Washing Camo

john007

john007

New member
I posted this on another forum but got no response . Is there a a certain brand of detergent that kills UV brighteners? I have seen some say that it contains no UV brighteners but does it kill it too. Do you wash your snow camo in the same detergent?
 
I use Scent-A-Way Odorless Laundry Detergent. I'm assuming it works because I've had several species of animals within feet of me the last 3 or so years. And yes, I wash my snow camo in it too.

Does it "kill" UV brighteners? No.

There's a product that claims to "kill" UV brighteners but I'm still on the fence about that claim (Atsko UV-Killer).

The only reason I am on the fence about it is because it seems only one company makes it. Usually when stuff works, you'll find several other companies hop on board and claim theirs works better then company x's (i.e. scent killers).

This probably hasn't helped you one bit so I'll stop rambling now...
 
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I also use what CC has...My Scent-A-Way Detergent states No UV Brighteners,now my Dead down Wind ScentPrevent Laundry Detergent states it has a UV Inhibitor and it won't fade out Camo Clothes.



I do believe that some Clothes need the UV-Killer because I have checked my trail camera several times right after dark and the IR trail camera's have shown some of my Hunting Clothes were almost white in color since they were so bright and some of my other Hunting Clothes were dark in color?I would never have thought a difference in Clothes could show up that much?
 
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Originally Posted By: GTOHunterI do believe that some Clothes need the UV-Killer because I have checked my trail camera several times right after dark and the IR trail camera's have shown some of my Hunting Clothes were almost white in color since they were so bright and some of my other Hunting Clothes were dark in color?

Hey GTO,

Are the clothes that came up dark a different brand than the ones that showed up white? I know the quality of the camo plays a role in the UV brightener debate. They say (the WWW that is) that some fabric sticks out like a sore thumb (using pretreated fabric (bulk) loaded w/brighteners) and others are made with less UV brighteners and won’t glow.

Just curious. Thanks,
 
Originally Posted By: john007So the Dead Down Wind states it kills it ? I will check it out.

John,

Don't fall into the marketing trap. "Inhibit (Dead Down Wind)" "contains no UV brighteners (Scent Away, Wildlife Research, Scent Shield, Lethal)" "does not contain any UV enhancers (Primos)" "free of U.V. blockers (Code Blue)"

The list goes on. I haven't found any laundry detergent that states it "kills, removes, etc." UV brighteners.
 
Well the small Gear pouch I had on was a different material and showed up as a very bright white and the Newer Natural Gear Archery Coat was a different type of material and was also Bright White too...then the Natural Gear 6-pocket Pants and the NG long sleeve Shirt were the same type of material and they didn't show up like the other Clothes did,and they were older and used for several Seasons?


I don't think I have washed my Natural Gear Light weight Archery jacket that much....I need to hit it a few more times in the wash...I just don't use it that much until it gets a little cooler when I Bow Hunt in Oct or Nov,then if it gets colder I go with my heavier Winter Coat that is actually more Quieter!

I would never had known there was a difference in the Clothes Brightness if I hadn't gotten a few pictures at night by my Moultrie IR Camera's...my BIL also had different brands/types of Camo Clothes on and it showed the differences in each one too.
 
Originally Posted By: Carcass Collectors Originally Posted By: john007So the Dead Down Wind states it kills it ? I will check it out.

John,

Don't fall into the marketing trap. "Inhibit (Dead Down Wind)" "contains no UV brighteners (Scent Away, Wildlife Research, Scent Shield, Lethal)" "does not contain any UV enhancers (Primos)" "free of U.V. blockers (Code Blue)"

The list goes on. I haven't found any laundry detergent that states it "kills, removes, etc." UV brighteners.



I've personally seen the difference with clothes washed with dead down wind products and your run of the mill everyday detergent under black lights. To each his own
 
There's one Brand out there on the Market that does in fact state UK-Killer,and as stated it may make a difference and it may not?Heck look at those new Ozonic Scent Killer machines....there's so many gimics out there that You don't know who to believe?


Main thing is...I always shower down with scent-free soap as well as washing my Hunting Clothes in the Scent-free detergent and then hang dry outside or use the H.S. earth scent dryer sheets then I keep my Clothes outside and spray down with Scent-Killer spray and wear rubber boots when out Hunting.
 
Originally Posted By: john007So the Dead Down Wind states it kills it ? I will check it out.
I even had the Pres of DDW call me about his product. DDW DOES NOT remove/kill any would be UV brighteners that are already in fabric. It just does not add any more. IMO..a little false advertising?
Gregory
 
The best way to see if it works is get a black in a dark room. I only use name brand detergents with no dyes or perfume, in my opinion the the name brand companies have more to lose if they lie.
 
The IR trail cam is not going to be a good test. We're talking about UV brighteners and the trail cam is looking for the exact opposite of the light spectrum.

The difference you see on the trail cam is in how transparent the dyes on your gear are to IR light and how reflective the material is.

I'm not sure on the science, but ATSKO also states that strong sunlight will also deplete the UV brighteners in any given piece of fabric. They say their product kills it off if your detergents add more. Black light is supposed to be the way to test for the presence of UV brighteners.

There are lots of "all natural" detergents that do not add UV brighteners. Not all of the major brand "free and clear" type detergents do away with the brighteners, either. ya' gotta read the labels pretty carefully.
 
Washing camo:
Run a rinse cycle on your washing machine before washing your camo.

Wash your camo with no detergent in cold water. I will use Scent Away detergent if they are really dirty or bloody.

Hang to dry outside if possible.

Place in closet or other area away from clothes washed with detergent and dried with fabric softener.

I have done this for years and have had animals within a few feet of me numerous times including coyotes.
 


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