Cleaning, Repairing and Organizing Your Gear

Keep your gear in top condition with our expert tips on cleaning, repairing, and organizing.

2023-04-11

With spring-cleaning time, there’s no better time to clean out and organize all your outdoor gear stowed away in your garage or storage. Our gear was built to be used, and let’s be honest, after a few trips of heavy wear and tear, it can start to stink or break down. Throwing all your gear into the wash isn’t really an option, so we’ve put together our favorite tips and tricks to help you organize and clean out your supplies!

Inventory:

Unpack and Lay Out: Depending on how thorough you want to be, create a spreadsheet with all your gear, including columns for weight, date purchased, condition, and any other notes you'd like to add.
Group Items: Organize your items into groups such as “car camping gear,” “backpacking gear,” or “climbing gear.” For even deeper categorization, consider groups like “sleep system,” “cooking,” “luxuries,” and “essentials.”
Assess Gear: Laying out all your gear allows you to see everything you have, making it easier to identify items that are missing, damaged, in need of repair, disposal, or cleaning.

Cleaning:

Hand Wash: Clean all pots, containers, and utensils from your cooking supplies. Check through all spice containers and restock anything that appears low, such as soap, spices, and kindling supplies. This is also a great time to restock your fuel containers.
Vacuum: Start by vacuuming all large bags, tents, and sleeping bags. Shake out and vacuum every nook and cranny in your tents, sleeping bags, and backpacks. The suction can help remove deeply ingrained dust and debris from the fabric as an initial cleaning step.
Air Out: Some items can benefit from simply airing out for a bit.
Deep Clean: Create a cleaning mixture of delicate clothes detergent, baking soda and water to clean out stains and dirty areas. Gather a few tools such as a rag, a sponge, and both large and small brushes to reach every nook and crevice. Rinse with warm water and always let items air dry.

Upkeep:

Assess and Note: While going through your gear, make note of any supplies that need to be repaired or items you would like to donate.
Repair and Improve: Take the time to make repairs or improvements, such as waterproofing.
Order Replacements: If needed, order replacement parts. It is always best to try and fix what you have before buying a new product. At GSI, we have a generous spare-part policy; and would be happy to help with any needed GSI spare parts or fixes. Many outdoor companies have similar policies to keep old gear out of landfills.

Honing Skills or Learning New Ones:

Practice Packing: Now is a great time to practice packing, unpacking, and repacking your pack or car camping totes.
Set Up Camp: Set up camp in your home or backyard. Sleep in it, cook on it, and live in it. This is a good way to ensure everything is in working order and find ways to improve your techniques.
Learn New Skills: Practice reading maps, wayfinding, star chart reading, tying knots, and starting a fire (safely, of course). Additionally, learn about foraging, first aid, and other survival tactics.

Storage:

Clean and Dry: Always make sure to store your gear in a clean, dry and temperate area. Avoid exposing your supplies to strong sunlight, heat, or humidity, as these can damage the materials.
Organize by Group: Organize your gear before storing it. Keep all groups within their designated space, such as camping gear together and climbing gear together.
Create a System: Develop a system to help you remember where you put your items. Label bins or shelves and maintain an inventory list to make locating your gear easier.