The main advantage of a ski jacket is good thermoregulation during active movements. Therefore, today this wardrobe item is popular not only among athletes.
But how should such things be washed so that they do not lose their positive qualities? In this article, we will look in detail at how to properly wash (by hand and in a machine) and dry a ski jacket, and what products are suitable for this.
What do you need to know before you start washing?
Ski jackets are highly valued by lovers of an active lifestyle. Athletes benefit from good air circulation and optimal body temperature thanks to this fabric.
The membrane is only the outer material of the jacket. The product has a filling - most often it is fleece or synthetic down, which retain heat well and weigh little.
There are several types of ski jackets:
Made from a hydrophilic, pore-free membrane . The prices seem quite high, but these clothes are very wear-resistant. It is better to wash such a membrane on the mode for delicate fabrics, but ironing is still extremely undesirable.- Made from microporous fabric . To clean such clothes, it is important to use a liquid product without aggressive components, without neglecting additional rinsing.
- From a combined material . This type often has a Teflon coating that looks very much like rubber. Treatment allows you to increase the service life of the jacket, while the breathability properties are maintained at a high level. The combination of microporous and nonporous material should not be machine washed as it may damage the fabric. Preventive cleaning is best done with a soft microfiber.
At what temperature should you wash fleece material?
Fleece is no less popular in the manufacture of sportswear for ski holidays. The material is distinguished by its light weight and ease of use. It is easy to clean, but you can try cleaning it with soap, shampoo or dishwashing detergent. When washing in a machine, you need to use a special liquid powder, which must indicate that it is suitable specifically for fleece products.
Just as with membrane fabric, when washing in a machine, it is forbidden to set the spin function, or to wring out the item with your own hands. Clothes should also not be ironed after drying to avoid damage from the thermal effects of the iron.
How to wash:
- If necessary, soak in warm water for a while and wash small stains with soap and let the water drain.
- Set the wash cycle to synthetics or delicates, setting it to no more than 40°C and turning off the spin cycle.
- Include an additional rinse; in this case, you need to add a product suitable for the material, but do not use conventional rinses and conditioners.
- If things are very damp, then lift them and wait until the water drains.
- Hang on a clothesline. It is advisable that she be in the fresh air, where the suit will dry faster.
- Treat the surface with a special water-repellent impregnation.
It should be remembered that after the end of the season, the suit should be put away inside a special case, and not stored together with all things.
Studying the tag
To find out exactly the composition of the clothing, as well as recommendations for cleaning it, you need to study the tag . In most cases, the manufacturer allows machine washing, while indicating the permissible water temperature (30-40 degrees).
Some products can only be washed by hand, and it is not recommended to wring hard.
You will find a lot of useful and important information about washing jackets and down jackets here.
Preparatory stage
If you follow all the rules for washing a ski jacket, then you don’t have to worry about either hand washing or machine washing. But in order to definitely achieve the best cleansing, there are rules on how to prepare things for the process.
The basis of the preparatory stage is cleaning the surfaces with a special soft brush or dry cloth. If there are areas that are too dirty, just remember where they are and in the future pay special attention to them when washing by hand. Be sure to remove any fur, if any, and fasten zippers, clasps, and buttons.
Choosing the right product
Saving on cleaning gels means that you will soon have to buy a new jacket. Therefore, when thinking about the high cost of the product, you should remember the higher cost of the membrane product.
Household chemicals for the care of ski clothing can be found in any specialized department or in a sports store. It is presented in the form of gels and sprays .
The former are often intended for washing fabric, while the latter are responsible for maintaining an excellent impregnation condition.
Recommended companies:
- Grangers;
- Toko Triumph sport;
- Nikwax.
It is not necessary to give preference to foreign manufacturers when buying the most expensive product.
It is even permissible to use Eared Nanny gel, if you clearly remember the recommended dosage: it should be half that of a professional one.
Types of ski suits
Fabrics that are used to sew ski suits have the following mandatory characteristics. This may include:
- high strength;
- wear resistance;
- vapor permeability;
- elasticity;
- water and wind resistance.
