Camping is a fun outdoor activity in the summer, but unpacking when you get home can be a unique challenge. You can easily end up bringing home bugs, dirt, and items tainted with hard-to-remove smells and stains. If you’re hoping to avoid bringing home these less-than-pleasant souvenirs from your camping trip, learn the best solutions for getting rid of them.
Sweat Stains and Odors
That hike sure offered some astounding views for you to soak up, but if your shirt and shorts did a little soaking up of their own, you might be afraid these clothes are ruined forever. Fortunately, you can remove sweat stains without harsh chemicals that could damage the fabric. Try these two methods:
- Baking soda paste: Start with a pre-wash treatment to remove visible sweat stains. Simply make a paste with water and baking soda, apply it to the stained area, and let it sit for 20 minutes.
- White vinegar wash: To get the sweat smell out of your clothes, toss pre-treated items into the washer with a normal amount of laundry soap plus a cup of vinegar. Everything in the batch should come out smelling extra fresh, with no sign of camping odors remaining.
Mold on Tents and Camping Equipment
If you were caught in a surprise downpour on your camping trip, you probably hunkered down in the tent until the damp weather passed. You may have come out of the storm unscathed, but an unpleasant musty, stale odor might now linger on your tent and other equipment.
The solution is Concrobium Mold Control. Spray the moldy area and allow it to dry completely. This destroys mold spores at the root and removes existing mold from the surface. Scrub the tent with a cloth dampened with Concrobium Mold Control to remove any residual mold. Then reapply a final layer and allow it to dry as a preventative measure against future mold growth.
Campfire Smoke
Some of your best memories from your camping trip probably revolve around the time you spent roasting marshmallows or telling stories by the campfire. The sight and sound of a crackling fire are well worth the smoky smell lingering on your hair and clothes, but now that you’re home, you must face the reality that everything smells like smoke.
It’s easy to wash your hair and put your clothes into the washing machine, but what about sleeping bags, air mattresses, camping chairs, and backpacks? Getting the smoky smell out of these items is easier than you think.
Drape the affected items over the shower curtain rod, or simply set them up on the bathroom floor in the case of camping chairs. Then fill the bathtub with steaming hot water. Shut off the water and pour four cups of white vinegar into the tub. Close the bathroom door and let the fumes work their magic for 10 minutes. When you return, most of the smoky odor should be gone – though you might want to run the exhaust fan for a while to remove the vinegar smell.
Urine Stains and Odors
You may not want to admit it, but roughing it means using makeshift restroom facilities. Much to your dismay, bodily fluids could end up on your clothes or camping gear. To avoid throwing these items away, you need odor-removal tricks that work.
- DIY method: To make your urine stain remover, combine 10 ounces of hydrogen peroxide, 3 tablespoons of baking soda, and a drop or two of dish soap in a spray bottle. Spray the affected area with this solution and let it sit for an hour to work out the stain and remove the odor.
- Store-bought method: Manufacturers sell products specifically designed to remove urine from carpets and fabrics. Options include Nature’s Miracle, DP, OdorZyme, and others. Follow the manufacturer’s directions, which might include saturating the affected area with the stain remover, allowing it to sit, and rinsing or washing the item as usual.
Odor and Stain Removal Services
If you need help removing odors and stains lingering from your camping trip, count on Rainbow Restoration® for odor removal and stain removal services. We can clean up clothing, carpet, rugs, bedding, upholstery and more!
For Further Reading:
How Long Should Cleaning Supplies Last
Campfire Safety: Are You Part of the Problem?
