Bear Grease Removal from Backpack

[Mr. Fishunt]

All,
I was fortunate to kill a Montana black bear this fall.

My backpack, a Mystery Ranch Metcalf, was soaked with bear grease from the pack out.

Do any of you have any personal experience recommendations on the best way to remove this from the backpack?

Right now, it smells like lard. It isn't a bad smell, i just want it gone, once and for all.

Regards,
Mr. Fishunt

 

[30338]

I'd get a bucket of hot water, add Dawn dish soap, and hit it with a brush. Rinse well with more hot water and repeat till clean.

 

[shtrbc]

Dawn as stated by 30338, and add some baking soda too. Like 1/2 box to the bucket of water. Will probably need to do it 3 or 4 times, minimum.

 

[BRTreedogs]

Buy a new one.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Dish soap, baking soda, hot water, medium hardness bristle brush and replace the bear grease with elbow grease.

 

[30338]

I started taking unscented large heavy duty trash bags on my bear hunts. I don't keep anything in them longer than needed to reach the truck but it cuts down on issues like this nicely.

 

[Erict]

Knowing what I was getting into, I donned an old t-shirt and pair of pants when skinning and fleshing a black bear in mid-50s weather. When done, there were areas obviously soaked with bear grease. Several times though the washer using every combo possible and they still smell like bear grease - not unpleasant, but definitely noticeable. I'm not worried about them.

It may be worth asking a dry cleaner if they think that would work. Good luck.

 

[MallardSX2]

Some people pay good money for waterproof packs. Lol

 

[Pdzoller]

I use a small kids pool. I dump hot water from a large stock pot with dawn, baking soda and borax. Stir at first, let sit overnight, stirring occasionally. Repeat as necessary. Rinse thoroughly.

 

[Mr. Fishunt]

Some people pay good money for waterproof packs. Lol

Until one has had to deal with the grease from bear fat, one will not understand. It permeates everything.

 

[Andrewdk]

I had the same issue with my SG pack after packing out my bear this fall. Hydrogen peroxide on the problem areas and a good scrubbing helped a lot.

 

[croben]

Soak it in your bathtub and then scrub it using dawn dish soap.

 

[Wrench]

Dawn and simple green are pretty much the gold standard for oil and grease. You're damn near better off greasing the whole thing now....hillbilly waterproofing.

 

[Creek Chub]

Maybe a dishwasher tab or two in warm water…? That finer surfactant like JetDry can really help lift fats. Does wonders on brains for Euro mounts.

 

[Janesy]

Hit it with dawn dish soap, let it soak. They scrub like crazy. I like to start with boiling water and let it soak until I can comfortably leave my hands in it to scrub. Rinse well
Then switch to Borax and do the same process. But before you soak it, coat the pack with borax so that it forms a paste that you can rub in. Don't mix anything with the borax as anything acidic just neutralizes the borax.

May have to repeat. Hope that helps