That is why several different types of fabrics are used in their production: membrane material, polyester, lycra, fleece. Membrane technologies are used in the production of professional ski clothing. It is designed for very active athletes and is ready to withstand any difficult weather conditions. The peculiarity of such sportswear is that it breathes, that is, it allows evaporation from the surface of the body (sweat) to pass through, but protects against the penetration of moisture from the outside. There are also products for beginners, whose protective indicators are much lower.
The surface of such jackets and trousers is treated with special substances. Such impregnations also impart membrane properties to the fabric. Moisture-repellent impregnations are also used. To ensure that the suit does not lose all its properties, it must be washed, taking into account some subtleties.
Is it possible to hand wash clothes with a membrane?
The procedure takes a lot of time , but thanks to it the appearance and functionality of the product is better preserved.
To wash your ski jacket by hand, you will need:
Prepare a large container. You can use a basin, but a bath is more convenient. Fill it with water at a temperature of no more than 40 degrees.- Dissolve a special detergent for washing membrane products in water. It is better not to use powder, since it does not dissolve completely, clogging the porous material.
- Place clothes in the container. You don’t have to wait for it to get wet enough and start washing right away.
It is important not to rub the jacket too hard; the use of brushes and similar tools is contraindicated . Once the stains have been removed, the clothes should be squeezed out only slightly so that most of the liquid drains away.
At the end, you need to rinse the jacket as follows:
- You should fill a bathtub or large basin with clean water with a temperature of no more than 30 degrees.
- Immerse the product and leave for 10-20 minutes.
- Then you need to take out the jacket and let the bulk of the liquid drain. During this, draw new water.
- After the next dive, it won’t hurt to lightly knead the item with your hands.
If desired, you can use an antisthetic that is added to the water during the last rinse.
Read about how to wash a jacket made of membrane fabric here.
Tips and tricks
- Washing should take place as rarely as possible, since with prolonged interaction with water, the quality of things will quickly be lost.
- Before processing, you should carefully read the information on the label - it contains information about proper washing and drying. It's worth taking them into account.
- If you have doubts about the success of cleaning at home, you should take your jacket to the dry cleaner.
- Before storing a down item, you need to make sure it is completely dry, otherwise lumps will form in the filling.
Recommended products for washing ski jackets:
- Ecowoo, gel-like product for sportswear. It is suitable for lycra and neoprene. The membrane is washed carefully and there is no damage. The gel is also used for thermal underwear, down suits, sports shoes and sleeping bags. It is considered environmentally friendly.
- Cotico. The product is made specifically for washing clothes made from high-tech sports material. Tested by Russian experts. Can be used for manual and automatic processing. Used for suits, sleeping bags, air mattresses with velor, tents. The gel is absolutely safe for the membrane.
- Burti Sport. Shampoo for hand and machine washing. Made for membrane fleece suits with down and feather fillings. Perfectly removes dirt and stubborn stains from sweat. There is no air conditioner included.
- SODASAN Acyive Sport. Gel for high quality sportswear. Manufacturer – Germany. Made for processing ski suits and other active sports clothing. Material: microfiber, membrane (sympathex, gortex). The product is environmentally friendly, with it the fabric does not lose its properties. They are even used for sports shoes. Use for hand and machine wash.
- NORDLAND is a shampoo for sportswear. Manufacturer – Germany. You can use it to wash ski suits, fabrics with high-quality impregnations, overalls, thermal underwear, and down jackets. The product is not dangerous for the membrane. It is considered environmentally friendly and does not lead to allergic reactions.
The listed gels and shampoos do not foam too much, so they are used for automatic treatment of suits.
Video: how to wash a ski jacket with a membrane in a washing machine?
What mode is in the automatic washing machine?
If the product tag indicates that it is machine washable, you can safely begin the process.
This requires:
Lightly clean external contaminants (for example, dry dirt residues), remove all small items from pockets.- Turn the jacket outside, after fastening the zippers. Unlike other fabrics, the membrane does not require soaking.
- In order not to spoil the material, in addition to the jacket, it is recommended to place only membrane products in the drum of the washing machine. It’s better not to download anything additional at all.
