J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by AllyG

Tony_H wrote:

gadgetgirl79 wrote: ...
I just stuck it in a 30C wash with normal washing powder just before I went skiing, thinking if it ruined it, then I'd just have to buy myself a new one. :)

Thats all you need to do to freshen up ski clothes, unless they are trashed with oil like Ally's daughters sallos, in which case I'd probably replace them with new ones at a cheap price.

To be honest, I find I only wear sallos and ski jackets when I ski, and therefore they just dont get dirty. Maybe a freshen up wash over the summer once a year.....thats all thats needed. How do the rest of you gbet your stuff so dirty?

Tony,
The whole reason I started this thread is because the label on my daughter's ski trousers says you're NOT supposed to wash them with ordinary washing powder. You're only supposed to use 'liquid soap' (whatever that is) or a specialist cleaner. I think ordinary powders/liquids may damage the breathability and waterproofing, so that you then have to re-wash them with the special stuff and re-waterproof them.

And you can't see any of the oil stain on my daughter's ski trousers now that they've dried out on the line. So that special cleaner is very good.

I would have thought, myself, it's well worth spending about 50 pence per garment washing them with the correct stuff, seeing as ski clothes can cost hundreds of pounds.

Ally

Edit
This is what Goretex have to say, if you have an outer layer of it on your ski clothes. I think the most important bit is that they say to follow the label - which on my daughter's ski trousers says only liquid soap or their own specialist cleaner stuff:

What's the best way to clean my GORE-TEX® garment?Just put your GORE-TEX® garment in the washing machine in warm (104° F/40° C) water. Use powder or liquid detergent, don't use fabric softener and chlorine bleach. 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. See our Care Center for more information.

How often can I wash my GORE-TEX® garment?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. See our Care Center for more information.

Can GORE-TEX® fabric be dry-cleaned?Dry-cleaning does not harm the GORE-TEX® membrane. However, follow the manufacturer's care instructions on your particular garment to make sure they recommend dry cleaning for it. If you do go the professional dry-cleaning route, request clear, distilled solvent rinse and spray repellent.

Why do I need to use a water repellent treatment on my GORE-TEX® product?Gore shell fabrics, the outermost fabric layer of a GORE-TEX® garment, are treated with an ultra thin polymer coating known as DWR, or durable water repellent. This coating causes water to bead up and roll off the outer layer of fabric, instead of being absorbed.
Water repellent outer fabric provides additional insulation and prevents liquid from saturating your garment's outer fabric, a condition known as "wet out" that can make you feel damp and clammy. Your garment may even feel like it's leaking, although it's not.
Regular wear and tear, plus exposure to dirt, detergents, and other impurities, causes DWR failure. The effective life of the DWR depends upon how you care for your garment and how rigorously it is used. The most effective way to maintain your Gore garment's water and stain repellency is to wash, rinse, and put it in your dryer. Keep it clean!

How can I restore my garment's water repellency?You can totally restore a GORE™ product's durable water repellency (DWR) by using a topical DWR treatment product for outdoor fabrics, available at outdoor retail stores. (Note: We do not recommend wash in treatments.) These special treatments help maintain and restore the DWR on the outer shell fabric of the product so that it remains water and stain repellent. Anyone can properly maintain the DWR on a GORE™ product.
When water no longer beads on your garment's outer fabric, simply apply a topical DWR treatment product according to its directions.

I've damaged my GORE-TEX® garment - what do I do?Minor punctures and tears can be fixed with a GORE-TEX® Fabric Repair Kit, available at specialty outdoor retail stores. The special adhesive patches allow you to make instant repairs to preserve the waterproof integrity of your outerwear. You can also visit or ship your GORE-TEX® garment to an authorised Gore Repair Center. See our Care Center for more information about both these options.
UP Will altering, embroidering or repairing my GORE-TEX® product cause it to leak?Any form of alteration to your GORE-TEX® product, including major repairs, post purchase logo embroidery, or fit alteration, should be conducted at a Gore authorised facility. Otherwise, you could compromise the waterproofness of your garment, usually via small needle holes that have not been sealed. Before proceeding with any changes to your product, get in touch with an authorised Repair Facility or contact us for advice.

Ian,
Did you put it in the tumble drier as well? I'd have thought it would have totally wrecked the drier, and maybe put it on fire as well :shock:

Our tumble drier went on fire once, because something went wrong with it, only luckily we were in the house at the time and we turned it off. I don't like going out and leaving the new one on, now.

Did you have to throw the jacket away afterwards, or did you manage to get all the wax off? Or did you have a nice, new 'waxed' jacket afterwards :lol:

Ally

Thanks Micric and Live_Ade :D

The thing that annoys me the most about washing, is when someone has left paper hankies in their pockets and I don't notice and I put it straight in the machine with everything else, and then all the clean washing is covered in very finely chopped up bits of paper :lol:

Ally

Hi Eggman,
Thanks for the report on how you got back - it was very interesting :thumbup:

I'm glad you found some new ski areas to play in, and you got your new skis :D

PSC - I never thought about teachers not being able to get back. I suppose there must be all sorts of people stranded in various parts of the world. We have an air stewardess here on holiday with us, and if the volcano continues to cause problems after Friday she will have an extra paid 'holiday'. So I suppose its nice for the air crews, because they're having a bit of a holiday at the moment. But I suppose if this keeps going for too long all the air companies will go bust.

Ally

It's okay Trencher, and everyone else, I don't mind if my thread extends into general maintenance of ski clothes. It's all very helpful information for everyone, especially when you think how much the stuff costs to replace.

I'm pretty sure it was spinnaker tape I used to use to patch the tears in my windsurf sail, and it was very good stuff. I hadn't thought of using it on jackets etc. I might have a go patching up my old farming jacket with some.

But I've never heard of 'tool dip'. I will have a look out for some next time I'm in the hardware store.

Ally

Dave,
I thought I'd give that cleaner another test. I washed my daughter's white Dare2B ski trousers with it. They were still stained black with oil from the drag lifts at La Rosiere 2 years ago, although I had tried to clean them using conventional washing liquids.

That stuff is amazing! Nearly all the old oil stain has come off :D
And her trousers practically look like new again.

I'm really getting the hang of this washing business now :lol:

Maybe I will have a go washing my normal Peter Storm jacket with that stuff. I've had it 5 years and I wear it all the time when I'm out and it's really filthy.

Ally

Thanks Dids. That's very sad :cry:

I hope he's okay.

Sounds like a great new diversification to me, Tony - that's what it's all about, working for yourself, trying to find new ways of making money.

I think it's a great idea. Are they going to pay for the petrol and tolls on top of that figure?

Ally