Here are some things to consider when washing and caring for your ski clothes.
Whether they are ski jackets or ski pants, winter sports clothing gets damaged if it’s not properly washed or cared for. It’s therefore essential to clean your ski clothes properly so that they remain comfortable and perform at their best. To do this, follow the instructions on the label inside your garment.
Unlike conventional clothing, ski and snowboard clothing ensures comfort, resistance, insulation and waterproofing during the winter. These garments are made of technical textiles and are available in various materials such as wool, cotton, synthetic, etc.
Correct care and washing of ski clothing will extend its life. For example, if your ski jacket or ski pants are rarely washed, dirt and perspiration can clog the membrane. In this case, the garment becomes cold and damp, instead of warm and dry.
For clothes in this category (e.g. Polartec, Powershield, Schoeller, etc.), it is recommended to clean them no more than twice a season. They should be hand-washed with a special liquid.
You can also machine wash them, setting the machine on a wool cycle with the temperature set at 30°. If machine drying is not allowed, they can be ironed at a low temperature in order to reactivate their waterproofing.
By setting your machine to the gentle wash mode, your fleece skiwear will not need to be ironed after machine washing. However, hand-washing is done with a special liquid. In this case, you can get advice from your supplier or a professional dry cleaner.
This type of ski clothing should be washed no more than once each season. It should be dried according to the washing instructions usually provided on the clothing label.
Hard shell skiwear can be machine washed on the gentle setting, using a 30° programme. It should be machine washed no more than twice a season, with a special product and a small amount of liquid detergent. Remember that before machine washing, you should zip up the front and close the pockets and underarm vents. Alternatively, you can follow the manufacturer's instructions.
The use of washing powder, stain removers, fabric softeners and chlorine is not recommended. As for drying, you can put your garment in the dryer on a moderate temperature, using a delicate programme. When the garment is dry, leave it in the dryer for another 20 minutes to revive the water repellency.
If you do not have a tumble dryer to renew the water repellency, you can use an iron. In this case, you must first place a cloth on the garment and choose a gentle programme.
For machine washing, it is advisable to use a normal washing method, choosing a programme of 30° to 40°. A special liquid should be used for cleaning and this should be done no more than once a season. Before putting your garment in the washing machine, check the label for information on how to clean it. At the end of the process, you should stretch your ski suit properly.
For hand-washing, it is recommended to wring out and dry the fabric according to the washing instructions.
To clean woollen skiwear, a special wool washing liquid must be used. In the washing machine, the cleaning is obviously done on the wool washing mode with a temperature setting of 30°. There’s no need to iron after washing. For drying, however, a low spin cycle should be used, and the garments should be hung up to dry.
Cotton skiwear should only be washed once per season. For machine washing, the programme should be set to 30°, and you should choose a normal detergent mode. Obviously, you’ll need a special liquid to ensure optimal cleaning. For drying, it’s advisable to spin the clothing according to the instructions on the label.
After washing, you can iron or steam at a low temperature.
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