KEEP GEAR IN SHAPE.Byline: Bill Schulz Bill Schulz is a regular panelist, writer, and producer on Fox News Channel's late night show, Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld since its debut on February 5, 2007. Schulz is also a freelance writer and a former senior editor of Stuff Magazine. Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. A little maintenance in the spring will prevent your waterproof tent or parka from putting a damper damp·er n. 1. One that deadens, restrains, or depresses: Rain put a damper on our picnic plans. 2. An adjustable plate, as in the flue of a furnace or stove, for controlling the draft. on a summer outing. If not checked before being taken into the field, broken backpacks, leaky tents or smelly sleeping bags can spoil an outdoors experience. Something as simple as a worn pair of boot laces can ruin a trip. Probably the most important piece of gear is the tent. If tents aren't dried thoroughly before being put away, they could develop mildew mildew, name for certain fungi and protists, for the diseases they cause in various crops, and for the discoloration (and sometimes the weakening and disintegration) they cause in such materials as leather, fabrics, and paper. in damp folds. ``One of the nasty things mildew will do is creep between the nylon and the waterproof coating on the nylon, then it's almost impossible to get out,'' said Chris Harges of a major sporting goods Noun 1. sporting goods - sports equipment sold as a commodity commodity, trade good, good - articles of commerce sports equipment - equipment needed to participate in a particular sport supplier. Before camping, a tent can be cleaned by setting it up in the yard and washing it with a nylon brush and mild detergent, Harges said. If the tent is mildewed, he recommends mixing a capful of bleach to a gallon of warm water and lightly scrubbing the spots. The area should be rinsed immediately and allowed to dry. If a tent has lost its waterproofing, the floor and fly - an outer tarp designed to keep rain off the tent - can be recoated with a water-resistant spray or wipe-on waterproofing agent. A fresh coat of sealant Sealant A thin plastic substance that is painted over teeth as an anti-cavity measure to seal out food particles and acids produced by bacteria. Mentioned in: Tooth Decay sealant see bone sealant. can be applied to seams. ``Another good tip on tents is to never fold them up the same way twice,'' Harges said. ``Heavy creases will break down the integrity of the fabric.'' If a sleeping bag has gotten musty over the winter, a washing will restore it. Down bags can be washed with cold water and a mild powder detergent in a front-loading washer. The bag should be dried on low heat with a few tennis balls or a sneaker to fluff the bag and separate the down quills. Synthetic bags can be washed the same way and can be line-dried. The best way to store sleeping bags is in a big paper or cloth sack in a dry place. Harges warns against compressing them during storage. If a Gore-Tex jacket isn't as waterproof as it used to be, it can be put in the drier at low heat to draw out the durable water repellent DWR (Durable Water Repellent) is a coating added to fabrics to make them water-resistant. Durable water repellents are often used in conjunction with waterproof breathable fabrics such as Gore-Tex to prevent the outer layer of a laminated waterproof breathable from becoming . Harges recommended one of the many waterproofing-breathability treatments on the market for prolonging the life of Gore-Tex garments. Waterproof-breathable garments can be washed using a mild powdered detergent, but no bleach. Worn-out soles of hiking boots can be replaced. |
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