Fabric Care

Membrane Fabrics.

Gore-Tex is the original and best known of all the Membrane fabrics and is the benchmark within the industry.

Membrane fabrics work by having an air permeable porous layer within the fabric that allows water to pass through as a vapour but not as a liquid. Wearing synthetic fabrics under your shell jacket allows perspiration to wick away from the body and then evaporate. The evaporated water can then pass through the breathable membrane. However water on the outside of the fabric is made of groups of molecules that are too large to pass through the porous membrane thus the jacket is waterproof.

The outer surface of the fabric has a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) treatment, this ensures that any water on the surface of the jacket will bead and shed away. However as time goes by the DWR finish will wear away. As this happens the garment may appear to be absorbing water (wetting out) and the wearer may complain of being wet. This is because the membrane can no longer breathe and evaporated moisture from the body is now condensing on the inside of the fabric. Yet the jacket is still waterproof form the outside elements. The easiest way to cure this problem is to wash and treat the jacket with a DWR finish.

When it comes to cleaning it is essential to follow the manufacturers instructions. But these will not tell you which cleaning and proofing products to use. But before you actually start to clean the garment ensure your washing machine is free from any detergent and fabric softener residue. The main area to clean is the detergent draw. Just take it right out and wash it off under a running tap.

Gore recommend that Gore-Tex is washed using a cleaning agent from an approved manufacturer such as Grangers. However Grangers produce several products including a 2 in 1 cleaner/proofer. The 2 in 1 treatment seems to work fine, but the DWR finish is also applied to the inside of the garment, this reduces breathability significantly. The advantage of this however is it’s more cost effective and quicker, although the garment must be tumble dried for the DWR to be activated.

The best combination is to use Grangers 30° Degree Cleaner in the washing machine and then to re apply the DWR finish using Grangers XT Proofer spray. When this is applied it can either drip dry or, if the garments label permits, be tumble dried on a medium setting. The heat from the tumble drier will further improve the water repellency, though it is not a necessity.

Other membranes may differ in construction to Gore-Tex, however the cleaning process along with renewing the DWR finish is largely the same. But please read the cleaning and care instructions that come with the garment.

Soft Shell (membrane and non membrane)

Softshell fabrics fall into two basic construction types, those with and those with out membranes. The membrane essentially makes the garment windproof, yet still retain a level of breathability. In some fabrics such as Polartec Powershield this membrane is perforated to increase breathability. But few softshell membrane jackets have taped seams, so although they have a membrane they will let water through, slowly.

Non membrane softshell can offer a reasonable amount of wind resistance especially those with tighter weave fabrics, such as Polartec Wind Pro, and the DWR finish will give reasonable water resistance. However it’s maximum breathability where they perform.

When it comes to cleaning softshell, whether with or without a membrane, please take the time to read the manufacturers instructions. But essentially these garments are treated in the same way as a hard shell jacket. They should be washed at a low temperature using Grangers 30° Degree Cleaner in the washing machine and then apply the DWR finish using Grangers XT Proofer. This can then either drip dry or if the garments label permits, be tumble dried on a medium setting. The heat from the tumble drier will further improve the water repellency, though it is not a necessity.

The other more economic option is the use Grangers 2 in 1 wash/proofer. This makes the whole process a lot easier, quicker and cost effective, however the DWR coating is applied to both sides of the fabric which will result in impaired breathability.

Down filled sleeping bags and jackets

If you don’t need the item for a week or two then the best way to get down clothing and sleeping bags cleaned is professionally by a down specialist. We recommend;

Elite Cleaning Services - Link to their website

Although this service does take time they do provide an excellent service, but there is a cheaper and quicker alternative.

30°c Down Cleaner has been formulated not only to clean down filled products but also synthetic filled garments, but before you wash any down products please take the time to read the manufacturers care instruction. Again it is essential that you take the time to ensure that there is no residue from detergents or fabric softener in the washing machine, ensure that the detergent draw has been cleaned out. Then place the garments into the machine and wash on a 30° wash cycle. The formula will not strip the natural oils from the feathers and will restore their loft, improving insulation of the garment. Odours are eliminated from the garment by the antimicrobial treatment

After washing any down garment it is critical to tumble dry on a medium setting in order to rejuvenate the down, this also restores the DWR finish. During tumble drying the garment should be removed every ten minutes and shaken to separate and loosen the feathers. Most persistent nodules may have to be broken up by hand but be as gentle as possible.

Base and Mid Layers

You can just chuck these in the washing with all your normal clothes and use standard washing powder (which to be honest is what we all do). Whilst this will not actually permanently damage the garments as it would with membranes and down, it will reduce their performance. The washing powder residue will clog up the fabric and reduce it's breathability. To stop this, wash base layer fabrics with Grangers 30°C Base Cleaner which will maintain breathability, wicking performance and can be used on wool and synthetic fabrics