Caring for ski clothing: recommendations and tips

To make skiing or snowboarding safer, more comfortable and more fun, use the appropriate equipment ski suit It can be a one-piece jumpsuit or a separate jacket and pants + thermal underwear, socks and gloves, as well as headgear. Usually such things are made using advanced technologies and materials to provide the necessary insulation, ventilation, wind and precipitation protection, while maintaining the maximum possible freedom of movement for the athlete. They can last for more than one season, retaining their attractive appearance, functional and protective properties if cared for properly.

Today's publication is about caring for ski clothing: recommendations and advice.

We will cover the following questions:

• Proper storage of ski clothing.
• Washing and cleaning ski clothing.
• Prevention of wear and damage to ski clothing.
• Restoration of ski clothing after damage.
• General recommendations for the care of ski clothing.

Proper storage of ski clothing.

Storing your ski clothes requires a few steps to keep them in good condition and ready for use next season. Here are some tips:

1. Clean and inspect items before storing. Before putting your ski clothing in a closet or on a shelf, make sure it is clean. Carefully remove dirt, dust and snow residue from the surface of the clothing. Carefully inspect the jacket and pants for damage and wear. If you find any problems, contact a repair shop.
2. Dry your jacket and pants thoroughly before storing. It is important to make sure they are completely dry. This will prevent mold and odor from forming.
3. Store skis in a dry, dark place. The storage area should be dry, without sunlight and, if possible, ventilated. A wardrobe or closet would be ideal.
4. Use hangers. Special clothes hangers with wide shoulders will keep your ski suit in shape and avoid creases. In addition, this storage option will allow for sufficient air circulation around the garment. If you have a walk-in closet, ski clothes can be stored in a pouch. It should be large enough so that the jacket and pants fit freely. Preferably use a cover made of breathable materials

What should you not do?

Do not put a folded ski jacket and pants under other things. The filler (whatever it is) should not be compressed for a long time, otherwise it will lose its ability to recover and, accordingly, its thermal insulation qualities.

Washing and cleaning ski clothing.

Knowing how to properly wash and clean your ski clothing is essential to maintaining its protective and functional properties and extending the life of your products. Dust, dirt, sweat, oils, including sunscreens and repellents, as well as any source of heat, antistatic agents and bleach will destroy the waterproof membrane. It no longer performs its primary task of breathing, protecting against water and wind.

The easiest and most correct way to know how to properly care for your ski clothes is to pay attention to the tag (label) from the manufacturer. This is usually on the inside of the jacket and pants. However, the care instructions may vary depending on:

See the label.

a) the manufacturer,

b) the composition of the thermal insulation (synthetic filling or natural down);

c) the material of the garment top (regular polyester with DWR coating or a certain type of membrane).

Wash your ski suit only when necessary. For example, if you visit the mountains twice a year, you ski often and for long periods of time (you sweat a lot, your clothes are exposed to snow and possibly dirt), then washing once a year is a necessity. And vice versa, you are in the mountains once a year. You are not actively skiing, so there is no need to wash your suit every season - washing it once every two years will be enough.

Washing and cleaning ski clothes.

• For best results, we recommend washing your ski clothing separately from other items.
• Avoid aggressive detergents and cleaners (with conditioners and bleaches). Use only specialized detergents and cleaners for ski clothing (they can be purchased at a sports store).
• Before putting your jacket and pants in the washing machine, make sure the pockets are empty and the zippers, buttons and Velcro are closed.
• If your gear does not have a waterproof membrane, turn it inside out to protect the water-repellent coating. If your jacket and pants are made of membrane fabric, you don't need to do this (since the membrane itself is inside the material).
• Make sure you use a gentle (depending on the machine model, this may also be: “delicate” or “for membrane”) washing mode.
• Set the temperature as indicated on the product label (usually no more than 30 °C).
• Additionally set the rinse mode: 2-3 rinses are guaranteed to remove any remaining detergent.
• Set the spin to 600 - 800 rpm.

How do I air-dry or machine-dry my ski clothes after washing?

Air drying. If your washing machine doesn't have a “tumble dry” function, dry your washed and wrung out ski suit in a warm but well-ventilated environment. This can be indoors or outdoors. Do not use heating radiators, do not dry near fireplaces and other sources of high temperature, do not dry clothes under the blazing sun - all this can damage the membrane and filling. Spread the jacket and pants without folds on the clothes dryer. Every 30-40 minutes, shake the garments until they are completely dry.

