How to properly clean and maintain your outdoor gear for maximum lifespan and performance.
15 articles
Prepare your outdoor gear for autumn rain and winter snow with this comprehensive cleaning and waterproofing guide. Covers jackets, tents, boots, gaiters, and more.
Complete spring gear cleaning guide for tents, sleeping bags, down jackets, stoves, boots, and more. Step-by-step checklist to prepare your outdoor equipment for the new season.
Complete guide to cleaning and maintaining camp stoves including MSR WhisperLite jet unclogging, Jetboil burner cleaning, and liquid fuel stove pump maintenance for reliable backcountry cooking.
Step-by-step guide to washing climbing ropes using a rope bag or washing machine, recommended Beal and Petzl rope cleaners, proper drying, and retirement criteria.
Learn how to remove blood, grass, oil, and mud stains from DWR-treated outdoor gear without damaging the waterproof coating. Proven methods for GORE-TEX and similar fabrics.
Complete trekking pole maintenance guide for Black Diamond, Leki, and Komperdell poles. Covers cleaning pole sections, removing grit from twist-lock and flick-lock mechanisms, carbide tip inspection, and preventing corrosion.
Guide to washing softshell jackets from Arc'teryx, Black Diamond, Marmot, and Patagonia. Covers maintaining stretch fabric, DWR impact from washing, and caring for Schoeller, Polartec Power Shield, and NeoShell materials.
Complete guide to cleaning CamelBak, Platypus, Osprey, and HydraPak reservoirs. Covers baking soda cleaning, drying techniques, cleaning tablets, and preventing mold and bacteria growth.
Proven methods to get campfire smoke smell out of outdoor gear. Covers tents, down and synthetic sleeping bags, merino wool, Gore-Tex jackets, and backpacks using vinegar, baking soda, and enzymatic cleaners.
Guide to cleaning camping cookware including titanium, aluminum, and stainless steel pots. Covers soot removal, fuel residue cleaning on MSR and Jetboil stoves, and preventing off-flavors.
Complete guide to washing Merino wool base layers from Icebreaker, Smartwool, and Ortovox. Covers water temperature, wool-specific detergents, flat drying, and preventing holes.
Guide to cleaning leather and synthetic hiking boots. Covers removing mud without damaging waterproof membranes, conditioning full-grain leather, and maintaining Danner, Salomon, Merrell, La Sportiva, and Scarpa boots.
Step-by-step guide to removing mold from tent fabric using vinegar and enzyme cleaners. Covers preventing seam tape damage, treating mildew on silnylon and PU-coated tents, and drying properly.
Complete guide to washing Gore-Tex jackets with tech wash, avoiding fabric softener, and reactivating DWR with heat. Covers Arc'teryx, Patagonia, The North Face, and other membrane shells.
Step-by-step guide to washing a down sleeping bag properly. Learn which detergents to use, front-loader vs top-loader, drying with tennis balls, and how to preserve 800+ fill power down.