Are You Supposed to Wash Hunting Gear?

How I Wash Hunting Gear That Can Go Into the Washing Machine

The best method to clean hunting gear that’s safe for machine washing, is to wash them in ElimiShield HUNT LAUNDRY DETERGENT.   Elimishield makes an advanced, highly-concentrated formulation that is specifically designed to remove blood, grease, grime, and other stains encountered in tough hunting conditions, but gentle on your favorite camouflage patterns!

DIRECTIONS on How to Use Elimishield Hunt Laundry Detergent:

Pour 1/8 Cup (1 ounce) as directed by your machine instructions. Be sure to include Towels, Wash Cloths, Underwear etc. with your gear. Sufficient for High Efficiency and Standard Machines in all water temperatures.  For the best scent control regimen, check out HuntingGearDeals.com’s blog post titled: 11 Steps to Improve Your Deer Hunting Success with Proper Scent Control.  

If your washer and dryer is contaminated with stinky detergents, try running a load of towels or street clothes through with scent-free detergent before washing your hunting gear.

How I Wash Hunting Gear That Can’t Go Into a Washing Machine

The easiest way that I’ve found to keep my hunting gear scent-free and clean is to utilize Elimishiled Hunt products, including the ElimiShield HUNT Laundry Detergent and Elimishield Hunt X10D.  For items that cannot be washed in a traditional washing machine, try soaking them in ElimiShield HUNT Laundry Detergent in a large tote, or even a clean bathtub.  This will remove most contaminants and debris.

Once you’ve cleaned and dried your gear, you can utilize a semi-permanent treatment for clothing, boots, and backpacks, called Elimishield Hunt X10D.  This product works on anything that is made from cloth or textile to prevent the formation of human body odors, as well as other foreign odors. When used as directed, X10D bonds to the fibers in textiles to create a chain of atoms that produces an uninhabitable surface for odor-causing compounds. The “shield” is semi-permanent and lasts for up to 50 washings. It also protects garments from souring during storage.

DIRECTIONS: (10 ounces of X10D treats 10 pounds of laundry in 10 minutes)

1. Wear safety glasses and rubber gloves when handling this product.
2. Add 3 gallons of hot water (minimum:  110°F maximum:  150°F) water to a bucket or other, similar container.  I’ve even seen people use a large plastic bag as a container in the field before, but a plastic tote or cooler is easier.
3. Weigh garments to determine the proper amount to add to the water.
4. Shake the bottle well and add 1 ounce of X10D for every pound of garments to the water.
5. Stir mixture well.
6. Add garments and let soak for a minimum of 10 minutes.
7. Remove each garment separately and wring excess water back into the container.
8. Hang dry until damp before placing into a clothes dryer. Do not wash until hunting garments have dried completely.
9. Discard excess mixture. It is safe to pour down any drain.

Treat only textiles capable of absorbing water. Not recommended for rubber, outer wear such as a rain gear, waterproofed materials, or hard parts or surfaces. For best results, treat garments before every hunting season to ensure complete protection.  You can also use these products on every day items, like sports apparel or stinky gym bags.

What is the Best Detergent for Hunting Clothes?

The best way I’ve found to keep my hunting clothing clean and scent-free is with Elimishield Hunt Laundry Detergent, but there are a lot of other good options specifically designed to be used by hunters, including Scent Assassasin, Scent-A-Way, Wildlife Research, Dead Down Wind, and others.

What Detergent Should I Avoid

There are other unscented laundry detergents on the market, such as All Free and Clear and they’ll work, just make sure there are no UV brighteners.  It should be noted on the bottle if it does NOT have a UV Brightner added, as most commercial, non-hunting brands will have it.  You should avoid fabric softeners, bleach, and other harsh cleaning products.  Sticking to a scent-free laundry detergent is best.

How to Get Stubborn Stains Out of Hunting Gear

• Blood Stains: soak items 1-6 hours for persistent spots in cold water. Do not use bleach.
• Rust Stains: soak spot in white vinegar and then blot out the liquid. Wash as normal.
• Oil/Grease Stains: blot the spot using a paper towel to remove as much as possible. Then coat the spot in corn starch and allow it to dry overnight. Using a stiff bristle brush, gently work the grease off. Repeat if necessary and then spot treat with liquid dish soap and wash as normal.
• Grass Stains: Use a small amount of toothpaste (not get) and a toothbrush to treat the area
• Odors:  Elimishield Hunt products of course!

