Cleaning Goretex

grantmac

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tips wanted on washing Rukka Goretex suit.
I was told, put it in the washing machine with a mild detergent, drip dry and then into the tumble dryer for 15 mins to "reset" the waterproofing. Rukka website says about the same but recommends their own cleaning stuff

Is this right?
 
Make sure the washing machine is free from any build-up of conditioners and softeners first.
Boil wash empty helps.
 
Do a cold wash of towels with no detergent etc first, this gets rid of any fabric conditioner which you don't want near any goretex fabrics.

I use nik wax cleaner, on all my rukka and hein gericke textiles. Light scrubbing with a nail brush with neat fluid on really dirty bits then a 30°c wash and then drip dry on the cloths line. I've never used the tumble drier bit, (mainly as I'm a tight fisted Scotsman) and haven't had any issues.
 
Buy some washing machine cleaner and clean the tray before you start the process of cleaning the washing machine. Then use it to wash the Goretex. Any detergent or softener residue will affect the Goretex function over time. Been using Nikwax for years.
 
How about a 1000 mile ride back from Italy in the pissing rain, often torrential - all our gear, even the bike, was clean when we got back to Blighty, not a dead fly in sight. A few leaks on SWMBOs jacket though, which went back to Dianese/Goretex for repair (faulty panel with insufficient seam allowance).

Contamination from fabric conditioner is a real concern though IMHO, so we usually wash the gear in the bath, with a specialist wash from Cotswold, then maybe tumble dry.
 
Remove all of the armour , make sure that your passport isn't in the bottom of the inside pocket , wash as per instructions using the correct Nik Wax or similar cleaner and then reproof the outside with a goretex spray .
 
Definitely don't use detergent mild or otherwise, soap is what you use. Put the washing machine through a cycle empty to get rid of any detergent from previous uses, really don't want to risk detergent ruining the goretex.
 
thanks all...its the tumble dry bit I am not so sure about....Rukka don't recommend so I wont
 
thanks all...its the tumble dry bit I am not so sure about....Rukka don't recommend so I wont

As long as it is a "Low" heat it should be fine I think that they worry that folks will start a tumble and forget to turn it off after 15 mins or that it should be a Low heat etc etc
 
Tumble drying is the most important part (for jackets with Gortex under the jacket main material - for Gore laminate I'm not sure?)

There is a water repellent coating on the outer jacket (which needs reapplying every few washes). When it's working properly it causes the water to bead on the jacket surface rather than soak through and thus helps the Gortex do it's job. This needs 're-activating' after a wash whether you've reapplied it or just reactivating an existing coating. Heat is what re-activates it.

Any way, as with all things OP, don't take anybody's word for it on here, look at the Gortex web site for some very good info on how to look after the various types of Gortex construction.

Andres
 
Hi
I Sell this I use it on my two Rukka Armas jackets and Cosmic pants all the time PLUS its TANAM AND RUKKA Approved...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Storm-Was...k-300ml-/322259598714?ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT


Cheers Big D


tips wanted on washing Rukka Goretex suit.
I was told, put it in the washing machine with a mild detergent, drip dry and then into the tumble dryer for 15 mins to "reset" the waterproofing. Rukka website says about the same but recommends their own cleaning stuff

Is this right?
 
Yes Rukka needs to be tumbled a sits a HEAT cure process and the other important factor is remove all D30 or amour then turn garment inside out before setting off the wash cycle.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Storm-Was...k-300ml-/322259598714?ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

Tumble drying is the most important part (for jackets with Gortex under the jacket main material - for Gore laminate I'm not sure?)

There is a water repellent coating on the outer jacket (which needs reapplying every few washes). When it's working properly it causes the water to bead on the jacket surface rather than soak through and thus helps the Gortex do it's job. This needs 're-activating' after a wash whether you've reapplied it or just reactivating an existing coating. Heat is what re-activates it.

Any way, as with all things OP, don't take anybody's word for it on here, look at the Gortex web site for some very good info on how to look after the various types of Gortex construction.

Andres
 
1) Clean any detergent from washing machine
2) Wash with Nikwax Tech Wash at 30Deg
3) Then wash with Nikwax TX Direct Wash in. Again at 30Deg
4) slow spin
5) Dry on washing line.(or Pulley - I don't have a dryer:) Once feeling dryish, turn it outside in & hang for further time till dry inside & out.

Job done
 
This is OK for washing but heat is needed to re proof thats why tumble drying is needed


1) Clean any detergent from washing machine
2) Wash with Nikwax Tech Wash at 30Deg
3) Then wash with Nikwax TX Direct Wash in. Again at 30Deg
4) slow spin
5) Dry on washing line.(or Pulley - I don't have a dryer:) Once feeling dryish, turn it outside in & hang for further time till dry inside & out.

Job done
 
Sorry if this has been done before, but what's the need to reproof Gortex for?? Surely the point of Gortex is that it's a fabric designed to prevent water entering and shouldn't need to rely on an external coating of waterproofing. Surely any coating would prevent breathability. Confused.

As an aside I use a Gortex lightweight viz yellow cycle jacket (Gore) and a pair of Sprayway Gortex zip up the leg trousers and when it rains hard (50% of my journey from Geneva) they stop the road crap from covering and expensive set of Rukka. They pack to nothing, weigh nothing. Both are now filthy dirty hence why I'm looking at this thread. Wearing these over the suit meant I could leave all my jacket and trouser vents open underneath. After each day the Rukka gear was bone dry (unlike previous boil-in-the-bag 'solutions') and perfectly clean. £150 for jacket and troos, also bone dry inside despite horrendous rain at times. I don't mind binning £150 every couple of years rather than a very expensive suit. My take on things obviously and won't suit some on here, but working well for me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
As I understand it. The holes in Gortex are so small this is why rain doesn't get through. But vapour IE perstpration does get through as its smaller droplets than cold water.

The tumble dry process helps pull the weave of the Gortex back together nice and tight so as to work. You don't need to add anything to waterproof it.

Cheers.
 


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