Personal Flotation Devices (PFD) and Life Jackets:

A PFD is designed for flotation and to keep a conscious person’s head out of the water in calm conditions. A life jacket, on the other hand, is designed to turn an unconscious person from face down to face up in the water, allowing them to breathe. Lifejackets have more buoyancy than PFDs and most of the buoyancy material is in the front of the device. Despite the many differences, the way we care for these items will be quite similar. The following steps will show you how to remove odors and deodorize life jackets and PFDs.

It's typically a good idea to give the life jacket a good cleaning before attempting to deodorize. This will help remove any mold or mildew that could be the culprit for the odor. For steps on cleaning life jackets and PFDs, click here.

STEP 1: Fill a tub or bucket with approximately 5 gallons of cool water to submerge the life jacket or PFD.

STEP 2: Add 1 oz. of a microbe-based Revivex Odor Eliminator to the 5 gallons of water. Stir to mix.

STEP 3: Submerge the life jacket or PFD in the Odor Eliminator solution and soak for 5 minutes.

STEP 4: Remove the life jacket or PFD from the Odor Eliminato solution and allow to air dry completely. Do not rinse the life jacket and do not apply heat. The microbes do much of their work while the item dries.

Mold, mildew and BO can wreak havoc on a life jacket. Don't let a smelly life jacket or PFD ruin your time on the water. For more care and repair tips for watersports gear, check out our blog.