In the machine. This method is usually preferable, as the drying mode itself involves heating the product evenly at a constant temperature. Be sure to put 2-4 tennis balls in the machine to break up the clumps of down and spread the filling evenly over the down chambers. Use the “synthetic” mode with the temperature that the manufacturer recommends (usually no more than 60 °C). As a rule, one drying cycle takes 40 to 50 minutes (follow the recommendations on the label).

Cleaning ski clothes.
If the hem of the jacket, cuffs and collar are greasy, you can't do without washing. But if only a small area of ​​the clothes is dirty, there is no point in washing the entire suit because of it. Any washing is a certain "stress" for the filler and membrane. In such cases, local cleaning with a high-tech membrane cleaner in the form of a spray or paste is sufficient.

If you don’t have any special products for cleaning ski clothes, use laundry soap:

1. Grate a small amount of mal.
2. Using a cup or other container, dissolve the soap shavings in warm water.
3. Damp a soft sponge with soapy water and treat localized dirt.
4. Rinse the area several times with clean water.

Preventing wear and damage to ski clothing.

Preventing wear and damage to ski clothing is maintaining the comfort, safety and durability of your equipment. It is clear that only the clothes that are not worn do not wear out. And ski suits are not only worn and subjected to serious tests on the slope.

Our main advice is to treat it with care. Follow the operating rules. Try not to sit on dirty and rough surfaces to avoid contamination and damage.

We mentioned above that dust, dirt and sweat affect the functional characteristics of the fabric. They reduce wind and water resistance, as well as vapor permeability. Therefore, regularly check the condition of your clothes. Inspect them before each season and after each use to identify potential damage and problems.

If ski jacket and pants are made of regular polyester with DWR coating, then over time such a water-protective layer decreases. It must be restored after each wash using hydrophobic aerosols (they can be bought in a sports store).

Check seams and fasteners regularly. Check the condition of seams, zippers, buttons, and Velcro. Replace or repair them if you find damage.

Clean local dirt. And once a season (if you ride very actively), wash your clothes according to the manufacturer's recommendations, using special care products.

Every time after skiing, the ski jacket and pants should be dried in a warm and ventilated room to avoid the formation of mold and odor.

Restoring ski clothing after damage

No one is safe from falling at a ski resort. In addition, skiers often catch branches, collide with each other, "cut" themselves on the edges of their skis, and catch on parts protruding from chairlifts. Such tests do not pass without leaving traces on clothing. Therefore, when going to a ski resort, it is always convenient to have a small repair kit on hand, for example - GEAR AID REPAIR TAPE.

GEAR AID REPAIR TAPE is an adhesive tape for repairing clothing (including skiing) and equipment on a hike. The tape has a matte surface, is 7 cm wide and 50 cm long and comes in a sealed case. It allows you to strengthen a torn seam or cut a patch to fit a torn fabric. It can be removed if necessary, and most importantly, it leaves no traces of glue.

General recommendations for the care of ski clothing.

If ski or snowboard equipment is treated with care and properly maintained, it will retain its functionality and last for more than one season. Our general recommendations for caring for ski clothing are as follows:

1. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations. It is important to read and follow the care instructions that came with your suit. The recommendations may be specific depending on the type of insulation, the type of outer fabric, and whether there is fur trim.
2. Clean your clothes regularly. Sweat, dirt, dust, snow, contact with creams and oils can damage the fabric and membrane of ski clothes. Clean them regularly, inside and out, to avoid problems.
3. Wash correctly. Follow the instructions on the label regarding temperature and washing mode. Use mild special detergents for the membrane. Before washing, close all zippers, Velcro, buttons.
4. Water-repellent treatment. Periodically renew the water-repellent coating of ski clothing. To do this, use hydrophobic DWR sprays that can be applied after washing.
5. Check seams and fasteners regularly. Check your ski clothing for abrasions, tears in seams and fasteners. Repair them in time to prevent water and wind penetration.
6. Store properly. Store ski clothing on a hanger in a dry, ventilated place to avoid mold and odors. Close all zippers and Velcro before storing to keep the shape.
7. Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight - clothes may fade. Do not store items near heat sources - this may damage the membrane.
8. Maintain your zippers regularly. Zippers are often subject to heavy use. Treat them regularly with silicone oil to ensure they slide easily and don't stick.
9. Dry properly. After active use, dry ski clothing in a warm, ventilated room. Do not use radiators, electric fireplaces or other sources of high temperature for this purpose.

By following these tips, you can extend the life of your ski clothing and provide it with reliable protection while skiing or snowboarding.