How often do you wash your ski trousers/jacket?

A snowHead

Just curious.

I washed my jacket and trousers with Grangers liquid tonight, because after getting all my stuff down from the loft (YAY!), I decided they were minging.

I hate washing them, even with the proper stuff, because I never think they're the same afterwards.

How many weeks do you leave it before washing your gear?

This is the first time they've been washed since new (they were new last year!).

A snowHead

My trousers get washed after each ski week. Jacket usually serves as everyday winter coat at home, so probably twice a year.

I'm guessing that you don't suffer from Betty Swallocks when you ski. Even a week is getting borderline for the trousers.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

You need to Login to know who's really who.

None of my gear has ever suffered from being bunged in the washing machine. Stops being waterproof fairly quickly, but if it is raining you really should be sitting in a pub Smile

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Salopettes after every trip, then proofed with nikwax. *jacket* is a wool Dale of Norway one so I daren't wash it....

You'll need to Register first of course.

Trousers weekly ish. Jacket never unless something horrific happens to it.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Pre-season both Tech wash and Tech wash thro proof. Maybe mid season or if noticeably grubby or smelly. Or if they begin to lose DWR.

After all it is free

What's everyone's preferred brand of reproofer?

I used grangers wash and reproof recently and wasn't overly impressed....

Techwash. Goretex supposedly performs better if kept clean. I wash mid-season before going home for the French hols, then at the end. I wouldn't wash trousers after four days wear! Always wear two clean layers (short ones if it's warm) underneath, though.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

tomb, did you tumble dry after?

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

I wash my mid and outer layers after 1 to 2 weeks of skiing because, as pam w says above, dirt affects breathability of technical fabrics. Using suitable tech wash and DWR treatment has meant that the waterproofness and breathability has not suffered from the frequent washing.

snow reports

tomb, I usually use Nikwax Techwash and reproofer.

I am intrigued by this now. I usually just wash with pure soap. What are some good tech wash and DWR treatments I could look into?

You know it makes sense.

My stuff just goes in the washing machine when I get back from a ski trip, same as any other clothing.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Wow! I am a tramp compared to you lot.
I hardly ever wash ski jacket - and then only if it was a bit stinky.
Now with Arc'teryx Sidewinder: I rather assumed was self-cleaning (never washed it).
Trousers only cleaned at end of season, if I remember.
Logic I think goes something like this: so many layers underneath, so no dirt from within.
And I fall over so much, the snow cleans the outside.

A snowHead

Jonpim, I only washed my old jacket often because it was white, and boy did it look dirty by the end of the season, and my trousers when the amount of lunch on them became too much to bear. Laughing

A snowHead

This is the benefit of shells and layers, rather than insulated outers. I've not washed my trousers at all last season and they still are fine. They dry out fully every night, my base layers are washed regularly and I've not seen an issue with them feeling or smelling grubby. My jacket needs a wash, but that's mainly because I've worn it at other times and it's got grubby on the outside, mainly from handling muddy motorcycles at races in Wales

When I do wash, I use dreft. I've still got half a box left, but it seems it's gone all detergent now the same as the rest. I don't see the point in buying expensive branded technical washes which are, in effect, a soap rather than a detergent. Anyone got any other recommendations?

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Trousers after 5 or 6 weeks but only if dirty and never wash jackets.

The smell is usually caused by storing wet and allowing mold to develop rather than dirt from you or the environment. Make sure the clothing is thoroughly dry before storing and then store in a cool ventilated place.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

I'm with Feef. Never washed any of my stuff, it's all shell so I wear at least a full length thermal top/bottoms. None of my kit is dirty nor does it smell. (apart from my jacket which has some black rubber marks from a sled, and i don't think they'll wash off).

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

I've tried Grangers for the first time, I hope it's good. I've tried Nikwax in the past and it was OK.

My stuff isn't shell, and the wrists of my jacket smelt 'orrible!

You'll need to Register first of course.

HoneyBunny, ....it's 1999, merino is new in the UK....we're in the garage talkng bikes, waiting for the snow....

Anthony
'...this new icebreaker is great....'

Me
'yeh, with synthetics....you usually honk after a couple of days, you stinker...'

Ant
'....I've been checking this out to see how long it is before I start stinking....'

Me
'...so how long have been wearing that top...?'

Ant
'...just over two weeks...'

Me
'...really!!?...'

Ant
'...yep...and although it's got a bit crunchy in the armpits, it doesn't smell....'

Me
'...(Gag)...!!!!!+++***.....'

I use a LOT of gear. Re-treating DWR is never as good as the original, unless I've been missing something. I've used everything, spray, wash, rub-in - nikwak, graingers, etc etc

So...outers never get washed, they just get rinsed with a shower head to get the grime off when it will still wash off. I use the 'wash thermals and mid layers frequently, outers seldom; model. By seldom, some of my outers are five years old and never been washed. I have loads of outers rather than one which I run into the ground, and by running loads each individual one lasts much longer in terms of DWR.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

I wash my ski pants and jacket after every week of use - usually 4 a year. The salt rings that form on my jacket and ski pants make this a must! I have not treated my TNF jacket ever in over ten years of use. I get so wet from sweat that this negates any need for waterproofing!

