Spotting wear and tear on used gear: my quick routine

I hear you on the humidity thing. I’ve had gear go stiff or weird after a summer in the wrong spot, and it’s always a little annoying trying to figure out if it’s just my storage habits or if the stuff was never going to last. That bit you mentioned -

I had a Black Diamond harness that got stiff after just one hot summer in the garage, while my Petzl seemed to last longer before showing any real wear.

I’ve tried cleaning gear to get some flexibility back, but honestly, I’m not convinced it helps much. Warm water and a little soap is about as far as I’ll go. Once I tried using a “gentle” fabric conditioner on a rope sling - bad idea. It got a little softer for maybe a week, then started feeling gummy and weird, almost like it was breaking down faster. Probably not worth the risk, especially for anything load-bearing.

From what I’ve seen, the tightness of the weave and the material blend both seem to matter, but storage is huge. The garage here is basically a sauna in July and August, so I started keeping harnesses and slings inside, just on a shelf in my closet. Haven’t had the same stiffness issues since. I do a quick flex-and-inspect every few months - if anything feels crunchy or has visible fraying, it’s out.

Kind of makes me wonder if some brands just use a different finish or treatment on their webbing. Or maybe it’s luck of the draw. Either way, I’d say skip the conditioning products unless the manufacturer specifically says it’s safe. Learned that lesson the hard way.

Yeah, I’ve had similar luck with gear getting weird in the garage. One summer I left a set of webbing straps out there and they felt like plastic by September. Tried soaking them, but honestly, once they stiffen up, it’s game over. Now I just stash everything in the basement - less convenient, but way better for the gear. Never trusted those fabric softeners either... seems like more trouble than it’s worth.

Yeah, the garage is brutal on gear. I left a harness out there one summer and it basically turned into a board - no amount of flexing brought it back. I hear you on the basement being a pain, but it’s way better than tossing out expensive stuff every year. Never tried fabric softener either... feels like it’d just gunk things up more. At this point, I just do a quick check for any weird stiffness or fraying before every job - saves headaches later.

Never tried fabric softener either... feels like it’d just gunk things up more.

Yeah, I wouldn’t mess with softener either - seems risky for safety gear. I’m with you on the basement, even if it’s a hassle. I lost a lanyard to the garage last winter, just froze solid and cracked. Quick checks before every use are a must, but I also run my hands along the stitching - sometimes you catch little snags you’d miss otherwise.

- Totally agree on skipping softener - tried it once on an old harness and it just felt weird after, almost slippery? Not worth the risk.
- I keep my gear in the mudroom now. Garage is way too cold, and I had a harness buckle seize up from frost last year... lesson learned.
- Running your hands over the stitching is key. Found a tiny fray that way before it turned into something worse.
- Quick visual check, then a feel for any rough spots or stiff webbing. Takes two minutes but saves a ton of worry.

I hear you on the mudroom - mine’s basically a gear graveyard in winter, but at least it’s not freezing. I’ve had buckles seize up too, and honestly, I’m still a little paranoid about webbing getting brittle if it sits out in the cold too long. The softener thing... yeah, tried it once on a budget harness and it just never felt right after. I’m all for saving money, but not if it means risking safety. Your routine sounds solid - quick checks really do catch stuff before it gets expensive or dangerous.

- Mudrooms are a blessing and a curse - mine’s just a dumping ground for boots and packs half the year.
- Seen buckles seize up too, especially if they’re left damp. Quick WD-40 fix sometimes, but not always worth it.
- Webbing definitely gets stiff in the cold, but I’ve never actually seen it crack... just feels sketchy.
- Tried softener once on an old harness, didn’t trust it after. Sometimes “saving” money just isn’t worth the risk.
- Curious - do you store your gear in bins or just hang it up? I’ve found sealed bins keep dust and critters out, but maybe that’s overkill.

Bins have definitely saved me some headaches - mice got into a duffel I left out one winter, and that was the end of that experiment. I use clear bins for most stuff, but I’ll hang up anything that needs to dry first. It’s not overkill if you’ve got the space and want to keep things organized. That said, sometimes I just toss boots in a corner and deal with it later... nobody’s perfect. Your point about “saving” money on gear hits home - sometimes it’s just not worth the risk, especially with safety stuff.

sometimes I just toss boots in a corner and deal with it later... nobody’s perfect.

That’s the spirit. I tried the “just toss it” method with my old rain jacket once - came back a month later and it had basically fused itself into a crumpled ball of mildew. Lesson learned: bins or at least a half-hearted attempt at drying things first. I get the urge to save cash, but yeah, risking safety gear is like playing roof roulette... not worth it.

Boots in the corner... been there. I used to do that with my harness after a long day - just toss it in the back of the truck and figure I’d sort it out when I had more energy. Next thing I know, it’s got that weird stiff feel and smells like a swamp. Not great when you’re halfway up a roof and suddenly wondering if your gear’s still safe.

Honestly, I get wanting to save time, but I learned the hard way that even a quick wipe-down or hanging stuff up can make a difference. Had a buddy who ignored a tiny crack in his helmet - said he’d deal with it later. It split clean through after a drop. He was fine, but that was a wake-up call.

