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2 Rab microlight alpine jackets in need of cleaning - Rab and alpkit are 3-5 weeks, anyone else to try and no I'm not messing up two jackets by DIY
Buy some down wash, wash it, then tumble dry with some tennis balls.
Its worked for us for the last 15 years
Or buy the kit
Yeah what ElShamio said.
Buy some down wash, wash it, then tumble dry with some tennis balls.
Its worked for us for the last 15 years
^ that.
I'm currently sat opposite a rack with 2x down jackets, 3x waterproof and 2x over trousers on having had a big old 'outdoor gear meet Nikwax products' session while the washing machine was clean.
As above, your washing mashinee.
Then tumble dry fir hours upon hours, taking it out every now and again to break up the clumps.
Just make sure that your washing machine detergent drawer is squeaky clean before your start. No residue or crap in there
i washed a down parker a few years ago with down wash in my machine. it came out a treat. i did tumble dry it. this helps fluff up the feathers
It's always worth firing an empty boiling hot wash cycle through your machine before doing stuff like this. I used the Granger's kit with the spiky balls for a knackered old sleeping bag earlier this year, and was very pleased with the results having previously used professional cleaners. I ended up using the machines at a launderette, working on the theory that the bigger drum of a launderette drier might be more effective than a domestic machine.
All the people saying wash at home, hours upon hours of tumble drieing, do a hot wash first, stop the dryer every 20 mins etc.
Two/three things stand out time and money, plus the chance of clumping and having to redo.
Hence the question, where to send to apart from Rab or alpkit
The answer used to be Franklin’s in Greysrones, but these guys in Rotherham took over that business and have been recommended by Rab themselves before.
http://www.elitecleaningandaftercare.co.uk/
For years I've used soap flakes (aka Nikwax techwash) for down jackets, this time I fell over in the mud wearing a new Nuptse so bought some Grangers down wash.
Each time I hang them on a line to drip dry for a few hours then bung them in the dryer to finish off with a few tennis balls.
I had a first gen 25+ years old Nuptse that was still fine when I gave it to a young homeless guy.
Props RNP for giving to a homeless guy. I saw a load retro ME, TNF and Berghaus gear in a vintage place the other day. Looking at the re-emergence of the Nuptse, originals will be worth a fair bit I reckon (I have one).
I had the original Nuptse from new and it was a great jacket but it was looking a bit tired. MrsRNP bought me a new replacement and it's crap - nowhere near as good but I had to smile and be grateful.
It was the juxtaposition of me walking a dog that had a warm bed food and love when there's a human sleeping on cold stone flags. The guy was asleep so I covered him with the coat. Spoke to him a few days later when I saw him wearing it.
But yeah - soap flakes or Grangers, drip dry, tumble with tennis balls.
If they are only the microlight jackets it won't take that long. It's not like it's a huge down filled expedition suit or something fancy from PhD
All the people saying wash at home, hours upon hours of tumble drieing
...and in my case, only after I'd bought a tumble drier - we don't all have them you know!
If they are only the microlight jackets it won’t take that long. It’s not like it’s a huge down filled expedition suit or something fancy from PhD
Speaking of whom, PhD recommend this lot - Down Jackets & Sleeping Bags (classicleanofharrogate.co.uk)
I'd have a crack at washing a coat at home if I had a tumble dryer. Having once washed an alpine spec sleeping bag at home, never again, even with access to a tumble dryer! 🤣
Washed and dried, all fine
👍
Washed and dried, all fine
Who did you use?
I'm guessing Zanussi or Hotpoint, seeing as it's only about 24hours since he was asking how to wash the thing... 🙂
I've had a down sleeping bag cleaned very well by Classic Clean of Harrogate, as recommended by PHD.
I've also washed a few smaller down items myself in the washing machine with dedicated down wash. As others have mentioned, make sure the drawer is clean and / or run an empty boil wash in the machine beforehand (not a bad idea to do this every now and then to kill off all the smell-causing bacteria that can build up).
Be prepared for it to come out of the washing machine looking like it's ruined. I took my stuff to a launderette with a big tumble dryer and put it in with a couple of (clean) tennis balls, IIRC it took about £8 of tumble drying time but on the last cycle it all came out fluffy and re-lofted.