Cleaning playa clothes?

Talk about your camp or project's LNT plans (and MOOP problems) here. Discuss cleanup tips. Ask questions or share ideas on what works and what doesn't.
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twang2000
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Cleaning playa clothes?

Post by twang2000 » Sat Sep 12, 2009 4:38 pm

Some where I think I read, do presoak in vinagar, before washing in the machine? Am I on the right track?

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pandasex
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Post by pandasex » Sat Sep 12, 2009 4:54 pm

your supposed to clean them???

:shock:

i think that s what got me through to next year. Rolling in its playa goodness :oops:
I have post playa depression :(

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geospyder
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Post by geospyder » Sat Sep 12, 2009 5:19 pm

We shook them out, let them sit through an extra long soak cycle and then washed as normal. I was surprised, even the socks came out clean.
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Elorrum
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Post by Elorrum » Sat Sep 12, 2009 5:25 pm

I've never used the vinegar trick. washing as regular after a good shake out. My clothes came out fine from regular laundry. today I have all my bags, cot, table, chairs, tarps, packs, shoes, all layed out in my sister's back yard, drying out after good soaks and rinses. It looks like an exploded campground. Everything may maintain a faint gray tinge, but they aren't dusty dirty now. Next up for cleaning is the tent and then the car. I think I'll try the leaf blower on both before I attempt any washing. She picked a perfect week to go on vacation and ask me to house sit. :D

twang2000
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Post by twang2000 » Sat Sep 12, 2009 6:19 pm

I have the same exploded campground in my front yard.

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penguin
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Post by penguin » Sat Sep 12, 2009 6:36 pm

Elorrum wrote:Next up for cleaning is the tent and then the car. I think I'll try the leaf blower on both before I attempt any washing. She picked a perfect week to go on vacation and ask me to house sit. :D
I tried the leaf blower on the truck -- didn't seem to help much (at least not on the interior) and after 2 trips to the car wash it's only got a slight tinge left on the exterior :lol:

DoctorIknow
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Post by DoctorIknow » Sat Sep 12, 2009 6:40 pm

The $99 pressure washer at Harbor Freight Tools has been working overtime: chairs, gerry cans, tent, underside and all of van, ladders, coolers, flags, kiddie pool, etc... If you get one, get the 2 year replacement plan for $20 'cause the thing is Chinese cheap...works great while it works, but I've gone thru two units in two years LOL... says it's 1600psi, which it might be 'cause the nozzel diameter is so small....

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phil
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Post by phil » Sat Sep 12, 2009 8:53 pm

We just run all our clothes through a regular (but longer than normal) wash. I wouldn't want to wash my clothes in vinegar, but I'm sure that adds some level of comfort to those that want it.

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gypsy68
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Post by gypsy68 » Sat Sep 12, 2009 9:41 pm

I go to the laundromat for the first wash of my clothes. I usually just do a white wine vinegar wash. Then I wash them again, with regular laundry soap at home. My roommate would kill me if I let my playa dust covered clothes soak in her washing machine.

dust devil
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Post by dust devil » Sun Sep 13, 2009 12:09 am

I put a half-cup of white vinegar in the "bleach" holder (but no bleach!) and run my clothes through the washing machine with the usual detergent. The final rinse takes out both the vinegar and the dust.
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AntiM
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Post by AntiM » Sun Sep 13, 2009 7:42 am

I do the same as Dust Devil, white vinegar in the bleach cup. It is what cuts that "tinge".

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Ugly Dougly
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Post by Ugly Dougly » Sun Sep 13, 2009 9:41 am

twang2000 wrote:I have the same exploded campground in my front yard.
8)

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mdmf007
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Post by mdmf007 » Sun Sep 13, 2009 5:34 pm

I wash them seperately, fold neatly and put back in their home - a tub in the garage labaled "BM Clothing" They sit there patiently waiting for next year.

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OnceTheDustClears
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Post by OnceTheDustClears » Sun Sep 13, 2009 5:39 pm

I just shake them hard to free all the loose dust and then wash as usual.
Never had a problem.

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theCryptofishist
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Post by theCryptofishist » Sun Sep 13, 2009 8:01 pm

Okay, my Jiffy Lube shirt was worn on the playa last year, washed without proper precautions, and now has splotches of ecru. Any hope, or is the playa dust "set."
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klondike_bar
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Post by klondike_bar » Tue Sep 15, 2009 2:50 pm

I had no trouble in washing my dusty gear. i added about a cup of vinegar in with the detergent, and everything came out dust-free.

however, i made the "mistake" of demonstrating the amount of dust on everything to my roomates by giving a pair of jeans a light shake. now theres a small sanddune on the carpet. :roll:

Orphan Luna
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Post by Orphan Luna » Wed Sep 16, 2009 11:05 pm

mdmf007 wrote:I wash them seperately, fold neatly and put back in their home - a tub in the garage labaled "BM Clothing" They sit there patiently waiting for next year.
:wink: Me likes this. Think I'll mimic your good idea.

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gyre
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Post by gyre » Thu Sep 17, 2009 1:06 am

theCryptofishist wrote:Okay, my Jiffy Lube shirt was worn on the playa last year, washed without proper precautions, and now has splotches of ecru. Any hope, or is the playa dust "set."
I only had trouble with one shirt once and the damage seemed to be done on the playa, not in the wash.
Some dyes, maybe.

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C.f.M.
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Post by C.f.M. » Sun Sep 20, 2009 5:57 am

I didn't even shake mine. Just dumped it all in the washer per usual and it came out fine.

Now, my boots, on the other hand...haven't tackled those, yet.

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Ugly Dougly
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Post by Ugly Dougly » Sun Sep 20, 2009 9:13 am

theCryptofishist wrote:Okay, my Jiffy Lube shirt was worn on the playa last year, washed without proper precautions, and now has splotches of ecru. Any hope, or is the playa dust "set."
Ecru? Is that what they call it? :twisted:

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Sail Man
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Post by Sail Man » Sun Sep 20, 2009 4:33 pm

penguin wrote:
Elorrum wrote:Next up for cleaning is the tent and then the car. I think I'll try the leaf blower on both before I attempt any washing. She picked a perfect week to go on vacation and ask me to house sit. :D
I tried the leaf blower on the truck -- didn't seem to help much (at least not on the interior) and after 2 trips to the car wash it's only got a slight tinge left on the exterior :lol:
Didnt work in my camper either but it made the CO detector sound off rather nicely. Also learned how to get the camper stuck inside the large bay at the local car wash. The guy who sent the wrecker out just had to come for a looksy himself. Guess its not the usual type of call they get. :lol:
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