HOW TO WASH YOUR SKI CLOTHES?
When the winter sports season is over, it's time for a big clean up. Follow our tips on how to wash your ski clothes.
How to wash your ski jacket and trousers?
Before washing your ski clothes, it is important to check the label and follow the instructions given by the manufacturer. Most of the time, machine washing is possible. Here's how to do it:
Even before machine washing, it is important to gently scrub the most stubborn stains (in spots like: collar, cuffs/handwrist, underarms...) with a soap-soaked nail brush. Take the time to rinse well with a damp flannel. After closing the main zip of your jacket, opening the snaps and velcro fasteners of your waterproof jacket and trousers, and loosening the hood cords, place your ski clothes in the drum.
For effective cleaning of your outfit, you should not overload your washing machine. This may force you to clean your jacket and trousers separately. If you're wondering how to wash your down jacket, there's no need to worry, as you can simply repeat the same operations and add wash balls that will limit the clumping of feathers together. The spinning should be delicate and not exceed 800 rpm.
If the manufacturer advises washing ski clothes by hand or if your outfit is too bulky to fit in your washing machine without completely filling it, as is often the case for a ski suit, then you'll need some elbow grease to wash it yourself!
How to clean your ski suit by hand?
Washing your ski jacket by hand? Nothing could be easier, you just need to have some time ahead of you! Here are the key steps to keep the technical qualities of your ski clothes:
- Run warm water in your bathtub and add a mild soap.
- Then soak your jacket, trousers or ski suit, pressing down well so that the water soaks in and removes the stains.
- Turn your ski suit inside out several times, always pressing and cleaning stubborn stains with a nail brush and soap.
- Rinse for a long time with warm water using the shower head, which you will walk over the entire surface of your ski suit while squeezing it out of the soapy water.
- To spin, squeeze your ski clothes without ever twisting them. Once as much water as possible has been removed, place them between two bath towels to fine-tune the spin before moving on to a thorough drying.
And if you're looking for tips on how to wash your hiking jacket, it's exactly the same procedure. Indeed, if they have a thinner padding, it is the same technical materials that are used to ensure its waterproofing and breathability.
GOOD TO KNOW: AVOID DRY CLEANING AND POWDER DETERGENT
The solvents used for dry cleaning are the worst enemy of ski clothing. This is because they severely damage the waterproofing and breathability of ski jackets, trousers and ski suits. As for washing powder, it risks clogging the pores of your technical fabric and hindering the evacuation of perspiration.
Washing your ski clothes well to prolong their waterproofing
Ski clothes have membranes that give them very good waterproofing. If cleaning them can alter these technical qualities, so can dirt. So you might as well adopt the right gestures to wash your ski clothes and keep a waterproof and breathable jacket for many years.
The first thing to do when you want to wash your ski jacket or trousers is to choose a detergent suitable for the padding material (feather, down or synthetic). If your waterproof jacket has been used very little and still offers ironclad waterproofness, a simple run in the machine will be sufficient. Whether you use a technical detergent or a conventional detergent, be sure to rinse several times to remove all traces of soap.
Warmth reactivates the properties of Gore-Tex, the most widely used waterproof and breathable membrane. So unless you're told otherwise, running your ski suit through the tumble dryer will improve its waterproofing. If you don't have one, air dry your clothes and, when dry, place a towel over the outer surface and iron at the temperature suitable for delicate fabrics.
How to waterproof your ski clothes?
If the water resistance of your ski jacket or trousers is showing signs of weakness, it's time to restore the waterproofing of your clothes. The easiest way to do this is to choose an immersion process. After rinsing the detergent compartment, pour your waterproofing treatment into it. Run your washing machine again with your clean ski cloth in it. Depending on the waterproofing treatment you choose, the laundry dryer may or may not be necessary. If it is and you don't have one, proceed as after a classic cleaning: drying and then ironing the outer surface through a towel.
TIP: A DROP OF WATER TO TEST WATERPROOFING
To find out if your jacket needs to improve its waterproofing, simply put a few drops of water on the outer membrane. If the water slides off, a wash will suffice; if it penetrates, you'll need a waterproofing treatment.
Down, a delicate drying process
Highly insulating and very light, feathers and down are used in the manufacture of many ski clothes. Once your ski suit or waterproof jacket has been washed, you should therefore take certain precautions when drying. The laundry dryer will offer you the easiest and quickest solution, as all you need to do is place a few wash balls in the drum with your outfit and run on a gentle drying cycle for as long as you need, turning it over every 10 minutes. Once your jacket or ski trousers are dry, leave them for another 20 minutes inside the laundry dryer to reactivate the water repellency.
To air dry, place your outfit on a flat drying rack. Don't put it in direct sunlight or next to a heat source and turn it inside out morning and night while breaking up any clumped feather balls. You can also shake it to help it regain its volume. It may take several days to dry though.
Knowing how to wash your ski clothes will not only ensure optimal comfort but also maintain the technical qualities of your outfit and thus prolong their lifespan.
THE THREE KEY POINTS FOR KNOWING HOW TO WASH YOUR SKI CLOTHES:
- Before washing your ski clothes, it is mandatory to refer to the care instructions recommended by the manufacturer.
- It is recommended not to clean ski clothing fitted with a waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex type membrane with washing powder.
- Once your ski suit or waterproof jacket has been washed, you can apply a specific treatment to restore its waterproofness.