Wash and Dry your Klim & MotorFist Gear

[FirstPlaceParts]

Hello:

I posted this a couple of seasons ago so I thought it was time to say it again. We went to a couple of shows and people were surprised when I told them to wash and dry their Klim Gear.

Here are some direct quotes from the Gore-Tex site;

"Wash your garment as often as you need to. In fact, washing and tumble-drying will actually help restore the water-repellency performance of a GORE-TEX® garment."

"There's no mystery here. Just toss your GORE-TEX® garment in the washing machine in warm (104° F/40° C) water. Use powder or liquid detergent, but skip the fabric softener and chlorine bleach, please. Then tumble-dry on a normal warm setting and you're ready to go. That's it. Be sure to read the manufacturer's care tag in your garment for specific instructions."

Thanks
Mark

 

[milehighassassin]

Agreed. I have always kept my jackets clean. I also highly recommend Nix Wax Wash:
http://www.nikwax-usa.com/en-gb/products/productdetail.php?productid=3&activity=

This is a wash in treatment to waterproof the shell of your jacket/pants/etc. The goretex lining is waterproof but not your shell. This will help to keep water out of the inside of the jacket. Goretex also recommend these products to protect the shell.

They also make a detergent which is friendly on your jackets. Some regular detergents can be harsh on them.
http://www.nikwax-usa.com/en-gb/products/productdetail.php?productid=4&activityid=1

 

[FirstPlaceParts]

Washing

I was going to add this in my first post but did not want to make it to long. Here is another quote from the GORE-TEX site, I highlighted a section of their quote:

"GORE-TEX® outerwear:
Just machine wash it, rinse it, and put it in the dryer, being sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the care label inside. The washing removes dirt and other contaminants and the heat from the dryer helps redistribute the DWR treatment on the fabric surface.
If water fails to bead up on the surface of your cleaned and tumble-dried garment, its DWR treatment has reached the end of its useful life. But don’t worry: You can restore the garment’s water repellency by applying a topical water repellency restorative (DWR treatment) for outdoor fabrics, available at your local outdoor retailer. We do not recommend wash-in treatments, as they can hinder your garment's breathability."


The reason they do not want a wash-in treatment is because it will fill the pores that allow Gore-Tex to breath and prevent water from entering. If these pores are filled the water will seep through them and not allow vapor out.


Here is the link to some of the Gore info: Gore-Tex


The last post is correct, Gore-Tex will keep the water away from you, but the shell will not bead water after several washes.


Take a new Klim garment and pour water on it, it will run off. Then take one that is some what old, the water will not bead off the shell.


Here is a link to a product that will restore that water beading:


Revivex


Thanks
Mark

 

[H.I. McDunna]

From eVent Fabrics website:

"Regular washing of your eVent garment will enhance product performance. Your garment may be machine washed in warm water (110F / 40C) with liquid detergent, and we recommend a second rinse to remove all traces of detergent from the fabric."

 

[CatWoman]

Thanks for the thread and posts! I just got Revivex last year....can't be having a wet bottom!

And FPP/Mark....you better re-stock (only 1 beer left)..LOL

 

[milehighassassin]

Interesting that Gore-Tex takes that approach. Because Nix-Wax will not bond with synthetic material like Gore-Tex that is breathable. Anything that is water repellent, Nix-wax will not bond to because it is water based:

Nikwax treatments coat fabric and leather fibres with a network of elastic TX.10i water-repellent molecules. They bond to anything that is not water-repellent, but leave the spaces between fibres open and breathable. Nikwax treatments can flex and move with the fabric and leather fibres. That is why Nikwax treatments can withstand several washings and remain whereas the competitors must be re-applied after each wash.

http://www.nikwax.com/en-us/how_nikwax_works/introduction.php

I have used Nix Wax for probably 12 years+. No issues using it on Goretex. To each their own I suppose. Goretex works great for a liner but if the surface of your jacket becomes saturated with water it will freeze and be cold, plus the added weight and the damaging effects of water on the material.

 

[MT boondocker]

Was told by Klim to use only powdered detergent when washing their clothing.

 

[FirstPlaceParts]

Powder or Liquid

I use liquid, not sure why powder would be better?

Anyway, thanks for the info.

 

[CatWoman]

I use liquid, not sure why powder would be better?

Anyway, thanks for the info.

I use liquid as well. When Klim was on the Live Chat last week-end, they did talk about laundering Klim gear, but there was no mention of only using powder detergent by the reps.

 

[FirstPlaceParts]

Washing Gear

I truly think that it does not matter what you wash them with, no Bleach of course, but that you do wash them.

***And dry your gear also, in the dryer do not hang dry. We have been talking about washing a lot, we need to point out again that the drying process does more to make them waterproof than the washing does.***

Thanks
Mark

 

[FirstPlaceParts]

Wash Your Klim and MotorFirst Geat

Time to get this to the top again.

 

[The Fourth Wolf]

I've been washing my Gore-Tex garments in Sports Wash and drip-drying for years. No issues.

This one time, at band camp....I stuck my jacket in the dryer and the Gore-Tex shrunk. Ruin't it.

 

[Horsepower800]

Thanks for the info Mark, good post, good reminder. I appreciated the help in keeping all my gear in top condition, regardless of what it is.

 

[FirstPlaceParts]

Not sure what happened to your gear when you dried it, this is the first time I have heard of that. I've probably dried my Klim jacket 20 or 30 times.

***The drying process is what renews the breathability and water proof-ness of the Klim gear.

Thanks
Mark

 

[Code Blue]

Kool good to know, I used to work for a company that rented air beds to hospitals and we washed the dickens out of the gore-tex sheets even used lots of bleach to sanitize, and I don't ever remember a set wearing out..

 

[FirstPlaceParts]

Wash and Dry your Klim and MotorFist

Old post but it is good info to know, so To The Top.

 

[WingNutRacing]

Interesting

I don't know how many different articles of sled gear we've had, or how many thousands of dollars we've spent on them, it doesn't really matter.. The point is, you take care of this stuff, its not cheap!!! So, my wife makes damn sure her stuff is lookin good, and reads all the care tags and washing instructions, and, of course she feels free to inform me of all this....


Well, here's my bitch... I bought a jacket, which I liked, but, had an issue. Called to get the issue resolved, got treated like chit, and they accused my wife of drying it incorrectly...!!!!!

I thought, are you kiddin me, who doesn't read the care instructions on a $300 jacket??? Well their customer service was, to be frank, assanine. I just gave up on them...

 

[FirstPlaceParts]

What jacket was it and what was wrong with it.

 

[trikerider]

Check out the 4th and 6th post on this thread. It's KLIM writing about washing and if your gear is leaking.

http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=308700&highlight=washing