Bad Smells

[Bluesbro]

I wonder if any people have any top tips for cleaning fishing gear?

I always really struggle to clean and dry my all-in-one floatation suit, it`s far to big for my washing M/C and when full of water is prob well over the recommended weight limmit so I dont like putting it in there. I have taken it to a laundrette as well but as well at getting dissaproving looks from the girl that works in there, i also found it to be full of water when I came to take it back out, even with an extra spin? Living in a flat makes this a servere pain in the a**e. Is there an easier way to freshen it up??

I am also having difficul getting rid of the smell of bait for my cool box, I have tried bleach, mr muscle, half an onion and leaving the lid off (much to the missuses displeasure) but nothing seems to work. Its my fault for leaving some bait in it and forgetting about it but perhaps someone out there knows something that will work?

Fishing is a smelly usiness sometimes and the missus is often turning her nose up at the smell in the car, fishing cupboard, fridge ect so if anyone has any tips please do share

Thanks Guys n gals

Joe

[Dadwood]

Yes Joe, it's a problem that I have too. I've got to grips with it recently by buying some used but well-washed roller towels- the type used in public toilets. You can get them off ebay and they come in pre-washed roll about 40metres long. I pay around £8 for a complete roll. Then I cut it into 18" lengths and use them when fishing. As soon as I get fish scales or snotty jelly on my suit, I wipe it off thoroughly. Similarly, at the end of the sesh I empty the bait tray and wash it out before drying it completely. Anything in the box that has come into contact with bait or fish gets similarly dried down with the towel. Now Joe, although this practice doesn't rid the smells entirely, it does do a lot to reduce them. And when I get home I simply dump the lengths of towel I've used. It must be working because the missus don't carp anymore about the smell. Kind regards. John R.

[gullyworm]

Tell the mrs to like it or lump it

I'm not brave enough to do the above so i just wash it all off and keep it in my shed, bloody stinks
Washing your hands in lemon gets rid of that mackerel/squid smell, although i quite like it.

[Bluesbro]

Originally Posted by Dadwood

Yes Joe, it's a problem that I have too. I've got to grips with it recently by buying some used but well-washed roller towels- the type used in public toilets. You can get them off ebay and they come in pre-washed roll about 40metres long. I pay around £8 for a complete roll. Then I cut it into 18" lengths and use them when fishing. As soon as I get fish scales or snotty jelly on my suit, I wipe it off thoroughly. Similarly, at the end of the sesh I empty the bait tray and wash it out before drying it completely. Anything in the box that has come into contact with bait or fish gets similarly dried down with the towel. Now Joe, although this practice doesn't rid the smells entirely, it does do a lot to reduce them. And when I get home I simply dump the lengths of towel I've used. It must be working because the missus don't carp anymore about the smell. Kind regards. John R.

Cheers John that is some good advice!!! Will get some of that roll and give it a try.

Originally Posted by gullyworm

Tell the mrs to like it or lump it

I'm not brave enough to do the above so i just wash it all off and keep it in my shed, bloody stinks
Washing your hands in lemon gets rid of that mackerel/squid smell, although i quite like it.

Alas if I had a shed then it could stink all it liked lol but it`s all stored in the boiler cupboard (only free space) so you can imagine what the missus says when the heating fires up

Do you think a squeezed lemon in the cool box will shift the rotten bait smell?

[martin56]

Best de-odouriser ever is bicarbonate of soda - available from the baking section in all supermarkets.
I use it to clean out my flask (1/4 teaspoon & fill with hot water & leave overnight) - result - a flask that smells like new (ie no smell)
Also works well in my maggot boxes.
Should work on a bait box (scaled up somewhat say maybe a tablespoon or more)
Bleach i'd think would taint your bait - this won't.
Worst case scenario is it won't work & no harm done.

[chris.oldgit]

you could try some denture tablets, or some steriliser from the baby counter, used for baby bottles etc. or some sulphite from wine making stores, they all do the buisiness.

[chris.oldgit]

sulphite when mixed is quite pungent, takes your breath away, but after a 24 hr soak and a rinse under cold water, no smells at all.

[MRG2000]

Joe have a read of the label on the suit,and follow the manufacturers recomended cleaning procedure .....

In genereal by far the best way is to sponge the suit down with warm soapy water ,rinse it off and leave it to dry on washing line . Then once it's dry spray it all over, paying paticular attention along the seam's where the stitching is with a decent waterprofer. Your local camping shop should be able to supply you with a very decent waterproofer at a sensible price.

As for the smelly cooler box ,same applies ,soapy water and a good dose of fresh air will defuse the smell ,but once its had fishing stuff in it ,its toast as far as food is concerned ,unless you like squid mayo with your sarnies .

I but cheap tea towels from Tesco and wipe my hands and the suit as it gets stuff on it ,minimises the smell .

The moral of the story is fishing gear smells , fact of life !!!!!!!!

Warm soapy and a good dose offresh air does the trick 99.9% of the time !!!!.

[cuckoo]

Joe your not supposed to wash anything we are supposed to smell

[chazyboi]

lemon juice and bi carb solution old wifey tip she uses it on tea towels after cooking fish and to clean mic,,just sponge suit down with it i guess