cleaning ma oilies

[Lee_Shaw]

Hi

What is the best way to clean my XM offshore oilies please?

Is the washing machine ok?

Cheers

Steve

 

[MoodySabre]

Read this month's Sailing Today - article on how to rejuvenate them. In the bath but don't use a detergent - soap flakes OK.

 

[Evadne]

Only on a cold and gentle wash, or even just a rinse, and drip dry. But even then they might curl up and die (speaking from experience). OTOH you can get bottles of expensive teflonny stuff to throw into the rinse cycle to help retain waterproofing, Helly Hansen among others make such a thing.

 

[bluejuice]

have not read sailing today notes but i have always washed my XM 5000 at 40 deg washing machine cycle first with TX wash (green can) from any camping shop then TX proof (blue can) then tumbled dryed.

This works wonders! even better with the tumble dry do not why; but it works

 

[BrendanS]

most breathable waterproofs need to be tumbled dried on a fairly regular basis, to renew the water beading effect (so water runs off the fabric) otherwise, though the fabric is still waterproof, the material absorbs water, making the breathability zero.

 

[Vara]

Nik wax Tech wash and Tx wash-in are the best products,a tad expensive but do the job very well.Available at most outdoor shops, instructions on Label.
Best to wash and proof as separate operations.Bad soiling can be treated by applying "wash in" neat to marks before machine wash.
A very hot empty cycle on washing machine before treatment to get rid of machine contamination
Have a mooch round their site; http://www.nikwax.com/en-gb/index.php
Loads of info.

As Brendan says you need to heat the TXwash-in to improve the beading props,tumble drier good,warm iron(With care and test temp on corner) seems to give better results.
Ordinary detergent washing powder and fabric conditioner kill beading stone dead.

Edited as speling was apaling

 

[Lee_Shaw]

Thanks very much.