The camping season is winding down in Utah, and snow will soon make most popular sites inaccessible until next spring. For many of us, Summer camping in Utah is a yearly highlight, and those cool evenings in the Uintas can be well-nigh restorative. As much as we love camping, the unpacking and post- camping laundry afterwards can be a bit of a downer. Whether it's putting your food storage equipment from Survival Cooking away for next year or disassembling the tent, it can be a bit of an anti-climax. Unpacking and doing laundry after a long trip can erase some of those peaceful mountain vibes we bring home with us. Maybe I'll have to look at empire outdoors reviews about tactical knives, dreaming about the peaceful scenery till next time we good. Here are a few things we suggest if you’re looking to ease up your post-camping laundry stress.
Have a Plan Beforehand
Unpacking is made so much easier if the initial packing is done thoughtfully. Pack clothes that are easy to wash and are versatile, cutting down on the amount of articles needed to wash upon return. Be economical in your packing, and don’t throw in five t-shirts when two will suffice. Even if you don’t end up wearing all the clothes you pack, there’s a good chance anything in your bag will get smokey from the campfire or dirty being around other, dirtier clothing. Take what you need, use what you take.
Remember that camping is a great time to take a break from the normal daily routines. While wearing the same shirt and pants for two days in a row at home might be socially unacceptable (or maybe not, we don’t want to pry into your personal life…) wearing the same outfit for long stretches is somewhat of a camping luxury, all the while cutting down on the amount of clothes you need to pack and then launder at home.
Pack a Bag for Laundry
As you pack for your camping trip, throw in a separate bag where you can store clothes as they become dirty. The bag can be something as simple as a plastic grocery bag. Storing dirty clothes in a separate bag serves two purposes; on the one hand, it keep smelly dirty clothes away from clean clothes, cutting down on what you might need to wash at home, and on the other hand, it simplifies the unpacking process upon return.
Many stores sell small, cloth or nylon laundry bags intended just for camping use. These bags allow dirty clothes to breath a bit while still keeping them apart from other clothes and gear in the bag. Find one that’s compact and washable for easy storage and care. If nothing else, a pillowcase can make a fine laundry bag in a pinch if you forget to pack an official dirty clothes storage solution. And if you’re really into economical packing, a pillowcase full of dirty clothes can double as a pillow up in the woods. Because nothing builds character more than resting your head on an uneven bag of smokey, dirt-covered clothes while sleeping on rocks. Man, don’t we love camping?
Do Post-Camping Laundry First Thing
Most camping trips are fun but exhausting. The process of breaking camp and cleaning up at the end of a trip can suck all the energy out of us. But before tossing off the hiking boots and sitting down for a break, grab the back of dirty clothes and put them immediately in the wash. Dirty camping clothes that sit around in a bag can deteriorate quickly, especially if they’re wet or muddy. If everything is in one spot, it should only take a few minutes to grab the dirty laundry bag and start a load or two. Then you can let modern machinery do most of the work while you put your feet up and take a breather.
Many people are also turning to laundry services to help ease the stress of post-camping laundry. It can be as easy as setting out your dusty camp clothes and letting a delivery service grab them for you. Having a laundry delivery service take care of your camping clothes saves time and stress, leaving your head in the mountains for just a little bit more. My friend told me that he learned even more about camping from fantastic websites similar to offgridspot.com. There are so many ways to reduce the amount of boring time and increase the fun before and during camping!
Summer is filled with backyard barbecues, baseball games, beach picnics, family camping trips and pool parties. A good summer wardrobe is diverse enough to take you from the beach to a night on the town, dining in open-air cafes. Summer, as fun as it may be for you, is not so fun when it comes to your laundry. Summer laundry is dirtier, stinkier, and saltier. If you find your warm weather garments in need of some laundry TLC, follow these three tips for caring for your summer wardrobe.
When Wearing Summer Attire, Let All Sun Lotions and Tanners to Dry Thoroughly
A “sun-kissed glow” is a perk of the summer sun. But, there’s nothing cute about a glowing shirt. Self-tanners are notorious for leaving beige, brown, or even orange stains on clothing. When applying self-tanners, be sure to follow the directions carefully; allow your skin to thoroughly dry before getting dressed. If any tanner accidentally gets on your summer wardrobe, wash it immediately as the stain will be much more difficult to remove once it dries and sets.
The same is true for sun lotion: allow the lotion to dry completely before getting dressed. Newer sun lotions, especially those in the spray bottles, will yellow your clothing, particularly around the neck or collar of your shirt. The stains often do not show up until after a washing so be extra careful when applying the sun lotion. If stains do pop up, use a presoak with an oxygen cleaner before washing. Always read the label on your summer wardrobe before washing or soaking an item. Tricky or set-in stains may need to be treated by a laundry care professional.
Deodorant is a year-round toiletry staple but one that gets extra use in the summer. As always, allow your deodorant to dry or switch to a “dry spray.” Pre-treat deodorant stains with a solution of white vinegar and water, and then wash as directed.
Clean Sweat And Grass Stains Immediately
The second tip for caring for your warm weather gear is taking care of stains as soon as possible. Summer is nothing if not hot, and heat means extra sweat! Sweat and sweat stains are nearly impossible to avoid (even when wearing deodorant) so the key is treating it right away.Be sure to read the labels on your garments before washing. A flowy silk blouse might be perfect for a fancy summer evening date, but be sure to visit your local dry cleaner for removing sweat stains from silk, as it is a very delicate fabric.