- Pour liquid detergent for membrane fabrics into the washing powder compartment.
- Washing is carried out on a delicate cycle at a temperature of 30 degrees. Among the types of material you should choose synthetics. If you don't have a delicate cycle, you can choose to wash wool.
It is important to set the number of revolutions at no more than 600 . Additional procedures such as machine drying and ironing can be destructive for membrane fabric. But an additional rinse will help remove any remaining detergent from the fibers.
Lifehacks
To properly wash and dry a down jacket, it is not enough to choose the right washing mode and detergent. There are some useful tips on how to properly wash a down jacket in the washing machine at home and maintain its appearance.
Tennis balls
Quite often, down jackets are washed with tennis balls. If you use this advice, you can prevent the formation of clumps from the litter. This will also make it easier to restore the structure of the jacket after washing.
The disadvantages of this method are that it is difficult to find the balls. Most tennis balls are characterized by bright colors, which are not always of high quality. During the washing process, it can fade and stain the jacket. Use snow-white tennis balls or other alternative accessories.
What can replace balls?
You can replace the balls with massage accessories. They are made of dense rubber, and there are protrusions on the surface. When the washing machine drum rotates, the spikes will act on the filler, preventing it from clumping.
Potatoes are often used instead of tennis balls. You need to peel them and wash them thoroughly. The tubers will whip up the filler, preventing the formation of lumps. The only nuance is that potatoes are not suitable for washing dark colors, because washing a down jacket with down can leave white stains.
To avoid unpleasant consequences, use young potatoes. Rinse it thoroughly first.
Drying Features
Down jackets should be dried in a vertical position. It is better to hang them on hard hangers. Hang clothes away from heating devices. First you need to break the filler balls, if any have formed.
Features of filler expansion
If after washing the filler has formed into balls, they can be broken up in several ways:
- With a vacuum cleaner. Remove the nozzle and run the tube along the inside of the jacket.
- Hand massager. Run it over the jacket to smooth out the fluff.
Now you know how to wash a down jacket in a machine. The choice of mode depends on what material the down jacket is made of. You can also look at the information on the label. Watch your choice of detergents and dry things properly.
How to dry it properly?
Even if clothes need to be dried as soon as possible, placing them on heating devices (radiators, various heaters) is strictly not recommended.
Only the following options are allowed:
- The product can be placed on a dry, absorbent fabric. As the fabric gets wet, it is replaced with a new one.
- It is important to lay out the jacket well so that it takes the correct shape while drying. This is the surest way to avoid wrinkles, because ironing such clothes is undesirable.
- A good option would be to hang your jacket on hangers. This can only be done after a large amount of water has drained.
Drying is best done in the fresh air. To do this, you need to choose a slightly shaded place, since the sun's rays have a negative effect on the membrane.
After complete drying, it is useful to treat the fabric with a special impregnation . Sprays and gels from Salamander, Olvist, Kongur performed well.
The jacket is processed as follows:
The product is spread on a flat surface in a well-ventilated area.- The spray is sprayed onto the fabric at a distance of about 20 cm, then the clothing is left to dry completely.
- Impregnation gels require more manipulation, because you need to soak the item in them. In this case, you must strictly follow the instructions.
It is important to choose a special agent for impregnating the membrane . Analogues intended for other synthetic fabrics are absolutely not suitable.
Drying
Drying a down jacket requires some care. It is best to place the product on a wire rack or on a special drying rack.
You cannot hang a down jacket on hangers, as this increases the risk of deformation of the product. You cannot dry winter clothes near a radiator or radiator.
The presence of special drying rules is indicated by a specific icon on the tag. You should not hang a washed down jacket in a damp, unventilated area, otherwise it will take a long time to dry and acquire an unpleasant musty smell.
It is also not recommended to dry the down jacket in the sun, as this leads to rapid fading of the color.
The best option is to hang the product in the shade:
- in the fresh air,
- on the balcony,
- loggias.
Good ventilation is especially important if the jacket was washed with products that have an unpleasant odor, for example, gasoline, ammonia, vinegar, etc.
