• Pressure washer or steam cleaner (optional).

Remove all accessories and belongings from the boat. Use soap and water to clean mud and dirt from the boat, then rinse it thoroughly. Make sure to do this at least 300 feet from any water source so the soap doesn’t contaminate a lake or stream.

Using disinfectants isn’t the best way to kill AIS, because these creatures can often detect them and close up their shells to survive. Instead, thoroughly dry the boat and open any drains to dry the inside as well.

Depending on your climate, you should let the boat sit for two to five days before putting it in the water again. Or you can expose the boat to 140-degree (hot) water or steam for at least 10 seconds. A pressure washer can do the trick if your boat is sturdy enough to withstand it. You can also try a household steam cleaner. If you’re an angler or hunter, avoid waders with felt soles.

For more information on AIS, see the Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers website.

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Coolers and Water Jugs

Promptly cleaning your coolers (or chilly bins, as Robertson hopes Americans will start calling them!) and water storage containers after a camping trip deters insects and keeps your food storage area disinfected and safe.

Clean them with a mild detergent and rinse thoroughly. Wipe them dry or let them air dry upside-down with the lid open. You can also sanitize coolers with a mild bleach or vinegar solution.

Pro tip: Store your cooler in a cool place so you don’t waste a bunch of ice trying to cool it down next time you need to use it.

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Other Hard and Soft Goods

After your trip, it’s not a bad idea to lightly wipe down other camping furniture and gear with a towel and spray cleaner. Think flashlights, tools, camp tables and lanterns. Also give your bedding, blankets, towels and tablecloths a wash, so they’re fresh and bug-free for the next trip.

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Firewood

Don’t forget to always source firewood from near your campsite, whether you buy it or collect it. Leave any unused wood at your campsite to prevent the spread of insect and plant blights like pine beetles, emerald ash borers, beech bark disease and Dutch elm disease.