Sometimes your gear picks up stubborn grime: think grease, sunscreen, or mystery stains from the trail. This guide shows you how to spot clean using simple tools like dish soap, rubbing alcohol, and an adhesive eraser to tackle a variety of messes. Whether you're cleaning a jacket or a pack, these targeted techniques help refresh your gear and keep it looking sharp and performing well.
Dish Soap - A grease-cutting liquid dish soap is your go-to for a wide range of stains. It’s great for spot cleaning, removing oil-based stains, and tackling unknown grime.
Rubbing Alcohol - Isopropyl alcohol is a powerful degreaser that works well on surface oils and ink stains, especially when dish soap isn’t cutting it.
Adhesive Eraser - This rubbery tool lifts dry or sticky adhesive residue without damaging technical fabrics.
Dish soap breaks down oils and dirt without being harsh on fabric, making it a great catch-all when you're unsure what caused the stain.
Mix a small amount of dish soap with warm water. Use a soft brush or dish towel to gently scrub the stain. Then, throw the item in the washing machine and launder according to the tag instructions.
The pictured Synchilla® fleece had an unknown stain around the chest pocket. A quick scrub with dish soap followed by a machine wash and dry made a big difference!
Dish soap also works well as a pre-treatment for extra-dirty areas before washing.
Scrub the dirty area with a mixture of warm water and dish soap. Use a soft brush or dish towel, especially on technical fabrics like ripstop. Then, toss the item into the washing machine and launder it according to the tag instructions.
The pictured Down Sweater™ Hoody had dirty cuffs—a common issue! One cuff was pre-treated with dish soap. After machine washing, that cuff looked much cleaner than its untreated partner!
Adhesive erasers are perfect for removing sticker residue or other gunky, sticky substances.
Hold the adhesive eraser in one hand and use the other hand to create tension on the fabric. Rub the residue with the corner of the eraser to peel it away.
The pictured Torrentshell® Rain Jacket had sticker residue. A few swipes with the adhesive eraser cleaned it right up.
Rubbing alcohol can also help dissolve sticky residue. Use it in combination with the adhesive eraser for tougher messes like leftover duct tape.
