It’s easy to wash membrane clothes: simple rules for the care of your sports items

Having spent a decent amount on a high-quality ski jacket or tracking suit, you will probably want to learn how to wash membrane clothes so that its unique properties please you as long as possible. How easy is it to wreck a membrane? Does she really need special delicate care? How to make sure that its water-repellent properties do not weaken over time? We will answer all these questions in order.

Do not worry about washing

In fact, things from the membrane of a new generation are not as easy to spoil as you might think. Yes, they cannot be called unkillable, but your suit, jacket or pants can easily survive loading into a washing machine or hand washing. But under certain conditions.

Detergent Selection

For a long time, it was believed that the powder capsules clog the micropores of the membrane, depriving it of one of the most important qualities: the outward conductivity of sweat. Yes, the water-repellent properties are not violated, but membrane things are appreciated for the ability to "breathe", and it would be very disappointing to start sweating in an expensive membrane suit. That is why it is recommended to use liquid detergents, which certainly will not remain in micropores.

Also, the more natural and softer the product, the better. Of course, you can use special detergents for membrane things, but your ski suit can be washed off no worse than any non-aggressive liquid detergent: from capsules for washing machines of popular powder brands to ordinary liquid soap. The main thing is that the product should be free of chlorine and air conditioning, and also not intended to remove stains.

Tip

If you are annoyed by the dirty stain that you got at the very beginning of the season, it is not necessary to wash the thing because of it. Simply remove dried dirt with a dry cloth or brush! Yes, the quality of cleaning will be lower, but it will not be necessary to carry out long-term washing, drying, ironing and processing according to all the canons.

Washer or hand wash?

By and large, both methods are suitable for washing membrane suits or jackets, and even recommendations on them are the same. So you can resort to any of them if you follow the basic rules for washing.

• Do not wash clothes after each trip to the ski slope: you are tormented to dry and treat them each time with impregnation. Instead, wash them only once after the season. Membrane fabric has the ability to absorb odors, and although complaints about the smell of sweat are extremely rare, in this case, you can wash the item additionally in the middle of the season, but not more often.
• The membrane does not tolerate high temperatures, so washing in hot water is contraindicated. The water temperature should not exceed 40 ° C, but it is better to refer to the instructions for a more detailed recommendation from the manufacturer. Maybe it’s your ski jacket or suit that can be washed only at temperatures up to 30 ° C, and even in manual mode. Do not forget the importance of the information on the tag!
• Do not wash membrane things with other things, especially if there is a lot of dirt on them, because the membrane absorbs small particles of dust and other impurities that can no longer be taken out of the deep layers of the fabric “sandwich”. If she herself is very dirty? We recommend that you first brush off and wipe off the maximum dirt with a dry cloth or brush.
• Membrane clothing will not be damaged by additional rinsing, especially if you still washed it with granular powder.This applies to washing in the washing machine, and washing by hand.
• You can squeeze the membrane only at low speeds, and even better, just let the water drain without unnecessary mechanical stress.

And do not forget to fasten all zippers and fasteners before you start washing!

Tip

If you choose a hand wash, then it should pass without being washed and wrung out with a twist, otherwise the hydrophobic impregnation will be very quickly wiped off, and other materials used in addition to the membrane will become unusable.

What about drying, ironing and care?

If you do not forget that the membrane does not like high temperatures, then when drying and ironing you definitely will not ruin the thing. You will be surprised, but such things can be dried even in a typewriter or dryer in the most gentle mode. If this option does not suit you, then dry as usual.

• When water drains, spread clothes on a horizontal dryer and let things dry at room temperature.
• Or hang the item on a vertical dryer and wait for it to dry even at room temperature.

But using a heater or battery is not worth it: they generate too much heat, which in the end can be fatal to the material.

Ironing with proper drying is not necessary, but if you decide to iron, then only through a layer of fairly thick cotton. For example, through a towel.

Well, do not forget to restore the hydrophobic coating using special impregnations: it is not necessary to do this, and the membrane will not pass water anyway, but if you want the water to effectively drip from the jacket with drops, and not remain on it, then you will have to soak it all get one.

Caring for membrane clothes is not so complicated and observing simple recommendations for washing, drying and ironing such things, you can enjoy the cleanliness of suits and jackets without fear of spoiling them.