How often should you wash hunting clothes?

Hunting clothes need to be washed after being exposed to unwanted contaminants such as sweat, blood, and unwanted odor if you want to ensure that they’re clean and scent-free.  There are some products that you shouldn’t wash as often and they’re typically treated with a waterproof membrane or insect repellent.  If scent control is my only reason for needing to wash my hunting clothes, typically I’ll drywash with my Ozonics unit.

Best Practices for Hunting Laundry

After the hunt, never travel in your hunting clothing or boots.  Instead, as soon as the hunt is over, change clothes.  Stopping at the gas station and stepping out of your truck into spilled gasoline in your hunting boots might be what keeps you from getting your buck during the next hunt.   When your hunting clothing and gear get dirty, especially during a successful hunt, wash it immediately.  Delaying this process will only add to the odors and contaminants, making it harder to clean and prep for your next hunting adventure.  I find myself washing my hunting clothing more often during the early season due to excess sweating and human odors produced in high temperatures.

Here are some general guidelines for washing different types of hunting gear:

Hunting Clothing:

1. Follow Care Instructions from Manufacturers:
   • Always check the care instructions on your hunting clothing labels. Different materials may have specific washing and drying recommendations.  Pay special attention to waterproof garments!
2. Use Scent-free Detergent
   • Use hunting-specific laundry detergent.  Buying tip:  stock up after hunting season is over when products like this go on clearance and you can save a ton of money!  When is the best time of year to buy hunting gear – learn here!
3. Zip Pockets and Closures:
   • It’s a good idea to ensure all zippers and closures are closed before washing to prevent damage.
4. Remove Stains Promptly:
   • If your clothing has stains, including bloodstains address them quickly as they longer they sit, the harder they’ll be to clean.
5. Scent Free is the way to be
   • Utilize Elimishield Hunt products to keep unwanted odors away, including human odor.

Boots:

1. Remove Debris:
   • Before washing, remove mud, dirt, and debris from your boots using a brush or a damp cloth.  This will keep you washing machine in good shape!
2. Hand Wash or Machine Wash:
   • Check the care instructions for your boots to ensure you utilize the appropriate wash cycle.   Some may be machine washable, while others may require hand cleaning.
3. Dry Thoroughly:
   • Allow your boots to air dry completely before storing them. Avoid using direct heat sources like heaters, as excessive heat can damage certain materials. Utilize a boot dryer.
4. Keep them Scent Free:
   • The best way to be scent-free is to utilize the entire line-up of Elimishield Hunt products.

Backpacks and Accessories:

1. Empty and Clean Pockets:
   • Empty all pockets and compartments before washing. Use a vacuum or brush to remove loose dirt.  A water hose, with pressure, can damage the backpack.
2. Hand Wash or Spot Clean:
   • Hand wash backpacks or spot clean with a damp cloth. Check care instructions for specific guidance.  Soak in laundry detergent.  It may take multiple rinses.
3. Air Dry:
   • Allow backpacks and accessories to air dry thoroughly before using or storing.

A few quick thoughts on cover scents.  If you’ve walked the isles of your local sporting goods store in search of scent-free products, you’ve probably seen a bunch of options for cover scent.  My personal take on cover scent is as a last-ditch effort. Your initial washing and storage of hunting gear should be in a scent-free scenario.  However, if I run into a situation where I cannot control my scent control for a particular hunt or contaminate my clothing, I’ll utilize a natural scent to try and cover up the bad scent.  I’ve had success with cedar branches, walnuts, vanailla, and Raw Frozen Scents Calming Scent.  You should always pay attention to the wind direction and try to “hunt the wind” but don’t be caught off guard when the wind direction changes for a split second, ruining your hunt.  Also, HuntingGearDeals.com can help you determine where the best place to buy hunting gear is.

AUTHOR BIO

Hi, I’m Camron the owner of Hunting Gear Deals. I’m an avid bowhunter with a knack for finding good deals on hunting gear and love to help you save money on hunting gear.  I’m also the owner of the popular Bucks, Bulls, & Bears email newsletter that’s built to educate and entertain hunters.  If you haven’t subscribed, you’re missing out!  Last but not least, I’m proud to say that I work for Whitetail Properties as a Land Specialist in Ohio.  If you’re in the market for hunting property, shoot me an email and I’d love to help you find your dream property.  

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