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An ozone observation

Allegheny Tom

Allegheny Tom

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Feb 4, 2018
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Location
Western Pennsylvania
I'm just throwing this out there for an FYI or food for thought. I'm not saying I have abandoned my use of O3 for treating gear, but I was a bit disappointed with the most recent results of O3.
There is probably no odor that's nastier than used neoprene. It brings a whole new level to the term "stench".
We went canoeing last week and the water was cold enough to wear neoprene socks in my wet shoes. Lord, did they stink afterward. I've encountered that nastiness many times after paddling but I've never experimented with O3 to remove the odor, so I decided to give it a try.
I first let the socks dry, and then I stuck them in garbage bags with the O3 hose inside each sock. The only result after treatment was the socks smelled like O3 and stench. After a day of airing them out, the O3 smell went away but the neoprene stank remained...I do believe it was slightly less rank, but the O3 definitely did not deodorize them.
So, what does this mean for hunting gear applications? I don't know for certain. Maybe the structure of neoprene does not allow the O3 to fully permeate deep into the fabric? IDK.
Maybe O3 is fine for certain gear items and not for other items.
I still go back to my beliefs on odor and deer...I try to minimize odors as much as possible. I don't believe total odor elimination is possible, at least not to a deer's nose. If each and every odor reduction tactic I employ adds up to only a 10% reduction in my odor, then I feel I've increased my odds 10% that I won't have a complete odor bust. I'll gladly take 10%.

FWIW, I mixed up an ounce of Atsko Sport Wash and soaked the socks for less than 1 minute. The stench was immediately gone, and I hadn't even laundered them yet.
 
Interesting. Thanks for the write up. In your experience has using ozone deteriorated any of your clothing or equipment? I've been thinking about doing it for a while but have been concerned that it may ruin clothes or my saddle.
 
O3 is not safe for all materials, It could break down your neoprene. I know that it does not like elastic at all or rubber boots. I have noticed a huge difference after using ozonics though, Had a doe come downwind of me 15 yards while I was sitting on the ground using ozonics. You will never be able to fully deodorize your clothes unless you use a scent regiment like John Eberhart.
 
Murph4028 said:
Interesting. Thanks for the write up. In your experience has using ozone deteriorated any of your clothing or equipment? I've been thinking about doing it for a while but have been concerned that it may ruin clothes or my saddle.
Click to expand...
I've been treating gear with O3 for at least a dozen years, and I have not seen any appreciable damage done to any of my stuff, but in all fairness, I've not had any "control" items to compare treated vs non treated things.

My rubber boots are what gets the most consistent O3 treatments. I get at least 3 years out of a pair of boots before I see any problems. Now, is that from the O3 or is it because the quality of modern rubber boots generally sucks? Once again...I don't have identical boots that weren't exposed to O3 to compare to. I am more than willing to replace rubber boots every few years.

My Kestrel saddle and related mods have no rubber or elastic (which are most effected by O3) that safety depends upon. Time will tell if O3 effects it, but I have very similar materials (straps, Cordura, rope, etc) in older gear that have had many treatments of O3 and show zero signs of degradation.

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NJBuckhunt54 said:
O3 is not safe for all materials, It could break down your neoprene. I know that it does not like elastic at all or rubber boots. I have noticed a huge difference after using ozonics though, Had a doe come downwind of me 15 yards while I was sitting on the ground using ozonics. You will never be able to fully deodorize your clothes unless you use a scent regiment like John Eberhart.
Click to expand...
I've not seen any degradation of the neoprene of boot uppers, but that reminds me of a reason why I have shied away from boots with neoprene uppers...I feel they are more likely to retain odors than a conventional rubber upper.
The only reason I treated those neoprene socks was to give the O3 and extreme test, of which the O3 failed. The only neoprene material I ever use in hunting situations is the Muck boots that I've owned for a few years, and when they are worn out, I will no longer buy boots with neoprene uppers.
IME, not actually storing rubber or elastic in an O3 environment is key. Treat, then air-out, then store. I have elastic in socks that has lasted for many years of O3 treatments, most likely because they are not kept stored while exposed to ozone.
And my intention of this thread is not about O3 use for in the field. I've only used O3 for gear treatment. I'm not saying field use can't work, I can't comment on it at all since I've never used it. But I do wish posts in threads about O3 would specify which application the O3 is being used for. Comparing ear treatment with O3 to field use of O3 is apples and oranges.
 
Ozone is burned oxygen which kills bacteria only if confined or anything that needs oxygen to live. If it kills a smell it has killed the bacteria.
 
gumby said:
Ozone is burned oxygen which kills bacteria only if confined or anything that needs oxygen to live. If it kills a smell it has killed the bacteria.
Click to expand...
I know that ozone kills bacteria, but I don't think that's the full picture. And my understanding was that ozone was good ole O2 with an extra atom. But I am from Alabama, so don't put too much faith in my edjamacation.

Maybe @BassBoysLLP can weigh in?
 
I use ozone for hunting all the time. Really hard ore the last couple years.
I never testing until last week. I bought a used pickup and the old owner was a smoker and i have a sensitive nose. It took two nights of ozone treatment and the smell is 98% gone. One more night should do it for good. Major difference.


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sdonx said:
I use ozone for hunting all the time. Really hard ore the last couple years.
I never testing until last week. I bought a used pickup and the old owner was a smoker and i have a sensitive nose. It took two nights of ozone treatment and the smell is 98% gone. One more night should do it for good. Major difference.


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Click to expand...

Just air it out after real good. Ozone will burn your mucous membranes. Very caustic stuff
 
If stuff is extra funky best first swing is soap and water. Ozone stuggles with complete mineralization. A lot of times scents are rendered something different but it still has an order. If you wash and then ozone, your stuff should come out fresh. Or follow the ozone with a wash. Ozone oftentimes increases water solubility of funk and improves cleaning. Then after the last wash hit it with some ozone again.

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i purchased one of those duffel bags with the ozone kit. It works great. slide the tube in and fire it up for 20 minutes. zero odors but you MUST air out the clothing before wearing it
 
Ozone is not burned oxygen. It’s just three oxygen molecules bound together which is a relatively unstable grouping. When energy (electrons) is added to regular atmospheric oxygen (2 molecules), usually with electricity, it causes the covalent bond between the two oxygens atoms to break, when the molecules reform, they join in groups of three instead of two. This grouping of three oxygens (ozone) has an uneven distribution of charge on it and is therefore very reactive. This molecule bonds many bigger compounds and breaks them up into smaller subunits that your nose doesn’t detect. It may kill some bacteria but ozone is used for solely chemical smells such as cigarette smoke and even the smell of burning tissue in the operating room. The issue is that ozone can also interact with any non-target compounds it contacts. This means that certain polymers or materials may be more susceptible to ozone degradation given the relative makeup of their own chemical bonds. This is one of the reasons it’s not recommended you breath ozone in regularly. It can damage your cells through oxidation (removal of electrons) just like it damages scent molecules. The long term health effects of ozone inhalation are relatively unknown.


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