DIY Network

Outdoor Recreation Outdoor Recreation From "Talking Dirty With the Queen of Clean" episode DQOC-135

Figure A

When you think of cleaning, you typically think of dusting, vacuuming, washing dishes and doing laundry. But at some point everything has to be cleaned, and if you are into outdoor activities, what you have to clean can be as big as a boat or as small as a water bottle (figure A). Today we're cleaning the gear you use to have fun outdoors.

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Figure B

But first, a few questions (figure B):

Q: What's the best way to clean out window tracks?

A: Pull fine (0000) steel wool along the track; it cleans out the space and helps the window move easier in the track.

Q: How do you remove soot from the bricks surrounding the fireplace?

A: Buy a soot-and-dirt-remover sponge, which looks like a big eraser. Use it dry to remove dirt and soot. Never try to remove soot with water: water will set the stains.

Q: Can you dye faded areas on denim clothing?

A: It's not a good idea to dye denim. Instead, try washing faded denim with new denim. The older denim will pick up the dye washing out of the new denim.

Cleaning Camping Gear

	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

• Clean the tent while it's still set up. Brush and shake off debris, inside and out (figure C).

• Clean with a brush, warm water and a laundry bar soap such as Fels-Naptha (figure D). After rinsing, let the tent thoroughly dry before putting it away for an extended period of time.

• Remove mold or mildew with undiluted lemon juice; the citric acid from the lemons is a natural bleach. Leave the tent in the sun to accelerate the bleaching process. Rinse and allow to dry.

• Loosen stubborn zippers by rubbing with wax, such as candle or paraffin, or spraying with silicone spray (figure E).

Tip: Make waterproof matches by dipping the head and part of the matchstick in candle wax.