How do you wash your activated carbon clothing?

[gf319804]

I was just kind of wondering how the people that use Scent Lok or Scent Blocker, go about washing their clothing? What type of detergent do you use? Do you hang dry your clothes first, then throw them in the dryer? If you can't tell, I'm trying these products out this year, and was wondering what the most effective washing method might be.

[Buckfever4life]

You are only supposed to wash them if they really get soiled. I use Scent-Lok Carbon Wash and then put them into the dryer. You can throw your carbon clothing in the dryer for 20-30 min and then immediately into an air tight bag/container to re-activate the clothing. Look at your tag and see what your clothing recommends. I am going by what my Savannah Scent-Lok Coveralls recommends.

[swantucky]

I use the carbon wash also. I wash them through them in a scentfree dryer and put them in the plastic tote. I will not wash them agian until I get them all bloody or after muzzleloader season.

[bowhunter1023]

That's it. I am never giving you advice again! Aparently what I have to say isn't good enough.

I wash mine in carbon wash or my sportsmans wash if I am out of the carbon wash. Hang dry them. Then activate them 20-30 minutes in the dryer. Then in the bag. I washed them once a month last year.

[gf319804]

Bowhunter1234567890, you are such a sour grape.What I was aiming for was the type of detergent used, and if ppl hung their stuff out to dry, then throw it in the dryer, or if they just went from wash to dry.Seriously 1023, one day we will fight to the death, and I will win... :)

[Flippin 416]

This is the first year I have washed mine....I got them during late season last year.. I hand washed them using the soap that Scent Blocker puts out that is made for carbon clothing. Then I hung them to dry outside. After they were dry I tossed them into the drier for 30 minutes....hung them up and sprayed them down with Carbon Blast then stuffed them into the Scent Blocker carbon bag. I think I am good to go...lol

[bowhunter1023]

Bowhunter1234567890, you are such a sour grape.What I was aiming for was the type of detergent used, and if ppl hung their stuff out to dry, then throw it in the dryer, or if they just went from wash to dry.Seriously 1023, one day we will fight to the death, and I will win... :)

I'm going to fart in the bag you keep those clothes in and seal them up real tight. You'll have no choice but to take up snipe hunting again :D

[gf319804]

I'm going to fart in the bag you keep those clothes in and seal them up real tight. You'll have no choice but to take up snipe hunting again :D

Guess we'll find out just how good this Scent Blocker stuff works...

[ashman964]

Got my scent lok stuff last month???To activate it you throw it in the dryer for 20-30 minutes then straight in to a carbon bag????\

where do you get the carbon bags and carbon wash?

Also, is the scentlok face mask cover worth spending the money on?

[bowhunter1023]

Got my scent lok stuff last month???To activate it you throw it in the dryer for 20-30 minutes then straight in to a carbon bag????\

where do you get the carbon bags and carbon wash?

Also, is the scentlok face mask cover worth spending the money on?

I buy the new Ziplock XXL bags. And Wally World usually has the wash. Or Gander, or Bass Pro Mart, or Belas.

I have the facemask and I can't wear them because they are too hot. I like a light mask. I have a fleece one I can wear when its real cold, but if it is above 30, I have a hard time wearing them.

[swantucky]

[QUOTE=ashman964;211345

Also, is the scentlok face mask cover worth spending the money on?[/QUOTE]
I bought the mask 8 years ago and have not worn it yet. I think a mask can change your anchor point too much so I don' t like to wear them.

[ron]

ashman...If I was to buy one piece of scentlock clothing, it would be one of the head covers. I know they are kinda heavy and may be too warm in early bowseason. I always wear one in November, and you may have to get used to shooting while wearing one.

[Flippin 416]

I wouldn't like the face mask either...it throws off the anchor point too much as Swantucky mentioned. I either use the camo face paint or go without anything at all.

[trkyslyr]

Carbon wash, and carbon sprays are a complete gimmick. Activated Carbon loses all ability to capture scent when it is wet. This is not to say that the carbon sprays do not contain other ingredients that are worthwhile, but the activated carbon itself is utterly useless in this application.

As far as the carbon clothing is concerned, it is awesome for a while, but eventually the carbon particulates absorb their limit, and do not work any longer. The only wasy to re-activate carbon is with heat (300-400 degrees). This is far above any dryer that anyone has. After a few days of wear, the garment is rendered basically useless (as far as the carbon). I do use scent lock clothing, but I did not do my research prior to spending all that money. Your best bet is to use body wash products that eliminate scent, and liberally use a scent spray that uses other scent-elimination methods other than carbon.

[Buckfever4life]

As far as the carbon clothing is concerned, it is awesome for a while, but eventually the carbon particulates absorb their limit, and do not work any longer. The only wasy to re-activate carbon is with heat (300-400 degrees). This is far above any dryer that anyone has. After a few days of wear, the garment is rendered basically useless (as far as the carbon).


hence the pending lawsuit against ScentBlocker?

[creekchub]

i have researched this stuff and i have come up with the fact that it takes well over 400 degrees f to activate the suits. so if i were to purchase some activated carbon suits i would go to an army surplus shop and get a MOP suit used for chemical warfare they have much more carbon in the suits and less expensive as well!!!!!
one other thing no matter what you wear you still need to pay attention to the wind and have it to your advantage!!!

[Monroe]

so put them in the oven... I am going to bake mine tonight - do you think my wife will mind?

