Many people ask us, “How do I wash my ski clothes and should I?”
The short answer is “You should, if it needs it.” Washing your ski outfit is the best way to keep it performing at its best. Here’s why:
- The fine pores in technical fabrics, such as EXO-Tech™, are kept free of debris to maintain breathability.
- The water repellent coating, applied to most technical outerwear and decreases in effectiveness over time, is reactivated.
In this article, we explore the details of how to correctly wash your ski outfit.
Supplies Needed:
- Washing machine (ideally front-loading)
- Dryer (if not, clothes can air dry)
- Technical cleaner designed specifically for technical fabrics
Avoid using regular laundry detergent (even mild detergent) or fabric softeners, as they can leave residue on your gear and clog up the fine pores of the technical fabric.
How To Wash a Ski Jacket
Washing your ski jacket is a way to extend its life and keep the technical fabrics performing optimally. Here are the steps to properly washing a ski jacket:
- Empty the pockets and close zippers and any hook-and-loop tape closures to prevent damage to your jacket.
- Read the care label and follow instructions carefully, paying close attention to water temperature, wash cycle, rinse cycle, and spin cycle recommendations.
If there are no instructions, prioritize washing with cool water, an extra rinse cycle, and no more than an 800 rpm spin cycle.
- Clean out the detergent tray of the washing machine to remove any residue from regular detergent.
- Insert the ski Jacket into the washing machine, pour the technical cleaner into the detergent tray, and start the wash cycle.
- Dry, according to the care instructions.
If allowed, tumble dry on low heat to reactivate the water repellent coating.
If your jacket is still damp after one cycle, let it hang dry away from direct sunlight, which can damage the fabric.
How To Wash Ski Pants
The steps for washing ski pants are the same as washing a ski jacket, as described above.
Ski pants can be washed in the same load as ski jackets because they are both made of the same technical fabrics.
Avoid washing other garments, such as base layers or socks, with your ski jacket and pants, as they are made with different fabrics that require different care.
- Remove items, such as sunscreen and lip balm, from the pockets, and close all zippered pockets and hook-and-loop tape closures.
- Read the care label and follow the instructions carefully.
- Clean out the detergent tray of the washing machine to remove any residue from regular detergent.
- Place your ski pants in the washing machine, add technical cleaner, and run the desired wash cycle.
- Place the ski pants into the dryer and, if care instructions allow, tumble dry on low heat to reactivate the water repellent coating. If the pants are still damp after one cycle, hang dry away from direct sunlight.
Additional FAQs for washing ski gear:
Q: Should I zip up jacket before washing?
Yes, you should zip up your jacket and close any hook-and-loop-tape closures before washing.
Q: Should I turn my clothes inside out when washing?
Yes, you should turn your clothes inside out when washing to protect any screen-printed graphics.
Q: How to wash polyester jacket?
Polyester is a soft fabric generally used in clothing, such as t-shirts, hoodies and sweatpants, and is not frequently used for outerwear because it is less durable than nylon.
Q: How to wash nylon jacket?
Nylon, being more durable than polyester, is often the material of choice for the outer layer of ski jackets and pants.
When blended with technical fabrics, nylon garments should be washed with technical cleaner.
A purely nylon garment can be washed with regular detergent in a washing machine and dried at low heat.
Q: Can you wash velcro in the washing machine?
Yes, you can wash hook-and-loop tape in the washing machine, as long as the two pieces are fastened together.
Fastening the pieces together will help avoid any damage to your ski gear fabric, or the hook-and-loop tape itself.
How To Dry Ski Gear
Drying ski gear is important after washing or after a day on the mountain, and an important step before packing away your gear for travel or storage.
Ski gear can be hung to air dry or placed in a dryer at low heat, provided the care instructions allow it.
To air dry your ski gear, follow these instructions:
- Place your pants and jacket on separate hangers in a well-ventilated area away from the sun.
- If your ski gear is wet on the inside, turn it inside out part way through the process to ensure it’s dry throughout.
To dry your ski gear in a dryer, follow these instructions:
- Empty your pockets completely.
- Read the care label for instructions on drying temperature.
- One 40-minute cycle should be enough to dry out your gear.
Open the dryer and check for wetness after 15-minutes.
If after 40-minutes more drying is needed, consider air drying the garments to complete the process.
As a general rule, ski gear should be dried at a low temperature. High temperatures can wear down materials and technical features.
Additional FAQs for drying ski gear:
Q: How long does it take for pants to dry?
While air drying pants takes longer, often overnight, using a dryer at low temperature will speed up the process to roughly 40 minutes.
Q: How to dry pants fast?
You can dry your ski pants quickly by throwing them in the dryer at low-temperature.
Q: Can you put velcro in the dryer?
Yes, you can put hook-and-loop tape in the dryer at low temperatures.
Q: Can nylon go in the dryer?
Yes, nylon can go in the dryer at low temperatures.
Remember to also take nylon garments out of the dryer as soon as the drying cycle is complete to avoid creasing and protect the water repellent coating.
How To Get Stains Out Of Ski Gear
Oil or grease stains might not come out in a regular wash, so you might need to use a stain remover.
Because technical clothing has special membranes, it’s important to be careful when applying stain remover.
For grease stains, a mixture of baking soda and regular dish detergent can be used, whereas oil stains might require a stronger stain remover.
Follow these steps to remove your stain:
- Blot the stain with a cloth to remove any excess matter that may have caused the stain.
- Read the care label and follow the instructions carefully.
- Apply the stain remover to a discrete area of your clothing to test that it won’t discolor your garment. Let it sit for 15 minutes and check.
- Apply your stain remover to the stain and gently work it into the fabric with a soft-bristle brush.
- Let sit for between 10-15 minutes.
- Put your ski clothes in the washer with the technical cleaner and set it to a long rinse cycle.
If waterproofness decreases in the area where you used the stain remover or anywhere else, consider using a waterproofing spray to help restore it.
Conclusion
You should feel confident in knowing how to clean your ski gear and which processes to follow to protect your snow clothing during washing and drying. Maintaining your ski clothes will keep them in optimal condition for mountain days to come.