After all it is free

under a new name, yes I did, but only on a very low temp....

I also used the combo wash/reproof. Next time I think I should buy the reproof spray so that I can better target areas of high wear.

What's everyone's thoughts on spray versus wash-in reproof??

Also is it good practice to wash a goretex jacket with a set of eVent trousers?

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

I'm in the "I believe the manufacturers when they tell me that keeping dirt out of the pores of my microporus stuff is a good idea" camp, although I've not conducted any scientific tests of the theory. Translation: I wash my stuff every three weeks or so, using the right stuff. That way you can retain the surface water hydrophobic thing and I believe that the breathability business still works. Plus I don't want to be smelly.

Never trued the spray-on stuff, as I'm washing my gear anyway..

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

philwig, i'm obviously aware that they wont be aware of each others presence.... Confused

I was referring to the wash process of the 2 fabrics, are they both washed at the same temp? Dried at the same temp, etc??

snow reports

I looked around for another soap to try besides the nikwax tech wash types.

The only liquid natural soap I found was a uk product where I was told the other stergene and gentle wool type products are still just detergent ...whatever it was enough to try it ?
As detergents and anionic surfectants cause wetting out unless rinsed away.

DRIPAK liquid soap flakes in the bigger Tesco £2.40-3.00 @750ml is claimed to be uk,s only natural soap its the only one I could find in liquid .It may be in waitrose but not all Tesco have it as I tried about three which is something to do with store size ?.

Having a lot of button/poma marks with the dwr wearing off on the butt of my pants I needed to wash more pairs than usual plus I now use this for all the merino and synthetic layers.
I mailed them to ask about destroying the dwr coating on ski gear using the product and the response seemed techy positive so those little nikwax tech wash bottles are out.

Still use nikwax spray though as it seems to be the favoured product vs grangers.
It would,nt surprise me if another comes on the market soon and I noticed the jack wolfskin store was selling its version.

Pretty much only when water stops beading properly. AFAIK only eVent and NeoShell really require regular washing. Base and mid layers obviously get washed much more regularly.

You know it makes sense.

Fabsil gold for reproofing, water off a ducks back.

Paint on with a brush though, much better coverage for your money.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Fabsil gold for reproofing, water off a ducks back.

A snowHead

Wash all my 'outers in lukewarm water with no soap . . . just gets rid of any obvious dirt and any sweat salt that might have worked through my layers. They don't whiff at all and don't lose waterproofing.

A snowHead

CAPTA1N P, does that stuff not interfere with breathability?

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

I come home from a trip and wash the gear, I then dry it well, and put it away. However I am ski ing so long that I realise ski gear is like everything, you may mind it but it will look out dated in no time and yahoos like on here will say oh look they are wearing....... . So we have spyder gear and I love it, it does what we want it to do, wash, dry , and store. That is the thing. Base layers get washed a lot.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

You'll need to Register first of course.

Dont wash any outer gear after being abroad but after boarding in the countryside here theres often massive muddy (hope its mud) marks on the trousers so Ill stick them in the machine but just with the usual powder

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Be very careful with tumble drying, folks - my bright yellow and black Columbia jacket turned into Goose-Crap Green and Black after a wash and reproofing and an unregulated tumble dry... But still with yellow zips.
Some sHs who met me in Les Arcs 2005 reckoned I was a closet boarder it was so dull and gothic. Ideal for grouse shooting!!!

I'd let any ski gear you wash/re-treat dry naturally.

Frequency of washing - jacket only when cuffs and neck get noticeably grotty. Salopettes - after a trip.

After all it is free

Dubaian, If you use NikWax, etc. you have to tumble dry to activate the protection.

Looks like everyones on the same page with this.... NOT!

If the pores get blocked then clearly your garment will no longer function well so you should be able to tell. At that point it would make sense to wash as per the manufacturers instructions... which is usually in some reproofing wash stuff.

I'm in the wash as little as possible camp. I don't roll around in the dirt or go apres in my gear so I guess that helps.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

I only ever wash outerwear after doing a week in Austria, the apres is messy, very messy!

When I do this is what I do;

Clean washing machine by running a water only cycle. I normally throw in some jeans so not to waste water - strictly no detergent.
I use Nikwax Techwash which is good for Gore Tex and non gore tex garments
Then I allow to dry naturally until its almost dry but not quite
Low heat cycle in tumble drier normally for about 15 - 20 mins

Works a treat, unless you went to Fire & Ice and your pants got f***ed. Still can't explain how so need new pants!

Help!!

How often do you wash your ski trousers/jacket?

snowHeads Forum Index >>> The Piste