Cleaning a pack

[B Deleted_Beck]

I've never cleaned a pack before... I guess I've never had one get so stinky before. My Khamsin is fappin' nasty- crusty food and Rockstar spills, dirt and sap, bro's stale smoke, and worse, the straps smell like some killer BO- something I've not had happen on other packs. Straight up smells like a bum, sitting in my office/gear room.

 

I'm thinking about trying to take the frame out and throwing it in the washing machine with the Dawn Pure soap I use to wash all my other gear.. Any reason that wouldn't work? Is there a better way? What do you do? Arc'Teryx, as we all know, is proud of their shit- don't want to have to replace it any time soon.

 

Thanks

[B Deleted_Beck]

I just noticed that the waterproofing on the inside of the nylon seems to be degrading and is patchy... Seems like perhaps a hand-scrub in the bathtub would be a better option...?

[rob]

Don't do either, just get some of this stuff and soak it in your bathtub. Don't even need to rinse.

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009RRTO4/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i01

[Le Piston]

Welcome to my world...I usually take my pack in the back yard (my wife don't want it smelling up the house post climbing trip) grab the hose, some liquid soap, a sponge and scrub away. Then its rinse with the hose and air dry. Smells good again. I've never tried the stuff rob mentioned, but it sounds like just the thing for multiday stank.

[rob]

wait, should it be: "don't do either," or "do neither?"

 

hmm. "either or, neither nor"

[B Deleted_Beck]

Anybody ever tried to DWR or Scotchguard a pack? This deterioration of the waterproof membrane is really disappointing

 

[Buckaroo]

I remove the frame stays, turn the pack inside out and put it in the washer with everything else. No special soap. Those that won't turn inside out cinch up the straps real tight and tie the loose ends so they won't get caught on the agitator.

 

Once the water proof coating wears off the inside it's time for a new pack

[B Deleted_Beck]

Once the water proof coating wears off the inside it's time for a new pack

 

I need this one to last one more winter... I'm currently making less than half of what I was making 10 years ago.

[Buckaroo]

Just hike with a rain fly cover. Or pack the stuff that can't get wet in Sil stuff sacks.

 

Low budget for when it's really raining just line it with a Hefty garbage bag

[Luzak00]

Anybody ever tried to DWR or Scotchguard a pack? This deterioration of the waterproof membrane is really disappointing

 

Packs don't have waterproof membranes, rather it's usually a waterproof coating (most often, polyurethane). Applying DWR to a pack helps a little, but in my experience not much.

 

A waterproof liner bag is much lighter and significantly simpler than a bunch of waterproof roll-top bags.

[B Deleted_Beck]

By "membrane," I just meant whatever the filmy coating is inside there.

 

I'll spray the pack down with DWR... I already use water-proofed stuff sacks for everything, so I guess it's not that big o deal. But I've had all my shit get soaked with leaky packs- one of the thing I've been really impressed with Deadbird packs is that they actually do seem to stay dry. Guess I'll go back to tactics of the past.

Edited August 27, 2012 by Ben B.

[CaleHoopes]

I always take the approach that the pack is never waterproof - so if I think the weather warrants it, it all gets stuffed in a garbage bag as a pack liner inside the pack. Never thought of DWR on my pack...

[RafalA]

There are some waterproof packs out there, all the others are just water resistant.

 

For DWR, I'd try washing it with the same stuff as Gore-Tex jackets - the DWR renewal wash stuff.

 

Otherwise, I'd probably wash it in the machine (in a large cloth bag to prevent the straps from tangling) with some mild detergent.

 

Or, you could always write Arcteryx and see what they recommend...

[G-spotter]

I've never cleaned a pack before... I guess I've never had one get so stinky before. My Khamsin is fappin' nasty- crusty food and Rockstar spills, dirt and sap, bro's stale smoke, and worse, the straps smell like some killer BO- something I've not had happen on other packs. Straight up smells like a bum, sitting in my office/gear room.

 

I'm thinking about trying to take the frame out and throwing it in the washing machine with the Dawn Pure soap I use to wash all my other gear.. Any reason that wouldn't work? Is there a better way? What do you do? Arc'Teryx, as we all know, is proud of their shit- don't want to have to replace it any time soon.

 

Thanks

 

Front load washing machine with wash-cycle or dryer-cycle DWR. That's what arcTeryx uses.

[DavidW]

I've just taken mine to the Brown Bear car wash and blasted the crud out of it along with my floor mats... worked great!

[pms]

I've just taken mine to the Brown Bear car wash and blasted the crud out of it along with my floor mats... worked great!

 

That's not how Arcteryx does it

[tvashtarkatena]

Cilogear employs a team of extremely hygienic kittens to gently lap the dirt off your pack.