How to de-stink smelly waterproofs

[BobMcBob]

I have a waterproof jacket and overtrousers that accidentally got left, wet, in a plastic bag for a couple of weeks. Needless to say, they smell like a compost heap and running them through my washing machine on a rinse cycle has not helped. The trousers are goretex, the coat, I think, is Berghaus' own fabric. I recall reading that you shouldn't use detergent but I searched the forum and coudn't find anything.

Is there a way to get rid of the stink? I can't even keep them in the house at the moment and the thought of trying to wear them makes me retch

[jmarkb]

Try putting them through the machine with some Nikwax Tech Wash http://www.nikwax.co.uk/en-us/products/productdetail.php?productid=268 or Grangers Performance Wash https://grangers.co.uk/product/performance-wash

[basscadet]

Or the old skool way is to soak em in a bucket of water with a few teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda for a few hours

[BobMcBob]

Try putting them through the machine with some Nikwax Tech Wash <span class="skimlinks-unlinked">http://www.nikwax.co.uk/en-us/products/productdetail.php?productid=268</span> or Grangers Performance Wash <span class="skimlinks-unlinked">https://grangers.co.uk/product/performance-wash</span>

Ta for the tip, I didn't know that existed.

Or the old skool way is to soak em in a bucket of water with a few teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda for a few hours

Oooh I like that, Bicarb is my fave cleaning product I'll get on that now.

[Sgurr]

Nikwax is amazing. Husband got tar all over his goretex jacket a week ago, hanging onto a gatepost to climb the gate. I soaked the relevant bits overnight in neat Techwash, scraped off as much as I could with the back of a knife and then washed it at 40 degrees and it looks as good as new. Have yet to test if it is still waterproof.

[jacob]

I know cotton shirts with "a memory" (wash 'em clean, and yet they stink after 5 minutes of wearing) can be cleaned by soaking them in acid water (either vinegar or lemon juice will do fine).

I doubt if I would recommend the same treatment for your waterproofs though........

[President Weasel]

Halo sport wash is great for de-stinkening sports gear, however I'm unsure if it would affect the breathability of goretex

[Mountainrunner1981]

How much time do you have to leave them?


No-frills method:

Cut up boot polish into small pieces. Wrap each piece up in kitchen roll (thick enough so the oil doesn't soak through).

Lay your jacket out flat, then roll it up, adding the pieces of boot polish every so often.

Stick it in a dump pouch/wash bag & tie tight. Leave for a month (preferably somewhere it'll get air i.e. in the garage) & wear your other jacket in the meantime.

(PS never store gore-tex products in any poly (HDPE or LDPE). Better to either let it breathe, or use Cordura if you must store it)



Alternatives:

1) Just wear them and enjoy the hill/district to yourself

2) Marry a lusty young wench - then you'll have a nice wifie who'll know the answer to all questions.

[lukemunrowalker]

Recently had some stuff that was still pongy after being washed and dried, decided to try bunging the offending items in the freezer overnight - worked a treat

[roytheboy]

I hate to state the obvious - unless I'm missing something here - but any breathable fabric can be safely washed with 'cheap-as-chips' soap flakes or liquid soap flakes, then tumble dried afterwards to reactivate the DWR layer. Hang out on a windy day to help reduce any remaining odors, but I've never had any issues with the above.

[lukemunrowalker]

Yes, Absolutely agree mate, soap flakes are ideal in normal circumstances, but the op's issue is an item that was left wet for some time in a poly bag, this would let bacteria grow, resulting in the stink. to deal with that in a washing machine by itself would take biological detergent on a 40 or 60 degree wash. And I would not recommend
anyone putting their gear through that.

Washing and drying, then freezing the item for a couple of days would kill any bacteria, it can then be rewashed at 30 degrees with soap flakes to remove any residue. Good as new

Freezing is also a great way way to de-pongify boots.

[roytheboy]

Washing and drying, then freezing the item for a couple of days would kill any bacteria, it can then be rewashed at 30 degrees with soap flakes to remove any residue. Good as new

I see; thanks for the tip

[teaandpies]

I'm not sure freezing kills bacteria they just go into a dormant state nd reactivate once it's warm enough.

Soap flakes will clean but they leave a soap coating on the jacket and that will effect the layers. I spent the last couple of days with a Goretex Rep and his advice was use a specialised cleaning brand like Grangers or Nik wax (Gore don't endorse any brand). Wash at 40 and tumble dry to properly activate the DWR chemicals.

A cleaner then a spray. A 2 in 1 will coat the inside but the act of wearing the jacket will rub the coating off so it's breathability wont be affected that much.

[jepsonscotland]

Hi,
Try - Dettol Anti Bacterial Laundry cleanser.
This kills all the 'odour producing' bacteria and then it smells like new......

I left my boots wet in a bag for 48 hours after a 19 hour hike and they were honking!
I washed them with Tech wash in the bath then soaked them in the sink overnight with two capfulls of the Dettol.
Smelled like new after that.....

Only about £4 a litre.

Good luck.
Chris

[Spade]

wash in cold wash with pure soap flakes, hang to dry on a hanger in drip fashion then tumble in cool setting. I done it with mine and the result was perfect. Soda bic' I suspect would strip out any lamination protection as its not PH neutral and caustic.
Also Bacteria survive in sub zero, so freezing may not work. However, go a walk with my mate Eric he stinks like a sumo riding a bike up a hill, next to him you'll be like febreeze!!!!