A key part of getting the most for your money with hunting and fishing waders is to take proper care of them. A little maintenance goes a long way in getting the maximum life out of your fishing and hunting equipment. Learning how to properly Clean and Store Waders is well worth the effort.
Follow these simple steps after each hunt/fishing trip to keep your waders in good shape.
1. Hose Off Mud and Debris-Whether hip waders, waist waders, or chest waders, grab a water hose and wash away dirt and debris before it becomes dried up and heavily caked on. Work top to bottom to ensure that you don’t miss any spots including the soles in bootfoot waders. If need be, hand wash using mild, unscented soap and rinse thoroughly.
2. Hang or Lay Flat Waders To Dry-It is important to ensure that all parts of the waders dry completely before you store them. Wader hangers can be helpful for this. Also, boot hangers and wader dryers offer handy drying assistance.
3. Inspect Your Waders For Picks and Tears-Sharp branches, rocks, etc…can poke holes in your waders if you run across them just right. Getting out in the water before you realize that you’ve got a leak can ruin an overwise perfectly good hunt. So keep an eye out for tears each time you clean your waders. And use a quality repair kit if needed.
For Extended Storage-At the end of the season, for waders with a durable water-resistant coating (DWR), consider applying a coating of a product such as Revivex to keep that water repellent protection strong. Store your waders in an area without temperature extremes and out of the direct sunlight.