I’m not saying you need to treat every piece of gear like it’s made of glass, but if it keeps you off the ground (or dry), it deserves at least a little TLC. Otherwise, all those “savings” go straight out the window when you have to replace stuff early... or worse.

I hear you on the “I’ll deal with it later” routine. I used to just chuck my inspection tools in a milk crate at the end of a long day, thinking I’d sort them out when I wasn’t wiped. Couple weeks go by and suddenly my moisture meter’s got corroded contacts and my flashlight’s half full of drywall dust. Not exactly confidence-inspiring when you’re crawling through an attic. I get wanting to save time, but honestly, it’s more hassle fixing or replacing stuff than just giving it a once-over before calling it a day. Still, I’ll admit - I don’t baby my gear either. Just try to keep things from totally falling apart...

I’ve definitely been guilty of that “deal with it later” mindset, especially after a long day working on the house. I used to just toss my laser level and stud finder in the bottom of the toolbox, figuring I’d clean them up when I had more energy. Next thing I know, the laser’s got a sticky switch from some spilled caulk, and the stud finder’s battery compartment is full of sawdust. Not ideal.

What finally got me to change was realizing how much it costs to replace even basic tools if they get trashed. I’m not meticulous - definitely not wiping everything down with microfiber - but now I at least check for obvious gunk or corrosion before putting stuff away. Quick blast of compressed air does wonders for keeping dust out of battery contacts. It’s a small thing, but it’s saved me from a few headaches.

I get wanting to save time, but honestly, spending two minutes at the end of the day beats having to troubleshoot a dead tool right when you need it most. Still, some wear and tear is just inevitable... nothing lasts forever in a renovation zone.

Man, I feel this. I used to toss my hammer and tape into the same bucket with a half-eaten granola bar and just hope for the best... until I pulled out my tape one day and it was stuck shut with peanut butter. Now I do a quick “gross check” before packing up - look for mystery goo, make sure nothing’s growing, that sort of thing. If it’s bad, I’ll hit it with a rag or blast it with air like you said.

Curious though - anyone ever had a tool just completely die from something you missed? I lost a drill to rain once because I thought “Eh, it’ll be fine in the truck overnight.” Nope.

I get the urge to just toss everything in a bucket and call it a day, but honestly, I’m not convinced a quick “gross check” is enough for some of these tools. Especially with power tools - moisture can sneak in and start corroding stuff before you even notice. I’ve had a circular saw seize up because I missed a bit of water in the case after a rainy job. Now I’m borderline paranoid about drying things out and keeping food away from my gear. Maybe overkill, but replacing tools isn’t cheap...

That’s not overkill at all - honestly, I’ve seen way too many tools trashed by hidden moisture or just plain neglect. It only takes one missed spot for rust to set in, especially if you’re working in damp conditions or storing gear in a humid garage. I always tell folks: wipe down, quick check for grit in moving parts, and leave power tools out to air dry before packing up. Food crumbs are sneakier than people think too... had a mouse nest in a drill case once. Your routine sounds solid - better safe than sorry when replacements cost what they do.

That mouse nest story hits a little too close to home... I found sunflower seeds stashed in my old circular saw case last fall. Never even thought about food crumbs being a problem until then. I’m with you on the wipe-down routine, though I’ll admit I sometimes skip the air dry step if I’m in a rush. Probably shouldn’t, given how humid my basement gets. Guess it’s one of those things you only learn after a few rusty screwdrivers.

Skipping the air dry step is tempting when you’re in a hurry, but in a damp basement, that’s just asking for trouble long term. I’ve seen more than a few rusty tools and even moldy handles from moisture getting trapped. Quick tip: if you’re short on time, towel dry as much as possible and leave the case open for a bit. It’s not perfect, but it helps. Those mouse stashes are sneakier than most folks realize... I’ve found entire snack bars tucked behind insulation before. You’re definitely not alone with this stuff.

Those mouse stashes are sneakier than most folks realize... I’ve found entire snack bars tucked behind insulation before.

That made me laugh - last winter I pulled out a toolbox and found a whole pile of sunflower seeds wedged in the bottom. Mice are relentless. On the drying front, I’ll admit I’ve skipped it more than once and paid for it with a rusty wrench or two. Curious, has anyone tried those silica gel packs in their tool cases? I started tossing them in after a bad mold episode, but not sure if it’s really making a difference or just wishful thinking.

- Mice are like tiny hoarders with a PhD in hiding snacks... found a whole stash of dog kibble inside a wall socket once.
- Skipping the drying step? Been there, regretted that - WD-40 only goes so far on a crusty old pair of pliers.
- I’ve tossed silica packs in my tool bag too. Honestly, they seem to help a bit, but if your garage is damp, it’s still a losing battle. I check mine every few months and swap 'em out when they get mushy.
- One trick I picked up: wrap a bit of newspaper around tools before tossing them back in the box. Absorbs some moisture, plus you get to read last week’s sports scores while you work.

- Mice are basically the original preppers. Found a pile of sunflower seeds in my drill case once - still not sure how they got in there.
- WD-40 is like duct tape for rust, but yeah, if you skip drying, you’re just making salad dressing.
- Silica packs help, but my garage is basically a rainforest half the year. I’ve started using those big moisture absorber tubs - less swapping, more forgetting.
- Newspaper trick is solid, but I always end up with black ink on my hands... adds character to the tools, right?