Another common summer wardrobe stain, thanks to the popularity of little leagues, is grass stains. Grass stain tip: soak the item of clothing in warm water with an oxygen cleaner. After soaking, add a drop of liquid detergent and use a toothbrush (pick up a cheap pack and use around the house for cleaning projects) to scrub the stain. Wash as directed.
Extend The Life of Your Swim Suit
Water is often the center of a summer activity. Between the pools, beaches, surfing, and boating, the swimsuit is often the star of the summer wardrobe. Proper care of your suit will allow the suit to last for more than one season. When reapplying sun lotion at the pool or beach, try to avoid getting sun lotion on your suit as it can stain the suit. In addition, chlorine and salt are harsh and can damage the fibers of your suit with prolonged exposure. After swimming, rinse your suit in cold fresh water. Hand wash with a few drops of detergent. If you opt to throw your suit in the washing machine, use a lingerie bag to keep any loose straps or strings from getting tangled or damaged. Skip the fabric softener; fabric softener builds up over time and reduces the fabric’s ability to wick away water. Always let your suit air-dry.
No matter how you choose to spend the summer, it is likely that your wardrobe will be put to the test. Following these three easy laundry tips will help prolong the life of your clothes and keep you looking cool. Also, feel free to take a look at our blog post today to learn more about caring for your summer clothes. Or, take a look at our blogthat discusses storage tips for your summer clothes.
Summertime is a season when you're supposed to get down and dirty with the a great outdoor adventure. The possibilities are endless when you land yourself outside, but the fun inevitably comes with a few smells and stains that are unique to earthy adventures. Every camping trip, fishing excursion, and healthy hike eventually brings home some interesting cleaning conundrums that can take a little creativity to overcome.
Here are our top five tips to help you get your outdoor clothing back in clean and pristine condition so it's ready for your next expedition.
Sanitizing Synthetic Outdoor Apparel
Synthetic fabrics also require special care, and each article of clothing may be a little different. Be sure to read the care instructions for each piece of clothing because the requirements may vary significantly. If you ignore the warnings, you could damage the special fibers of the fabric. Some synthetic clothing is not machine-washable, and some may not be suitable for the dryer. Care instructions are essential for synthetic clothing.
Cleaning Waterproof Clothing
Waterproof clothing's contains fabric that requires special care when it comes to getting it clean. Everyday detergents and fabric softeners can actually harm this type of clothing, causing the fibers to breakdown and become less waterproof as time wears on. Instead, you'll want to look for a detergent that's specially made for waterproof clothing.
- Before you load your outdoor adventure clothes into the drum, run your empty washing machine on a hot cycle. This will help to remove residue left over from your everyday detergents and softeners.
- When that's finished, load a small amount of clothes into your washer. Then, pour the amount of special detergent into your washer, as specified by the product's guidelines. You'll want to hold off washing any non-waterproof articles until a later time.
- After you run a complete wash and rinse cycle, check your garments' care instructions. It may be best to either air dry or tumble dry on low. This depends on what the tag says.
- Also, feel free to read our published blog post to learn more about quickly removing stains from your clothing items.
Eliminating Campfire Smell
Fun times around the campfire notorious for sticking around long after the evening's complete. Campfire smoke is a strong beast to battle, but you may have the perfect weapon right in your kitchen.
- For a DIY solution, hang your smoky outdoor adventure clothing over your bathroom shower rod.
- Fill the bathtub with the hottest water you can produce so your bathroom starts to steam up.
- Add four cups of white vinegar to the full tub, and in ten minutes or so, the smell should be gone.
Did a weekend camping trip leave you itching to get back home? Poison ivy and oak are unwelcome visitors that can invite themselves on any trip. Urushiol is the allergen in these plants that makes for unpleasant encounters when you brush upon them, but decontaminating clothing isn't as scary as it might seem! The key is in the heat.
- Using your normal laundry detergent, set your wash cycle to the hottest possible temperature.
- Be sure not to overload your washer, as the clothing needs to agitate freely in order to remove the urushiol from the fabric.
- Once the allergen has been set free, it will remain suspended in water and will not contaminate other areas of your clothing.
Removing Mold and Mildew
Forgotten clothes can leave an unwanted funk that happily secures itself on almost any fabric. If you've left swim trunks in the backseat too long or suddenly remembered some sweaty hiking gear that's been hiding in your trunk for a week or two, chances are, it's turning colors and comes complete with a wreak all its own.
Fear not! Mold and mildew can come out of clothing, but when fungus has taken hold, you'll likely need some extreme heat to kill these living invaders. If you're seeing green and blue, your best bet is to head to pack up your clothing and head to the dry cleaner. Professional dry cleaners use excessive amounts of heat to get clothes clean, which is exactly what you need to kill the bacteria that's taken hold of moldy and mildew-infused fabrics. Be sure to let the dry cleaning professional know the reason for your visit before walk away so he or she can target problem areas during the cleaning process!
Outdoor clothing tends to bring a bit of the earth back home after your weekend getaway. Sometimes, despite your best efforts and most innovative tactics, the grime and goo is more resilient than typical household items can combat. If your outdoor clothing contains weird smells and stubborn stains that seem like they're intent on sticking around, it's time to call on the help of the experts. Find your way to your neighborhood dry cleaner with your filthy fabric, and let the experts take on the challenge!
