Time for Spring Gear Cleaning

This thread is for comments on the article "Time for Spring Gear Cleaning"

Despite the snowpack you may see on the ground, spring is officially here. Whether you've been using your gear hard all winter or it's been sitting in a muddy pile since last fall, now is a good time to take stock and clean and repair your outdoor clothing and equipment. Here are a few brief and general suggestions to get you started. ...

Full article at http://www.trailspace.com/blog/2011/03/21/spring-gear-cleaning.html

I don't use a water filter much any more, but before the first overnight of the season, I'll typically run a liter or so of tap water with 6 drops of bleach through it.  Who knows what large, angry bacteria have been growing in it all winter!

Just figured I would throw this out there. If ya go on the Nikwax site and take a 5 question quiz ya get a sample bottle of their Waterproofing wax for leather. Enough to prolly do a couple pair of boots. Ya do register your email, etc but no worries, they don't sell or outsource your info so ya don't get slammed with emails. If ya refer 3 people to this ya get bonus product. They have to enter your name when they register. Nikwax does this to promote their products. The link is below-

http://quiz.nikwax.com

I used to clean my water filter after winter storage, but now I use Aquamira. It comes in two square bottles and you mix drops from both. It's light, easy, and clean.

Filter wise I just pull/clean the check & butterfly valve, and boil the filter. The rest I clean with pretty much the same mixture as Seth mentioned.

I clean my gear after every trip. Plus who lets winter stop the backpacking? I do use a water filter, if going back out within a week I put it in the fridge. Otherwise I use water and bleach.

mikemorrow said:

I clean my gear after every trip. Plus who lets winter stop the backpacking? I do use a water filter, if going back out within a week I put it in the fridge. Otherwise I use water and bleach.

 +1 on this.

I too clean, repair and re-pack.  Come on pick up the slack.  Before you forget about it and nothing is working.

Callahan said:

mikemorrow said:

I clean my gear after every trip. Plus who lets winter stop the backpacking? I do use a water filter, if going back out within a week I put it in the fridge. Otherwise I use water and bleach.

 +1 on this.

I too clean, repair and re-pack.  Come on pick up the slack.  Before you forget about it and nothing is working.

 I agree with both of you..I have 3 tents now I use a 5 gal bucket use Nikwax tech cleaner let each one sit awhile.Then rinse fresh water. Set them up rinse again. Let them dry check to see if they need to be resealed and do make repairs. Then Nik wax tent and gear solarproof..I also keep a buggout bag out of habit.

Rick-Pittsburgh-  Thanks for the link to nikwax.  I am going to use it on my Mephisto and Timberland walkers.  I really found this blog full of useful reminders.  Thanks. 

No prob. I am not sure if they are still doing this promo but its worth a shot.

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