How often should you wash your hunting clothes? How well clean your hunting boots after a trip? Find out the answers to these questions and many others by consulting our article onmaintenance of hunting clothing and boots.
Maintenance of hunting clothing
And yes! Your hunting clothes also need to be cleaned. Here's how to do it:
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Unlike your usual clothes, hunting clothes should be washed as infrequently as possible. So, remember to wash them once a year (at the end of each season) or as needed when they become too dirty.
The ideal is to wash hunting clothes by hand, using a mild, odorless soap, suggests David Côté-Tremblay, Clothing designer at Sportchief. It is possible to obtain these products in specialized hunting and fishing stores.
A frequent question: The hunting clothes can they be cleaned in the washer? It is possible to do it. But beware! They should be washed on a delicate cycle only. However, as mentioned above, remember that the ideal is to wash your hunting clothes by hand.
Drying
Perhaps you tend to hang your clothes out in the sun to dry them faster? If so, be aware that in addition to weakening the fabric, the camouflage print could change color and become faded.
To dry your hunting clothes After cleaning them, the best idea is to simply lay them out in a ventilated and dry place. For example, a living room or an office can do the job very well. Avoid drying them in places like a damp bathroom or basement.
So that your hunting clothes are completely dry and there is no trace of humidity, do not hesitate to let them dry for a few days, or even a week.
Storage
After your hunting clothes have been washed, then dried, it is now time to store them. To do this, take care to put them in an airtight container (like a box) or store them in a clothing cover. If you prefer, you can do both.
Before putting away your hunting clothes for good while waiting for the next season, consider adding a small fir branch (a branch of around 10 cm is enough). This little attention will subtly perfume your hunting clothes with a fresh scent. In addition, the smell of fir is present in the vast majority of hunting environments, so it does not represent a danger to the success of your next hunt.
Maintenance of hunting boots
Maintenance of hunting boots resembles that of hunting clothes, with a few differences. Here they are.
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When you return from a hunting trip, the ideal is simply to rinse your hunting boots using a simple watering can. You can also brush them gently to remove any excess dirt (mud, leaves, blood). How often should they be cleaned? Jonathan Fortin, Shoe and boot designer at Sportchief, suggests clean your hunting boots after a hunting trip, but not every time.
Drying
To dry your hunting boots, you must follow the same method as for your hunting clothes. The only nuance: you can wipe your boots with a cloth to remove excess moisture and promote good drying.
Above all, avoid drying your hunting boots near any heat source. The heat won't make them dry any faster and you risk damaging your boots. Heat sources (wood stove, baseboard heater, etc.) could melt the rubber or dry out the leather.
Treatment
Depending on the type of boot you have, it is necessary to take good care of it by applying specific treatment for each type of boot.
If you have rubber boots, apply waterproofing on top.
If you have leather boots, this requires a little more attention. Indeed, it is necessary to apply a conditioner. A popular oil is mink oil, but there are also other types of oils or fats that can adequately condition the leather of your hunting boots. As with rubber boots, it is necessary to apply a protector.
Storage
To store your hunting boots, it is suggested to follow the same method as for the hunting clothes. You can also place your boots in a nylon bag.
So much for your hunting bootsand what you hunting clothes, you may have the reflex to store them in a cedar wardrobe. Although this idea seems logical, it is not recommended unless cedar is present in large quantities in your hunting territory, which is rarely the case. “You really have to go there based on the smell of the area where you are going to be,” suggests David Côté-Tremblay.
In order to maintain the condition and quality of your hunting clothing or boots, it is very important to follow these recommendations. Without regular maintenance, your hunting outfit could, for example, become less waterproof, the fabric could dry out and therefore tear more easily or your insulation could lose its effectiveness. As for your rubber boots, they could crack.
It may happen that despite the good care given over the years, your hunting equipment needs to be changed. Fortunately, many options combining technology, comfort and efficiency are available to you today. Discover the Sportchief experience now!
