Hunting clothes requires care as they ensure comfort and convenience. However, not every treatment and cleaning product works for the fibers of your hunting outfit.
Using inappropriate products can damage and ruin some functioning properties of the cloth. But not to worry, as, in this guide, you get to know the cleaning products that work perfectly for some of the most important pieces of clothing for hunters and how to wash hunting clothes.
Why Look for Specific Products for My Hunting Cloth?
Most hunting outfits are designed to look sophisticated and classy with a feature like UV brighteners. But, do you know that though this feature gives the cloth an added beauty and style, it can also be unearthing and act as a deterrent for animals? To make this feature less noticeable for the preys, it becomes necessary to wash hunting outfits before use. But, do so with the right product.
A lot of brands produce products that are not suitable for your garments. This is because they come with scent-filled or strong substances that deter animals. The right product to use will be a scent-free detergent that will go unnoticed by the game. Often, hunters apply softeners to the fabric. But again, this element is not advisable because they also contain UV brighteners that deter the animals from you.
Hence, it is necessary to go for products that do not have UV brighteners, fragrances, or softeners. The best way to wash and keep hunting clothes in mint condition is to use specially manufactured products that do not contain any features.
Guide to Washing Hunting Clothes
1. Properly clean your washing machine
The first step to caring for your hunting gears is to clean the washer thoroughly. Most people would rather apply their hands to this method, which is certainly good. However, to save time and stress, you would want to use a washer.
Before getting started, the best way to wash hunting clothes would be to clean the machine properly to get rid of remnants of detergents or softeners with hot water. After doing this, leave to dry for some minutes.
2. Run with cold water
Although it is necessary to clean the washer with hot water, using this hot washing method on your clothes may damage its fiber, and it does this by shrinking them. Moreover, it also weakens the glue used to design some accessories on your wears. When this happens, you may have to buy a new outfit as it will no longer work well for you. So, make sure to use cold water in your washer. After this, you would want to add the detergent.
3. Adding Detergent
Make sure to add the required measurement of detergent in your washer. When you add more than needed, it could cloud your machine with too much foam, and you do not want this.
That’s not all. You would not want to use a scented detergent that will leave any fragrance or smell on the garment. This is because it will frighten your game. Hence use unscented detergents when laundering.
4. Rinse with cold water and baking soda
After washing with detergent, you would want to rinse the clothes with cold water and a little bit of baking soda. Adding baking soda to your wears helps remove bad odor and any detergent left in some openings of your clothes. Remember that hot water does not bode well for the fiber of your cloth. Hence it is best to use cold water.
5. Air dry
It is necessary to air dry after washing because it keeps your wears in good shape. To do this, take your pheasant hunting clothes outdoor and dry them. A lot of people use dryers to achieve this. However, this should not be so because the heat from the dryer may shrink the cloth finer.
6. Store
Lastly, you would want to store hunting outfits to keep them safe. Plastic bags are great for storing compartments for your outfit. But, before doing this, iron in low heat to remove creases, then put them in your protective plastic bag to prevent bad odors. Doing so will help you stay warm during hunting trips.
After Wash, What Next?
There are several things to consider after wash. First, make sure not to wear clothes before getting to the hunting site. This is because odors can be transferred to the fibers, and when this happens, it deters the animals as they will easily detect your location with the smell. To prevent this, it becomes necessary to avoid putting on hunting gears before hunting or try applying odor-removal sprays on the outfit.
When applying sprays, most people tend to put on harsh chemicals like chlorinated products. But, this should not be so. Applying this kind of product can damage and discolor the fabric. Moreover, they make it easy for animals to detect your presence. Instead of this, try applying baking soda to places that produce bad odors and smells.
How to Wash Hunting Clothes with Baking Soda
As much as using baking soda to wash clothes may sound impossible and far-fetching, it is not. Adding this agent into your water when rinsing or with your liquid detergent before washing leaves your clothes shiny and in good shape. Baking soda softens your clothes and also acts as a deodorizer and cleansing agent. Hence, its properties make it easy to wash with fewer detergents.
To wash hunting garbs with baking soda, pour a half spoon into your rinsing water or liquid detergent. Then, wash with your regular washing machine. Doing this will keep your clothes sparkling and odorless.
Storing My Hunting Clothes After Wash
After washing, it is important to keep your clothes in a secluded place to prevent damage. One thing to always keep in mind is that it is best to store the clothes inside-out to prevent them from fading. To do this, put them in a dark space where they will not get in contact with the sun. Sun can cause discoloration. So, avoid it.
When storing your clothes in a dark place, make sure that the spot is dry. A moist indoor location can cause mold to form on it. Moreover, putting on a hunting dress with other outfits can make their scents rub off on them. It can reduce the effectiveness when used in a game. To prevent this, store it in a scent-free or plastic bag and keep it in a place where it is not noticeable to avoid unnecessary openings.
It is also possible to place a natural scent wafer, cedar chips, or pine needles in your clothes to give them an outdoor scent before use.
FAQs
Is it necessary to wash my hunting dress after use?
Not all part your hunting dress requires constant cleaning. But, you would want to wash your base and mid-layers after using it as they are more prone to dirt. Also, the outer layer does not require constant care. So, washing once a month is possible.
Can I air dry with a dryer?
Yes, it is possible to air dry with a dryer. But, doing so may damage the fiber of your fabric. When this happens, you may have to replace it.
Will washing hunting outfits with baking soda damage them?
No, baking soda does not damage the fiber on hunting outfits. Instead, it helps to kill pathogens, remove bad odor and detergent remnants.
How much baking soda to wash hunting clothes?
A ½ cup of baking soda will do the job of washing your hunting garment. Simply add it into your water when rinsing.
Should I wash my hunting clothes without detergent?
No, washing without detergent is not advisable. Although it is possible, it will not get rid of the dirt on hunting outfits. Detergents remove the oily substances and stubborn stains on your clothes which water alone cannot do. However, make sure to use unscented laundry detergent for hunting.
How can I make my hunting clothes scent-free?
To keep scent-free hunting garb, avoid using dryers to leave some scents and shrink the clothes fiber. Instead, air-dry them in the open and store them in a protective plastic bag or any airtight container.
Is it bad to put hunting clothes in a dryer?
Yes, putting a hunting outfit in a dryer can damage it. This is because of its heat, which is capable of shrinking the fibers of the fabric. A better option is to air dry.
Conclusion
Whether you an expert or beginner, it is easy to know how to wash hunting clothes as it does not require any special or expert classes. All you need do is follow this outlined tip, and you will be on your way to getting that sparkling and clean dress you desire. However, avoid using softeners and scented detergents because they might damage your clothes. Instead, use products appropriate for hunting and military garments.
