AFTER CARE FAQS

Caring for your gear is great for you!

Yes, true to say there are more exciting things to do in the great outdoors than occasionally cleaning your kit. But if you’re to stay comfortable and safe on your travels then it’s really beneficial to keep on top of kit care.

Looking after your outdoor clothing, footwear and camping gear also allows you to max on its like expectancy and in addition should you choose to change or upgrade your gear you can confidently sell or pass on your know that the new owner will get as much fun and use out of it as you did. Win win!

Remember! Mucky outside, mucky inside!

We tend to think our outdoor gear needs cleaning when it’s mucky on the outside. However on the basis we’ve all got to perspire to live we’re constantly sweating away during activity, inactivity and sleep. We constantly pass body oils and salts onto our clothing and sleeping bag. So on the basis we have grime on the outer and inner of our kit - it’s great on occasions to clean it.

Top care tips

Always check the care instructions found in your clothing, camping kit
For footwear check on-line on the brands website
If you’re unsure about care details either ask your local outdoor store or contact www.nikwax.co.uk
Using Nikwax cleaning and proofing products provides the best treatment for all your outdoor kit
If your kit is heavily soiled brush of the excessive dirt prior to washing it
Never use fabric softener or bleach It’s best to use a mild soap when cleaning outdoor kit although there are some exceptions
Check pockets! To ensure you don’t wash and dry your last hanky, always check your pockets
Always ensure your detergent tray is clean and residue free
On occasions when no obvious soiling is apparent on your clothing a 30° wash is appropriate - if your kit is mucky a 40° is by far more effective, so check the garments care instructions to see if it’s possible to wash at 40°
In most cases hand drying kit will give it a much nicer feel after washing – see ‘How do I wash my sleeping bag?’
In the majority of cases it’s much better to tumble dry on a low to medium setting
Always check the manufacturers care instructions prior to cleaning and drying

How do I clean my socks?

Check manufacturers instructions
Check inside heel and forefoot areas for grit etc
Remove any excess dirt before washing
Turn socks inside out Wash at 30° or 40° depending on soiling
After the wash cycle give the socks a gentle ‘tug’ before and after drying
Wherever possible it’s best to hand dry your socks
Check care instructions found on the manufacturers website

How do I clean my base layers, thermals and fleece?

Check care details found on the inside seem of the garment
Turn inside out
Zip up zippers
Ensure your washing machine tray is detergent free
Place in your washing machine
Set desired wash cycle Drying
Wherever possible it’s best to hand dry but check care instructions found on the inside seem
Tumble dry (if appropriate) setting should be on Low to Medium

How do I clean my waterproof jacket and trousers?

Remove any excess dirt from the garment before washing
Using a clean, warm damp cloth with a mild soap treatment wipe the interior of the garment removing body oils and sweat. Use only a mild soap
Zip up zips and seal Velcro closures
Ensure shock cord closures are released and un-tensioned
Ensure your washing machine tray is detergent free
Place in a washing machine with a mild soap solution
Once cleaned, air dry or place in a tumble dryer on a Low to Medium setting - always refer to the manufacturer’s care instructions

Re-proofing

There are two approaches to re-proofing your waterproof jacket and trousers. You can either use a ‘wash-in’ solution or, ‘spray-on’. Both are described here.

‘Wash-in’

While your garment is still wet and in the washing machine, place the appropriate amount of re-proofing treatment in the machine’s tray
Following the treatment instructions set your washing machine to the recommended cycle
Once the cycle is complete either air dry or place in a tumble dryer on a Low to Medium setting – always refer to the garment manufacturers care instructions

‘Spray-on’

While your garment is still wet after washing, remove from the washing machine and using a coat hanger hang it up in a warm, draft free environment - ensure you place old newspaper under the garment. Using a Nikwax spray-on treatment spray the garment covering all areas (pay particular attention to seem and gusseted areas)
Remove excess re-proofing treatment with a damp cloth
Either air dry in a warm, draft free environment or place in a tumble dryer on a Low to Medium setting

How do I clean and re-proof my outdoor shoes or boots?

