Washing "technical" clothing?

[bitchstewie]

I have an old but pristine Rab Vapour Rise jacket and a Montane Prism jacket which I think is filled with Pertex.

I know I should wash both using something like Nikwax Tech Wash but I'm unclear whether I should even bother with a second wash using something like TX wash in to try and get some DWR/water repellency back?

I'm slightly cautious of buggering up the inside lining of the jackets.

Can any experts help please?

[AlpineWhite]

Tech wash is the best option for cleaning

Wash-in tx direct highly effective and should not impair the lining. Ideally with tumble drier to activate.
However if you are concerned there are options,
1) a spray on version which is a bit of a faff
2) soft shell proof (wash in)

Hope that helps.

Edited by AlpineWhite on Thursday 27th October 14:06

[cavey76]

At a slight tangent i had always had my Rab/Montane/NF/Patagonia/etc down jackets dry cleaned but have since washed normally at home then a good violent shake about and a very low tumble dry sees full fluffiness restored.

Regards
Mumsnet!

[gotoPzero]

Nikwax wash in technical wash. Don’t do a long wash I do a 30 min. Splash in the drum then a cap in the detergent drawer.

Then same for tx direct. A splash in the drum and a cap in the drawer.

About an hour and it’s done. I am not a fan of tumble dryer but I do think it helps cure if you are confident enough to use it.

If it’s a heavy use garment or I am expecting really bad rain and I am going to be out all day then I will spray down the hood and arms after with the stuff in the spray bottle for extra protection as I find they wear faster.

[andy ted]

You can send stuff back to Rab to wash (and repair) for a fee if you are concerned and want it done properly think it costs £25 for the wash?

[bitchstewie]

andy ted said:

You can send stuff back to Rab to wash (and repair) for a fee if you are concerned and want it done properly think it costs £25 for the wash?

I don't even know if these are DWR or "officially" waterproof to be honest.

It was more whether the basic wash in proofer stuff can bugger up things like Pertex and the sort of fluffy lining of the Vapour Rise.

I may play it safe and just stick with Tech Wash.

Edited by bhstewie on Thursday 27th October 14:57

[malks222]

I can’t give the rab service department enough praise! they repaired a small catch/ tear in my wife’s down jacket and it came almost undetectable, great job of a repair.

oh and when she was pregnant they made a perfect match (colour/ material/ panel lines) extender panel/ bump panel for her 3 or 4yr old down jacket. only charged a reasonable fee and it arrived in the post in a week.

amazing customer service!

[AlpineWhite]

Neither vapor rise or prism are waterproof. Expect both would have been supplied with a dwr finish though.

[andy ted]

malks222 said:

I can’t give the rab service department enough praise! they repaired a small catch/ tear in my wife’s down jacket and it came almost undetectable, great job of a repair.

oh and when she was pregnant they made a perfect match (colour/ material/ panel lines) extender panel/ bump panel for her 3 or 4yr old down jacket. only charged a reasonable fee and it arrived in the post in a week.

amazing customer service!

Agree had great experience with Patagonia in the past too - really worth seeing if they can fix old kit rather than buying new

[oddman]

I use tech wash for goretex stuff. TBH I bung mid layers or softshells in a standard 40 wash with non bio

I think the idea of tumble dry and ironing is the heat gets any residual DWR treatment to come to the surface.

I've had solid use out of my outdoor gear but never had any luck resuscitating DWR by washing/tumble dry. It's a pain becuase when nylon face fabric wets out it gets heavy and although the goretex is waterproof, it doesn't breathe

[anonymous-user]

I just treated a jacket with the spray on option. Used it in the hills during the week and got soaked.
New gtx jacket ordered this morning.

[vaderface]

Got a Arcteryx and like you didnt want to bugger it up in the wash.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4N6ZuKTZ_c
Followed this vid and touch wood, all ok!

[Baldchap]

Bear in mind that Nikwax makes your washer stink! Schedule in a service wash afterwards.

[Byker28i]

I always use the spray stuff for reproofing then hang in the conservatory to dry, so it can air as well. I find I get a better waterproof covering that way

[Spare tyre]

We re proof our coats once in a while (nabbed about 100 samples at Waterloo one morning)

What is interesting is if you run the machine on empty on it’s hottest wash, the amount of soap and stuff that gets dislodged

I think my wife gets a bit carried away when pouring in the slop, but I do a perhaps twice yearly empty hot wash and every time it’s amazes me how much froth there is, even if you rinse and repeat

[bitchstewie]

Spare tyre said:

What is interesting is if you run the machine on empty on it’s hottest wash, the amount of soap and stuff that gets dislodged

Forgive the silly question but how do you know?

[Spare tyre]

bhstewie said:

Spare tyre said:

What is interesting is if you run the machine on empty on it’s hottest wash, the amount of soap and stuff that gets dislodged

Forgive the silly question but how do you know?

Not a silly question

I weigh the machine before and after



When you first do a hot wash with no soap etc added you get a lot of bubbles / froth

Keep doing it over and over and each round is less frothy

I guess the extra heat we don’t usually use dislodges the extra

I could do with some new hobbies probably

[bitchstewie]

Well it only took me a year to get around to it but I've just done this and I'm stunned.

Used Nikwax Tech Wash to wash the jacket and left it in the machine and just did another delicates cycle with around 100ML of TX Direct Wash in.

I've had this jacket so long I honestly can't remember whether it is supposed to even have any sort of DWR but I've just run the sleeve under the cold tap for 30 seconds and I don't think a drop has got through

[sospan]

I use the Nikwax products. Good results. Out of curiosity I recently tried them on a cotton non waterproof/DWR top plus added the spray on. It did add some water resistance in a light rain shower but not full waterproof. My waterproofs respond well to them.
I use Rohan clothing with their Barricade system. DWR on other items from them too.