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The end of camping season always sneaks up on me. One minute, we’re roasting marshmallows and brushing pine needles out of the tent; the next, the mornings feel a little too crisp, and it’s time to pack everything away.
If you’re anything like me, “packing away” can quickly turn into a chaotic heap of half-dried gear, crumpled sleeping bags, and a faint whiff of campfire smoke that somehow lingers until spring. For years, I’d shove everything into bins and promise to sort it “later.” Spoiler: later never came.
It wasn’t until one particularly soggy spring trip — when I unrolled a tent that smelled like damp socks and defeat — that I realized: taking care of gear is part of the adventure. Keeping it clean, dry, and ready means fewer headaches, fewer replacements, and way more smooth starts to the next season.
Now, gear care has become my post-adventure ritual — slow, satisfying, and surprisingly peaceful. Here’s how I keep our family’s camping gear fresh and adventure-ready all year long.
The first step is the hardest: actually unpacking everything right when you get home. I used to leave it for the “tomorrow me” who never had the energy, but that’s how things get musty and forgotten. Now, I unload gear the same day, even if it’s just spreading it out in the garage overnight.
Anything that’s damp goes straight to the drying rack — like this mesh one from Amazon that folds flat when not in use but holds a surprising amount of stuff. Sleeping bags, rain flies, wet towels, even hiking shoes all get a spot. The key is airflow. You want everything dry before it gets tucked away, or you’ll be growing a science project in your bin by next spring.
If the weather’s nice, I hang items outside for a few hours to let the fresh air do its thing. If it’s cold or rainy, the garage works just fine — just keep things off the floor where air can circulate. It takes maybe twenty minutes to spread things out, but it saves hundreds of dollars in ruined gear.
Once everything’s dry, it’s cleaning time. This part used to overwhelm me, but I’ve learned that gear doesn’t need to be scrubbed spotless — it just needs gentle care. I use an eco-friendly cleaner that’s safe for outdoor fabrics and doesn’t leave residue. A quick wipe-down on tent floors, sleeping pads, and backpacks goes a long way.
For tougher messes (muddy tent stakes, sticky s’mores accidents, or the mysterious grime kids manage to spread everywhere), I keep an old toothbrush in my gear bin. It’s great for scrubbing zippers and seams. Then I let everything air dry again before putting it away.
When I’m dealing with clothing and base layers, I wash them with a gentle, scent-free detergent, then skip the dryer. Hanging them to dry keeps the fibers from breaking down, which means they’ll last longer — especially the merino layers I swear by for our fall trips.
After everything is clean and dry, the real magic happens: storing it so it stays that way.
For years, I used clear plastic bins, but recently I switched to these durable, opaque storage bins, and I’ll never go back. They’re sturdy, stack neatly, and keep dust and sunlight off the gear inside. Plus, they just look calmer — less visual clutter in the garage, more “organized family who totally has it together.”
Each bin has a purpose: camping kitchen gear, sleeping gear, hiking extras, and one dedicated to kids’ stuff (because apparently, they need their own category). Inside, I toss a few odor absorber pouches to keep everything smelling fresh. They’re simple, natural, and perfect for spaces that tend to get stale over time.
The key to long-term freshness is breathability. I never seal things completely airtight — gear needs a little airflow to stay happy. Sleeping bags, for example, should never live compressed in their stuff sacks. I store ours in breathable storage bags, which help them stay lofty and warm year after year.
Once or twice a year, I give everything a quick “check-up.” It’s the same idea as a spring closet clean-out, but for gear. I pull out each bin, look for any signs of dampness, and make sure zippers, straps, and buckles are still working.
If something looks worn or has a small tear, I note it and fix it right away — or at least put it in the “fix soon” pile before it disappears into the abyss of good intentions. (Those repair patches you mentioned earlier? Perfect for this step, and even better as the star of a future tent repair post.)
This is also when I reapply waterproofing. Over time, tents, jackets, and even backpacks lose their water-repellent coating. A quick spray with this waterproofing treatment brings them back to life. I usually do this outside on a mild day and let everything dry in the sun. It’s oddly satisfying to know my gear is ready for the next sudden downpour. But you only need to do this about once a year or even less.
One thing I’ve learned: keeping gear fresh isn’t just about the items — it’s about the mindset. When everything is clean, organized, and ready, it removes one big mental hurdle between you and your next adventure. You’re not digging through musty bins or wondering if the tent still smells weird; you’re just grabbing what you need and going.
There’s a surprising calm that comes from knowing your gear is prepped and cared for. It’s the same feeling I got after The Day I Finally Took Back My Garage — that moment when chaos turned into calm. The difference now is that it’s not just organized, it’s preserved.
And when spring rolls around again, you’ll be ready. No mystery smells. No unzipping a sleeping bag that’s lost its fluff. Just the satisfying feeling of pulling out gear that looks, feels, and smells adventure-ready.
When it comes time to pack again, your future self will thank you — especially when you’re reading How to Pack for a Family Camping Trip (Without Losing Your Mind) and realize you’ve already done half the work.
Because keeping your gear fresh all year isn’t just about maintenance — it’s about mindset. It’s about creating space for the kind of adventures that feed your soul, not drain your energy.
Clean gear, clear mind, open road. That’s the goal.
Moms Go Adventure | Camping Essentials, Hiking Gear in Boise ID 