Now that skiing and snowmobiling season is over here in Salt Lake City, it’s time for your winter sports equipment to do some hibernating themselves. It’s essential to learn the right way to clean and store them. A simple scrubbing could mean a lot when it comes to your gear’s durability. Here’s what you need to do before you leave them and move onto your summer activities.
Give Your Clothes a Meticulous Wash
Your winter clothes have been through a lot during the winter season. They’ve been drenched in sweat from all the skiing and snowboarding you’ve done. They’ve had their fair share of getting hit with road salt, too. While it is challenging to wash them, especially winter coats and jackets, it’s not advisable to just hang them out to dry before you store them in your closet.
Most winter jackets are dry clean only, so it’s best to get them to a cleaner before you store them. If you’re not up to spend for this, you can always clean them in your washing machine. Just use mild detergent, cold water, and the delicate wash setting on your machine. You should machine dry your stuffed nylon jackets to make sure they stay puffy. Leave air drying to cotton and fleece coats. Once they’re completely dry, let them breathe for another day or two outside before you chuck them in the closet.
Your boots will be in dire need of a wash after months of winter sports and general use. Take off the liners and hang them to dry. If the inside of your shoe smells bad, sprinkle some baking soda in it. This powder neutralizes the odor-causing acids in your boots, leaving it smell-free. Once your liners are dry, reinsert them and buckle your boots to make sure it stays in form. Keep them in a cool, dry place.
Give Your Snowmobile a Little TLC
Your snowmobile, whether you like it or not, will be exposed to corrosion risks every time you take it out. This is because you’ll probably encounter road salt while using it. Snowmobile magazine SnowGoer says that all you need is car wax, engine degreaser, dish soap, and lubricant like WD-40 to clean your ride. The magazine suggests spraying the degreaser on the exhaust ports and other parts of the engine and rinsing them repeatedly until the water runs clean. Make sure to avoid the electrical parts when rinsing. For the exteriors, use a thick lather of soapy water to get rid of dust and grime. Use the lubricant to keep the seat covers shiny.
Once you’re done, wax the hood to make it look like new. Maintaining your snowmobile isn’t easy, but it’s worth it when you store it in the garage without worrying about rust or grime the next time you use it.
Maintain Your Skis and Snowboard
When you’re hitting the powder constantly, it only makes sense to give your skis and snowboard a nice clean before you store them. Scrub their bases to get rid of dirt and the old wax and rinse them with water. Once they’re spotless, let them air dry or pat them down with a towel. Next, coat them with hot wax. And if you really want them to be ready for the next winter season, have them tuned up before you store them in their case.
Cleaning and storing your winter gear seems like a lot of work, but it’s well worth the effort. Once the next cold season rolls around, you’ll be ready with your fresh coat and boots, well-oiled snowmobile, and properly-tuned skis/snowboard. For now, let them hibernate while you enjoy the warm weather.
