Nikwax - How To Care For Your Outdoor Clothing
Why Should You Clean & Proof?
The majority of waterproof garments are treated with a Durable Water Repellant (DWR) finish on the outside of the garment. This makes water run off the item allowing sweat vapour to breathe through the fabric keeping the wearer drier and therefore more comfortable. Without this water repellence the garment looses its breathability as it saturates.
Why Use Nikwax?
Nikwax are the inventors of breathable, water based re-proofing. Safe to use and environmentally freindly, its better for you and the environment
Easier
Nikwax cleaners work in the washing machine in place of household washing powders / liquids.
Nikwax products don't affect the DWR of garments so you don't have to re-proof them every time.
Nikwax products are simple, either spray them on or put them in the washing machine. There is no activation needed. It works straight away.
Safer
Nikwax products have minimal environmental impact because they use water instead of solvents. Nikwax don't use aerosols.
Nikwax products are fluorocarbon free, non persistent, non flammable and do not expel fumes.
All in all to use,very safe products.
Drier
Water transfers Nikwax's tough and flexible TX10i elastomer polymer coating onto the fibres of the garment. Tx10i proofs every fibre individually but still allows the garment to be breathable.
Product Selection
Not sure which product you are after? This chart should help.
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Waterproof Clothing |
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Nikwax TX Direct
Wash-in or Spray on
Adds water repellancy
and revives breathability |
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Soft Shells |
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Fleece & Wool |
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Cotton & Polycotton |
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Down |
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Wax Cotton |
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Product Care Video
Cleaning....
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1. Always check the garments label |
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2. Zip up item, loosen any elastic draw cords and fasten all velcro closures |
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3. Pre-treat any heavily marked areas with neat Tech Wash (or Down Wash) prior to washing |
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3. Clean the dispenser draw on your washing machine with a paper towel |
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4. Measure out 100 - 150ml of Tech or Down Wash into your washing machine dispenser draw |
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5. Select 30 degree normal wash cycle or 40 degrees if the item allows it |
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5. After wash cycle, either leave in the washing machine if you intend to proof the item, or remove it and allow it to dry |
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Wash-in proofers....
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1. To re-proof, measure out the correct dose of wash in proofer into the dispenser draw of the washing machine and wash at 30 degrees |
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2. When cycle has ended, hang the garment out to dry |
Spray-on proofers....
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1. Lay your clean, wet garment flat on a plastic sheet or bin liner to protect surface below |
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2. Spray proofer evenly on the garment |
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3. Rub in the proofer with a clean cloth ensuring all areas are covered evenly. Repeat for the back of the garment |
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4. Once covered hang the item out to dry rubbing any streaks off with a cloth |
Frequently Asked Questions....
| Q |
How often should I clean? |
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2-4 times a year or whenever water does not roll off the garment in drops |
| Q |
How often should I reproof? |
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1-2 times a year or whenever cleaning does not bring back water repellance |
| Q |
What about a mixed washing machine load? |
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If most of the load is synthetic use basewash. If the load majority is wool use woolwash |
| Q |
What about travel shirts and trousers? |
| A |
Basewash is ideal for hand washing travel clothes. |