Monroe

[creekchub]

do not put them in the oven!!!!!! they claim a cloths dryer will do the the trick, "my stance is that they cannot be reactivated by this process". so in other words they are a gimmick and just that. save yourself some money and use the wind to your advantage and scent free soap when showering! if you must buy this type of clothing, save yourself some money and get a military MOP suit at the army surplus store

[deerhunt45]

Wow. Everybody and his brother has an expert opinion about carbon suits now :whistle: :irked: I think for every hunter who claims they are a gimmick, you will have at least one hunter say it can be a valuable and viable tool in his arsenal.

Don't wash your carbon clothing any more than necessary. You can definitely wash the carbon out of the fabric. Monroe, I definitely wouldn't put them in the oven :yikes: ;)

Put them in the clothes dryer on highest possible heat for 40 minutes at least. Before the naysayers chime in, I know "the experts" say you need 200 to 400 degrees F to completely reactivate activated carbon. That said, a good heavy duty clothes dryer temperature will reactive what's in the fabric to some extent each time. Yes, the effectiveness of the suit gets less and less over time. That's why I try to get a new outer layer suit every two seasons with a new headcover. If you don't buy anything else get a new headcover every couple seasons.

I would say I spend near the average time on stand bowhunting as the next guy and that is the only time I wear my outer suit, when I'm in the field hunting. The rest of the time it remains sealed in large ziplock plastic bag and inside another airtight container. The stuff works when used properly...just like any other tools of the trade. Sure, if you buy them and leave them hang in your truck or garage, they are not going to last or be effective for long. I would add that IMO the clothing has quality, comfort and hunter funtionality built into it with courteous customer service!! and some great camo patterns to boot!!!

I will testify to that, as will many other hunters who use it.
So every two years, I like to get a new outer layer of Scentlok and cycle my "spent" carbon clothes into the "scent smoker" pile. I now have a personal system and the clothes to utilize the best of both worlds when I choose. After 3 years or more I have either worn out the garments or out grown them anyways. What's all the "stink" about :confused:

[mrex]

I wash my carbon clothes in cold water.

About 12 years ago I walked past a booth at the AMO trade show where a company called ALS Enterprises was marketing a new scent eliminating product. A guy by the name of Greg Sesselman offered to show me a demonstration of how their product worked and I agreed. He sprayed both of my forearms with a very strong after shave, I think it was aquavelva. He covered my left arm with a swath of denim and asked me if I could smell the after shave through the material and I could very easily. He then covered my right arm with a piece of carbon lined material and I couldn't smell anything. Later that year I bought a scentlok liner (they didn't make camo at the time) and tried the same field test at my home. The result was the same. At that time, I kept a detailed log of all my bowhunts and the following fall, my number of deer sightings increased dramatically from the same stands I'd been hunting for the previous 10 years. Especially bucks within bow range.

Our sense of smell is measured in parts per thousand. A whitetail deer smells in parts per million. If your breathing, your giving off human odor and I believe that completely fooling a mature deer's nose is not possible. However, I am convinced that carbon lined clothing reduces the emission of offensive odors enough that they have to be closer to the source to be alarmed.

How long a suites effectiveness lasts? I couldn't tell you, I buy new stuff every year. Will it reactivate in your clothes dryer? I don't know the answer to that either. I am, however, 100% convinced that it helps me get closer to the deer I'm trying to kill.

[deerhunt45]

Will it reactivate in your clothes dryer? I don't know the answer to that either. I am, however, 100% convinced that it helps me get closer to the deer I'm trying to kill.

That right there mirrors what I can testify to. I am 100% convinced it helps me get deer closer and to see deer I might not see at all.

mrex, you get a new suit every year and probably spend much more time in the deer woods than the "average" hunter. Correct me on that if you thing I'm wrong. Kinda falls in line with what I said in my previous post, the more you use it, the faster the tool wears out.

[Yeley0437]

Wow. Everybody and his brother has an expert opinion about carbon suits now :whistle: :irked: I think for every hunter who claims they are a gimmick, you will have at least one hunter say it can be a valuable and viable tool in his arsenal.

Don't wash your carbon clothing any more than necessary. You can definitely wash the carbon out of the fabric. Monroe, I definitely wouldn't put them in the oven :yikes: ;)

Put them in the clothes dryer on highest possible heat for 40 minutes at least. Before the naysayers chime in, I know "the experts" say you need 200 to 400 degrees F to completely reactivate activated carbon. That said, a good heavy duty clothes dryer temperature will reactive what's in the fabric to some extent each time. Yes, the effectiveness of the suit gets less and less over time. That's why I try to get a new outer layer suit every two seasons with a new headcover. If you don't buy anything else get a new headcover every couple seasons.

I would say I spend near the average time on stand bowhunting as the next guy and that is the only time I wear my outer suit, when I'm in the field hunting. The rest of the time it remains sealed in large ziplock plastic bag and inside another airtight container. The stuff works when used properly...just like any other tools of the trade. Sure, if you buy them and leave them hang in your truck or garage, they are not going to last or be effective for long. I would add that IMO the clothing has quality, comfort and hunter funtionality built into it with courteous customer service!! and some great camo patterns to boot!!!

I will testify to that, as will many other hunters who use it.
So every two years, I like to get a new outer layer of Scentlok and cycle my "spent" carbon clothes into the "scent smoker" pile. I now have a personal system and the clothes to utilize the best of both worlds when I choose. After 3 years or more I have either worn out the garments or out grown them anyways. What's all the "stink" about :confused:


well said :coolgleamA: