Washing Textiles

[JediGoat]

I know this is an old thread....but I thought I'd add my 2p worth.

Many bike clothes nowadays are not coated fabrics. They have a water repellent outer layer and a waterproof inner.

For these clothes, I always wash them like this:

1. Remove all liners and armour
2. 30 degrees in the machine (handwash, wool or silk cycle best as they spin less)
3. Normal, plain powder. Absolutely no fabric softener or 2-in-1. If you use fabric softener in normal washes, make sure there is none in the drawer.
4. Hang up to dry (or I throw my winter trousers on the radiator)

If really dirty, I use a pre-treatment spray like vanish (not the soap).

The reason for not using fabric softener is to prevent the fibres in the water repellent layer from fluffing up.

I've washed jacket and trousers many many times this way and never had to re-waterproof.

Jo

On a related subject: Is it okay to dry textiles in a tumble dryer (presumably with the armour out; I can imagine the heat/repeated tumbling can be good for that), or will that make them leak (the way washing them can)? I ask as I have been offered a tumble dryer for my garage, but it's only going in there if I can use it to dry my textiles.

[JediGoat]

I have sometimes put my winter trews in the dryer to finish them off. I would only do this:

1. On the cooler setting
2. For clothes that do not have the waterproof layer exposed (i.e. if it's lined with mesh, it will prevent it touching the inside of the dryer). Or just zip up jackets.

As an aside, the wash-in waterproofer made by Shift-It actually works better if the garment is finished off in the dryer.

Jo

*digs up old thread thanks to search function*

So after the AR, I have realised that my 4-year old textiles have begun to leak in the embarassing crotch area. They are very clean still (owing to being washed repeatedly by British weather) so can I just handwash some nikwax into the crotch and that'll be sorted? I can't see any stitching coming undone or anything, it all looks sound still.

[northwind]

The Nikwax techwash followed by tx.direct wash-in stuff is a brilliant combination, it can even turn vairly cheap dodgy textiles that were never waterproof in the firstplace watertight. I just redid by Rukka goretex gear with them and the results are flawless. Course, I then got the trousers covered in mud at the AR I handwash as it's supposed to be kinder on heavy gear than machine washing.

Nikwax stuff is generally good, I've never used a product of theirs that didn't live up to expectations.

I just bought some NikWax spray on stuff, it was exactly the same as the wash-in stuff for cordura, only you spray it on when wet and leave it 2 mins. Will report back on effectivity! (luckily in this climate I won't have to wait 3 months for rain )

[yorkie_chris]

Wash biking gear?

Originally Posted by shop_addict

For these clothes, I always wash them like this:

1. Remove all liners and armour
2. 30 degrees in the machine (handwash, wool or silk cycle best as they spin less)
3. Normal, plain powder. Absolutely no fabric softener or 2-in-1. If you use fabric softener in normal washes, make sure there is none in the drawer.
4. Hang up to dry (or I throw my winter trousers on the radiator)

Serious Jo? Can I use this method for my goretex HG stuff and it won't ruin it?