Washing (muddy) waterproofs

I would probably just bucket the worse off for waterproofs. I'm not a DH'er so it would only really be a lightweight waterproof jacket for me on the MTB - other option bucket then a cold wash with no detergent in the washer.

If you can get soap flakes, they are OK on waterproofs.

I find that letting any mud dry, then brushing it off, means I don't have to wash waterproofs so frequently. I guess it depends on how pristine you want to look before you start each ride. Might be different if I was a sponsored rider 😂

If nothing else, that has to be better than running a hot cycle on the washing machine every week to pre-clean it before the wash/proof of gear?!

You don't need to do this if

a) you don't use fabric conditioner in your normal washes (which you shouldn't do anyway, it's completely useless other than adding a fragrance)

b) you don't use loads of detergent in your normal washes (you can generally get a perfectly good wash using half the recommended dose)

And for biking waterproofs I generally do the "let it dry, knock/brush the worst off, wash it occasionally" routine. But also, I don't tend to wear biking waterproofs that much as I tend to avoid going out in the rain and use mudguards 🙂

I find that letting any mud dry, then brushing it off, means I don’t have to wash waterproofs so frequently.

This, plus the above tip about dunking in a bucket of water (warm water in my case) to get most off before it goes in the washer.

I hardly ever re-proof my gear TBH. Not saying that's the right approach, but it still seems to keep water out pretty well.

You don’t need to do this if
a) you don’t use fabric conditioner in your normal washes (which you shouldn’t do anyway, it’s completely useless other than adding a fragrance)
b) you don’t use loads of detergent in your normal washes (you can generally get a perfectly good wash using half the recommended dose)

I used to do laundry powder research at Procter & Gamble and I learned the above ^^^ to be true. Also that liquid does a better job of cleaning almost everything except whites.

OP - I rinse it with clean water when the mud's still wet as dried-in mud can affect the DWR. It depends on the type of mud though as it may well just brush off.

You don’t need to do this if
a) you don’t use fabric conditioner in your normal washes (which you shouldn’t do anyway, it’s completely useless other than adding a fragrance)
b) you don’t use loads of detergent in your normal washes (you can generally get a perfectly good wash using half the recommended dose)

I used to do laundry powder research at Procter & Gamble and I learned the above ^^^ to be true. Also that liquid does a better job of cleaning almost everything except whites.

Interesting, I very much doubt I could get my OH to accept that however I do 95% of the washing so I could just stop using it.

I don’t particularly care about looking pristine so will probably stick with hosing/dunking and maybe grab some soap flakes for the occasional wash with those.

I tend to hose down waterproofs when they get really filthy biking (ideally whilst still wet) then allow to drip dry.

Occasionally in the machine to properly clean?tech wash then TX Direct reproof). But not every time as I do t want to take the inutial DWR coating too soon.

do you wash/proof it every time?

No, I've done this and no matter what you do it always removes the DWR quite quickly. Yes, I use tech wash, I never use fabric conditioner, and I use small doses of liquid detergent. I'd be hosing myself down then wiping the mud off with a sponge.

BUT

If you are wearing waterproofs, proper full mudguards front and rear are essential. Otherwise, the grit will ruin the fabric in no time. This should keep your clobber clean enough to just need a wipe down, but you do need good coverage which may mean a mudhugger with a rubber flap on the back.

I hardly ever re-proof my gear TBH. Not saying that’s the right approach, but it still seems to keep water out pretty well.

Re=proofing isn't about stopping water getting in, it's about maintaining the breathability.

Interesting, I very much doubt I could get my OH to accept that however I do 95% of the washing so I could just stop using it.

I assume you're talking about fabric conditioner? It's ridiculous stuff - it gives a fragrance, sure (the lack of which you fail to notice quite quickly if you stop using it, indeed you actually you start to realise that everyone else smells really chemically...), and it actually makes things like towels work less well as it fills up the pores in the material, leaving less space to hold moisture, which is what you want towels to do.

Plus, you know, plastics, chemicals yadda yadda yadda

Re=proofing isn’t about stopping water getting in, it’s about maintaining the breathability.

Both, according to the blurb for TX Direct.

I don't notice any particular issues with breathability either though, FWIW.

The idea of re-proofing with every wash seems absolutely nuts to me.

I sling them in the wash on the 30minute 30C cycle with no detergent before I do the rest of my kit. Seems to be the least worst option other than hand washing which I CBA with.

I treat them to a bulk wash of all my waterpoofs, winter jerseys, roubaix longs, softshells, etc, anything that came new with a DWR coating with nikwax/grangers/other wash-in a couple of times a year. And give them a spritz with a spray bottle if I remember every so often to make them shed water a bit better.

As usual, worrying about the environmental impact is a bit like fiddling while Rome burns, consider the ~5kg of "chemicals" you'll use driving 15 miles each way to some local-ish trails. Every little helps, but you're looking in the wrong place for the biggest impacts.

hose most of the mud off and leave it a bit dirty rather than washing/proofing after every single ride.

This is what I do. Few times a year though I'll hand wash it in a bucket with some Halo, the amount of mud that comes out of clothing that doesn't look that dirty is amazing. This does make me wonder if I'm ruining the breathability by not washing it properly very often.

Good luck with properly cleaning anything if you ride around Bristol in the wet! The ground is a dark terracotta colour because of the iron in it, so it stains like an absolute bastard. 

Fabric conditioner is an evil emulsion of palm oil that does more harm than good.

Not only can you use half the amount of detergent, you can halve it again and use 50/50 detergent/soda  (Sodium Carbonate) and get a better wash, less artificial smells, better for The Earth, save some dough.

I've always washed my kit, I know that in Winter it does feel like a fool's errand some of the time but by now it habitual, I just don't want to put on dirty kit at the start of a ride. I don't care what it ends up looking like, but we all have our crosses to bear.

I just use regular detergent for washing it, but on a low heat (30degs) and not a super speedy spin cycle (800/1000rpm), and every fourth wash or so, a spray with re-proofer hang it up to soak in and then 20 mins or so in the tumble dryer. Water still beads off it, and its 5 years old now, so must be ok to carry on.

Buy new for each ride. Hosing waterproofs after a ride works for me but you have to be careful how you dry stuff if you're riding again next day. But then I've largely stopped caring about staying dry on proper rides anyway, comfortable is so much more important than maintaining some delusion of cleanliness.

 you don’t use fabric conditioner in your normal washes (which you shouldn’t do anyway, it’s completely useless other than adding a fragrance)

Well that's not true at all.

Ive wash after every ride. I did spend some time trying to just dust the waterproofs off and try and keep them away from the washing machine but i soon discovered that the sweaty smell and buildup of mud, dog eggs and other such stuff meant that the waterproofness was a moot point anyway.

I dont like reproofing garments as it changes the feel of the fabric. Instead i just wash in liquid soap. i know that the dwr will be dead after a year and hat thew only way im staying dry is with a membrane. for 90% of rides this isnt an issue 

thisisnotaspoon
Free Member

I sling them in the wash on the 30minute 30C cycle with no detergent before I do the rest of my kit. Seems to be the least worst option other than hand washing which I CBA with.

This, imo if you can't machine wash bad weather mountain bike kit it's unfit for purpose. Jackets I do tend to do less often just because they're not usually all that muddy but my Altura waterproof shorts have been washed probably a hundred times and are pretty much worn out at the seat, but still waterproof. Maybe not quite as good as they were when new but they're doing the job.