How to wash membrane clothes in a washing machine and dry it after washing?

Having spent a decent amount on a quality ski jacket or trekking suit, you will probably want to learn how to wash membrane clothes so that its unique properties will please you as long as possible. How easy is it to render the membrane unusable? Does it really require special delicate care? How to make sure that in the course of time its water-repellent properties are not weakened? 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 so easy to spoil, as you might think. Yes, they can not be called ugly, but your suit, jacket or pants can be experienced without any problems either by loading into a washing machine or by hand washing. But under certain conditions.

The choice of detergent

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 conductivity of the sweat outside. Yes, water repellent properties are not violated, but membrane things are valued for their ability to "breathe", and to begin to sweat in a dense membrane suit would be very offensive. That is why it is recommended to use liquid detergents, which certainly will not remain in the micropores.

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

advice If you are annoyed by the dirty stain you acquired at the beginning of the season, it is not necessary to expose the thing to washing because of it. Just remove the 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 canons.

Washer or hand wash?

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

• Do not erase things after each trip to the ski slope: you are tortured each time to dry them and treat them with impregnation. Instead, wash them only once after the season. Membrane tissue has the ability to absorb odors, and although complaints about the smell of sweat are extremely rare, in this case, you can wash the thing in the middle of the season, but not more often.
• The membrane does not tolerate high temperatures, so it is contraindicated in hot water. The water temperature should not exceed 40 ° C, but it is better to consult the instructions for a more detailed recommendation from the manufacturer. Maybe it is 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 information on the tag!
• Do not wash membrane items with other things, especially if there is a lot of dirt on them, because the membrane absorbs small particles of dust and other contaminants that can no longer be obtained from the deep layers of the tissue sandwich. How to wash membrane clothing when it is heavily polluted? We recommend first brushing and wiping a maximum of dirt with a dry cloth or brush.
• Membrane clothing does not damage additional rinsing, especially if you still rubbed it with a granular powder. This applies to both washing in the washing machine and washing by hand.
• It is possible to press the membrane only at low revs, or even better, just let the water drain without unnecessary mechanical stress.

And do not forget to zip up all the zippers and fasteners before you start washing!

tip If you have selected a manual wash, it must pass without washing and wringing with twisting, otherwise the hydrophobic impregnation will very quickly be erased, and other materials used in addition to the membrane will become unusable.

And what about drying, ironing and care?

If you do not forget about the fact that the membrane does not like high temperatures, then when drying and ironing you definitely will not spoil the thing. You will be surprised, but you can dry such things even in a typewriter or dryer in the most sparing mode. If this option does not suit you, then dry it the old way.

• When the water drains, spread the clothes on a horizontal dryer and let things dry at room temperature.
• Alternatively, hang a thing on a vertical dryer and allow it to dry also at room temperature.

But using a heater or battery should not be used: they generate too much heat, which in the end can be fatal for the material.

Ironing with proper drying is not needed, 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 with special impregnations: it is not necessary to do this, and the membrane will not flow anyway, but if you want the water to flow effectively from the jacket with droplets rather than remain on it, you will have such impregnationnevertheless to get.

Care of membrane clothing is not as complicated as it might seem, 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.