Recently actually got my arse in gear and sorted some winter riding gear! Got myself an endura gridlock 2 jacket and some endura mt500 splash 3/4's! Now im riding regularly in some very sloppy conditions atm and they are getting a lot of use and therefore need regular cleaning! What do people use to wash while keeping waterproof etc as i dont wanna go into the depths of winter with the waterproofing worn off due to many washes!
Soap flakes. I get these in cardboard packets from the local pound shop. Don't overload or you get a soapy mess coming out of the machine.
Works a treat if you get your gear in whilst still wet. If dried on, less effective.
I tend to fill the sink with hot water and get off as much as I can, then just do a quick wash setting.
Just use a hose to wash the worst off then hang them up to dry. Occasionally wash with Nickwax pure soap.
There's a very good clip on this here vid from some geezer in Yorkshire. Works for me. 2:16 in.
Soap flakes are good as above. Don't use any fabric softener or 2 in 1 powder. Use Nikwax tech wash once in a while and tumble dry your jacket on cool/warm setting to revitalise the beading properties.
My take on it is, if it won't stand a cool wash in the machine and a bit of a tumble dry I must have bought the wrong stuff.
They all still work fine atm but keep reading about them failing! Nikwax keeps popping up so ill get some of that and keep riding and washing! Dont have a tumble dryer though! Heard a cool iron can do the same but is specifically says dont iron on the jacket!
Iron it through a tea towel, carefully.
I washed and re proofed with nikwax tech wash on my altura jacket in the machine at 30 even though the label said 40.
All the white waterproofing membrane came off so be careful.
I use easily washable base layers under winter outer layers.
Just dry the outer layer, brush of mud and wear next day over clean base layer.
Nikwax wash when dogs start following me down the street, maybe 2 or 3 times a winter at most.....