When preparing for a hiking trip, you should always play it safe, especially in autumn, when the weather is often unstable. With waterproof shoes and shell clothes, you make camping more comfortable in the event of a sudden downpour or possible crossings of waterways.
You've probably treated your hiking boots with a protective agent, but did you know that shell clothing also requires regular maintenance? Detergent and impregnation designed for membrane (e.g. Gore-Tex, Dry Maxx) clothes improve the garment's waterproofness, breathability and ability to repel dirt. With regular maintenance, you can extend the life of the garment by up to years. Maintaining camping gear is both economical and ecological! Get tips for a successful washing process here.
Washing shell clothing
1. Wash the shell garment with all zippers and labels closed, right side out.
2. Check the washing temperature on the washcloth of the garment and on the side of the detergent can. Often 30 degrees is a sufficient temperature to get a good result.
3. Always use liquid detergent to wash shell clothing. We recommend using a detergent specifically intended for washing shell clothing, as ordinary detergent may be too strong and damage the surface of shell clothing. A good alternative for detergent is Grangers, for example Performance Wash . Follow the detergent dosing instructions exactly.
4. Do not use fabric softener or bleach when washing shell clothes, as these will ruin the membrane of the garment. For best results, clean the washing machine of fabric softener and bleach before washing camping clothes.
5. Make sure the garment is washed thoroughly! You can rinse the garment by hand, or use the additional rinse of the washing machine.
6. Do not use spin in the washing program, let the garment dry on a level or wide hanger, depending.
Impregnation of shell clothing
In addition to washing, shell clothing should be soaked regularly. Impregnation does not necessarily have to be done after every wash, you will notice the need for impregnation at the latest when the water no longer bubbles on the surface of the garment. The impregnation exists in both a sprayable and a washable version. The impregnation is always added to clean, freshly washed clothing.
The impregnating agent to be sprayed is usually sprayed onto a wet cloth, from a distance of about 15 cm. Make sure you have sprayed thoroughly in every area. After a couple of minutes, wipe the excess, dripping substance from the surface of the garment with a damp rag and let it dry properly.
Washable impregnation as the name implies, is added to the washing machine, NOT at the same time as the detergent, but in a separate washing program. Follow the dosing instructions on the package and let the washing program run normally until the end (including rinsing). After washing, dry the garment either with a line or, if allowed by the care instructions, in a tumble dryer at low heat. It is recommended to use a laundry bag in the tumble dryer, which protects the surface of the garment from mechanical abrasion. Please note that too hot a temperature can damage the membrane of the garment.
Which one to choose, sprayable or washable impregnation? If the garment has a lining, choose a spray-on impregnation. The washable impregnation spreads with the washing water over the entire area of ​​the garment, including the lining fabric, and may then spoil the fabric's breathability. The advantage of washable impregnation is that it spreads evenly everywhere and the end result is seamless. On the other hand, it is easy to dose more of the substance to be sprayed on areas that are subjected to greater consumption (e.g. on the shoulders of a jacket, in the area of ​​the shoulder blades of a backpack or on the back of pants).
Heat treatment
After washing and impregnation, heat treatment is recommended for shelled clothing. Not all impregnations require heat treatment to work, but heat activates the water-repellent DWR treatment of the surface fabric to work more effectively. Heat treatment can be done by keeping the garment in a warm drying cabinet for a few minutes, in a tumble dryer (if the washing instructions allow) or by ironing at low heat. If you iron the garment, remember to protect it by placing a towel between the iron and the garment.
In our selection you will find plenty of washing and care products suitable for different materials. You can find the entire selection of maintenance products here .