How effective are scent eliminating laundry detergents?

[Pappy]

I'm curious to know just how effective scent eliminating laundry detergents are. I'm sure they're very effective on hunting clothes that have been stored in a safe place all year, but how effective are they on items that get daily use? For example, can I take my same base layers that I use for regular hiking, give them a wash in dead down wind, and be good to go?

What about the UV effects? Will one wash counter all the UV brighteners from the normal detergents I've used on my base layers?

[hollymaster]

I think stealth and less movement are more important. This thing didn't know I was there until I rose the camera up for a pic.

[dreamunelk]

Spent a lot of time trying to research several years ago.  What I came up with is we are being overcharged.   Someplace I found that an over the counter hypoallergenic detergent is basically the same thing if not better because of the potential lawsuits.  I know use "All Free and Clear" for all of my laundry.  Also use an unscented dryer cloth.   Save lots of money and only have  to have one soap.  Clothes are clean and at least scent free for the first few seconds out of the dryer.

[Crunchy]

Save your money.  Baking soda.

[Pappy]

So, for hypoallergenic detergent or baking soda, do those act as a UV inhibitor as well? I'm all about pinching pennies if it's just as effective.

Also, as to my original question, how effectively are the scents removed? Can I take my hiking baselayers and remove the scent well enough for hunting? What about hiking clothes that I have near a stinky campfire?

[Special T]

I use All free and clear unscented no uv brightener laundry detergent from costco... I think it works well enough.. I will spray down with the UV killer before i go out to elk camp or deer hunt, but that is mainly because i bought the stuff before i started using non scented uv stuff.

[huntnnw]

baking soda and vinegar..not only washing your camo the first time in it will help hold the color longer

[shadowless_nite]

I consider scent eliminating detergents and what not kind of a sham, at most i see it helping reduce odors at a human level of detection, and while certain fabrics help to contain, slow down or reduce etc etc odors its virtually impossible. You want to wear base layers you hiked in but are worried about previous scent? How do you expect to get to your location when wearing it while hunting? You may not break a sweat getting there, but you dont have to release odors. The way i see it is your a mammal so you need water, you also loose water whether your stationary or not its part of your functioning as a living human to release moisture and other odor causing agents, moisture of any sort leads to moisture+ body heat= bacteria growth. I would spend my money on quality moisture wicking clothing and fabrics that resist odors and a few bottles of wind checking powder. I wear mostly under amour, use regular costco detergent and no fabric softener and hang dry only.

say you wore a super fancy scent blocking jacket washed in the latest and greatest technology cleaners. you wear it for any sort of time standing up with the jacket nice and fluffed, then proceed to sit down and all of the sudden reduced the volume of air in this jacket, its not air tight and it gets pushed out the neck, sleeves waist and what not, that air has your scent... No human made scent eliminator will be good enough to fool a animal that survives by using its nose which is X amount of times more sensitive than hours. Unless they make one that actively kills bacteria, stops you from releasing moisture and any other skin secretions (salt, pheromones, oils) but if it  got that far I would be worried about other things.

[Pappy]

Thanks guys - great info! And yeah, not dropping any money on super scent blocking clothing, largely for the reasons you mention (not being air tight). I just want to make sure I'm not screwing myself over if I use some normal day to day stuff under or mixed in with my hunting clothing.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Mine work awesome, every time I go varmit calling they never find me! 

[shadowless_nite]

Thanks guys - great info! And yeah, not dropping any money on super scent blocking clothing, largely for the reasons you mention (not being air tight). I just want to make sure I'm not screwing myself over if I use some normal day to day stuff under or mixed in with my hunting clothing.

yeah affordable clothing in odor reducing fabric such as merino wool socks compared to cotton is quite affordable. But a $200 jacket is another story. Besides anything being airtight against your skin wouldn't be good it would be like wearing a bandaid on your hand while in the summer. it gets moist and nasty underneath and pruney.

[buckfvr]

If it worked as advertised, it'd be illegal in this state........nuff said ?

[washelkhunter]

You should always use a scentfree/uv killer brand of clothes wash.
get a blacklight and pass your hunting clothes under it. If they glow you have a problem. Deer and elk see in the uv spectrum. Youll stand out like a neon sign camo or not. I get close enough to deer and elk to hear them nipping the browse and grass off the stems. I once had a yote pass 1 foot behind me with its nose down on the trail and it wasnt aware i was sitting there. Thats when i became a true believer. But to make it all work together you have to bathe daily. We take baths in the morning then i spray cover scent over my entire body and hair. During the season my
hair is 1/2 inch long for no fuss. Other parts get trimmed as well 
to keep the harbors for stink producing bacteria to a minimum. The place where it all falls apart is when you overdress which causes you to sweat while usually just walking about. That knocks one leg of your efforts out from under you and theres only
 3. Sight, sound and smell. If you can consistently beat any 2 out of the 3 you can get really close to critters. Its not a difficult regimen but you have to be disciplined about it.

[buckfvr]

If it worked as advertised, it'd be illegal in this state........nuff said ?

That being said, I am also anal about scent control......everything gets washed and sprayed and stored in tubs....I dont wear hunting clothes for anything but hunting.  Even boots get sprayed and stored and sprayed again each use......every article of clothing......

SPRAY DOWN OR STAY HOME.........

And on the personal level, all scent free soaps and deodorants DAILY......even tooth paste....

[washelkhunter]

That being said, I am also anal about scent control......everything gets washed and sprayed and stored in tubs....I dont wear hunting clothes for anything but hunting.  Even boots get sprayed and stored and sprayed again each use......every article of clothing......

SPRAY DOWN OR STAY HOME.........

And on the personal level, all scent free soaps and deodorants DAILY......even tooth paste....