Remove all excess mud and grime from the footwear’s exterior
Remove footbeds and again make sure there’s no mud or grime on the interior
Using a soft detergent and warm cloth clean the interior and both surfaces of the footbeds - place the footbeds upright in a draft free, warm environment to dry
Having removed excess muck from your footwear, using warm water, thoroughly wash the surface ensuring all areas are covered
Once you’ve completed stage 4 using a Nikwax footwear cleaner ensuring all areas including the tongue seams are completely covered
Wash off any cleaning residue

Re-proofing

Whilst the footwear is still wet (and clean!) apply a Nikwax footwear re-proofer to all surfaces other than the sole unit
Wash off any re-proofing residue
Place the footwear in a warm, draft free environment
If the interior of the footwear is wet through cleaning place scrunched up old news paper inside the footwear

How do I clean my sleeping bag?

I have a synthetic sleeping bag

Ensure your washing machine tray is clean and detergent free
Remove any excess dirt from the sleeping bag
Zip up all zippers/Velcro closures and ensure all shock cords are released - if appropriate tie loose shock cords together as they can easily get stuck in the machines drum
Depending on a build up of grime it may be appropriate to turn the bag inside out
Using the appropriate Nikwax sleeping bag cleaner place the treatment in the machines tray and set to the desired setting
Because a sleeping bag is a very large piece of kit it is well worth giving it a second spin cycle if appropriate
Once the wash is complete either hang the bag in a warm/dry, draft free environment or tumble dry – because of a sleeping bags volume it may be better to tumble dry it at the local launderette. Make sure the dryers are modern and their temperature settings are accurate
Shake your sleeping bag and place it in a large drum
Set the temperature to Low/Medium
Every five minutes take the bag out and give it a good shake before placing it back in the drum
Once the bag is fully dry store over a bannister/large coat hanger or un-squashed in a large storage bag

I have a Down sleeping bag

You may want to use a specialist Down cleaning service to clean your Down bag. While more expensive this does take the hassle out of the procedure. Before cleaning always check the care instructions found in the sleeping bag.

Ensure your washing machine tray is clean and detergent free
Remove any excess dirt from the sleeping bag
Zip up all zippers/Velcro closures and ensure all shock cords are released - if appropriate tie loose shock cords together as they can easily get stuck in the machines drum
Depending on a build up of grime it may be appropriate to turn the bag inside out
Using the appropriate Nikwax sleeping bag cleaner place the treatment in the machines tray and set to the desired setting
Because a sleeping bag is a very large piece of kit it is well worth giving it a second spin cycle if appropriate
See below for details about drying, hand drying and tumble-drying

Drying

Once the wash is complete take the Down bag out of the washer and give it a good shake making sure all excess water is removed

Hand drying

With the bag laid on a clean, dry flat service. Gently separate the Down that will have ‘balled up’ in the sleeping bag’s compartments
Place the sleeping bag in a warm dry area over a washing line
Periodically keep separating the down in the sleeping bags compartments
Once dried it’s important to shake the bag to ensure the down is evenly distributed throughout the bag
Once the bag is fully dry store either over a bannister/large coat hanger or unsquashed in a large storage bag

Tumble-dry

Tumble drying a Down sleeping bag requires a large volume drying drum. For this reason it may be appropriate to use the facilities of a launderette. Make sure the dryers are modern and their temperature settings are accurate.

Shake your sleeping bag once out of the washer and place in a large waterproof bag – bin liners are great for this
Once at the launderette shake your bag again and place in the drum
Set the temperature to Low/Medium
Every five minutes take the bag out and give it a good shake - gently separate the Down within the bags chambers before placing it back in the drum
Once the bag is fully dry store at home either over a bannister/large coat hanger or un-squashed in a large storage bag

For details of specialist cleaning products visit www.nikwax.co.uk