Washing instructions

Allan

Allan

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I am planning to wash my Henri Lloyd offshore gear. The jacket is Goretex and the salopettes are TP2. Both labels say that the material will benefit from tumble drying, this seems strange to me. Does anyone know any reason for this and should I do the whole dry in a drier or just finish off in one?
Any other advice will be gratefully received. I have some Granger's wash-in cleaner plus which says approved by Gore.
I am the first person to admit that washing is not my area of expertise. I have only just found out that the excercise machine my ex-wife used to use is called an ironing board!
 
Hi,

I've used a HL product called something like "Re-seal". Bung it in the washing machine with the waterproofs as it says and then tumble dry. Apparently the heat reactivates the goretex fabric.

I've done it a couple of times. It leaves them clean and doesn't seem to affect the waterproof qualities.

Cheers

Andy
 
[ QUOTE ]
I am planning to wash my Henri Lloyd offshore gear. The jacket is Goretex and the salopettes are TP2. Both labels say that the material will benefit from tumble drying, this seems strange to me. Does anyone know any reason for this and should I do the whole dry in a drier or just finish off in one?


[/ QUOTE ]
The heat allegedly re-aligns some molecules in the 'Durable Water Repellent' surface coating. You can also iron your oilies for the same effect. Nothing to do with the GT membrane itself but it is supposed to prevent saturation of the surface fabric which will inhibit the breathability. It's also important not to get any detergent near it as that stuffs up the DWR coating. Some authorities recommend running your washing machine empty before washing GT to flush out any residual detergent. The specialist cleaning products from Grangers etc. are the thing to use.

I washed a GoreTex jacket last weekend and put it in the tumble drier straight out of the washing machine and it is fine.
 
Go to the BBC's R4 listen again site and listen to today's (29th Nov) "material world". They've just been talking about this very subject! What a coincidence! hope it helps.
 
I was listening live to the Material world program while driving back from the boat tonight. I was so amazed to have such an obscure question answered just a day after I asked it! I will be doing some washing tomorrow.
Allan
 
[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone know any reason for this and should I do the whole dry in a drier or just finish off in one?


[/ QUOTE ] If it has a "Do not spin dry" icon then dont spin it. Otherwise I'd spin it a bit first. These washing insructions always have an element of ar5e covering about them but with an expensive and HI tech material like gore tex I'd follow them!

Good tip to flush the machine with just water first though. Just a rinse programme should be sufficient.
 
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