By Taking care of your foul-weather gear can seem tedious and intimidating. Still, with a few tips from the experienced product testers of Boat Parts from PartsVu, you can learn how to care for everything in your kit, whether it is your shirt, boots, or hat. This guide will teach you how to extend your lifespan and maintain your gear through the Winter months.
Winterizing a Rain Jacket
If you don’t already have a rain jacket, we suggest you pick one up before winter hits. They’re the perfect cold-weather accessory—lightweight, waterproof, and they keep you dry when it rains. But once the sun goes down and the temperature drops, your jacket will be useless if it hasn’t been properly winterized.
Dryers are great for drying clothes, but not jackets. If your jacket is wet, hang it up in a warm place with plenty of air circulation for about 24 hours. If it’s still damp after that period, repeat the process until it’s scorched.
If your jacket isn’t water resistant enough to repel moisture from your body during strenuous activity (like running), then consider getting a waterproof spray that’ll help keep it from absorbing water too quickly during inclement weather conditions like rain or snowfall (think: waterproofing sprays).
Winterizing Your Puffy Coat
If you live in a cold climate, your puffy coat is likely one of your most essential pieces of gear. But it can also be one of the most difficult to take care of. The good news? It’s not hard! Here’s how to winterize your puffy coat:
Step 1: Check for any damage or holes in the coat. If any exist, fix them before proceeding with further steps.
Step 2: Wash your coat using cold water and gentle detergent, then let it air naturally (no dryer).
Step 3: Once the coat is dry, stuff it with newspaper and seal it in a baggie. This will help keep moisture out when you store it over winter.
Step 4: Store the bagged-up coat at room temperature throughout winter (unless you’re storing it elsewhere).
Winterize Your Down Booties
If you’re a winter sports enthusiast, you know the pain of storing your favorite gear for the summer. It’s a bummer to leave your favorite ski boots in the garage until next year, but it’s even worse when they’re not properly stored.
Here’s how to make sure your boots are protected from moisture:
Cleaning
The most important thing is to clean your boots before storing them. This will help prevent mold from growing in the stitching and seams of your boots, which can ruin them over time. If you’ve been using them in really muddy conditions, you may also want to consider washing them before putting them away—though this is not necessary if they were only used on dry land (i.e., not covered in snow or ice).
Deodorizing
Storing damp boots can lead to mold growth and bad smells—no one wants that! To avoid this problem, make sure your boots are completely dry before storing them in a cool, dry place like an attic or basement, where they’ll be protected from heat and humidity levels fluctuating throughout different seasons (which can cause condensation).
Winterize a Clean, Dry Sleeping Bag
Step 1: Put your sleeping bag in the dryer on “low heat” for 5-10 minutes. This will help remove some of the excess water from the material, and it will also help to break up any mildew or mold that might have formed during storage.
Step 2: If you don’t have a dryer, you can hang your sleeping bag outside—preferably in the sun, but inside if there’s no sunlight available—for at least 24 hours before using it again. This will allow any remaining moisture to evaporate into the air.
Step 3: Store your sleeping bag in an airtight container to prevent mildew growth or mold formation during storage periods of more than one month. You can also store it with moth balls or cedar chips if you want extra protection against insects.
De-Winterizing Your Foul-Weather Gear
- Open up your zippers, buttons, snaps, and buckles. If you have a waterproof shell, remove it from the rest of your foul-weather gear and any liners or insulation layers.
- Hang your foul-weather gear on a clothesline or drying rack in a warm and sunny place. Make sure it’s not blocking any doors or vents, and position it so it can get plenty of air circulation around it.
- Check back periodically over the next few days to ensure that all your gear is completely dry before packing it away for the season.
Get Your Next Trip Boat Parts from PartsVu This Winter
Whether you’re an avid sailor or spend your weekends on the lake, various Boat Parts from PartsVu can help you find the boat parts you need. With our wide selection of products and competitive prices, we’re sure to have the necessary parts to make your next trip successful.
Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a day on the water. Getting out on the lake is one of life’s great pleasures—and with PartsVu, it’s easier than ever to stock up on all the essential parts for your trip boat. From starter motors to fuel pumps and more, we have everything you need to get going again when Mother Nature seems determined to keep you in port.
It’s time to get back out on the water!
