Sooner or later, the ski season ends for everyone. Unless you're die-hard summer skiers, when it gets warmer, it's time to put the ski jacket and pants that saw you through the whole winter back in the closet.
It is essential to pay attention to their maintenance before leaving them shut in the closet for months. Washing a ski jacket and ski pants properly helps maintain the performance of the materials, prevents bad odors, and gets them ready for the start of the next season.
Ski jackets and pants are made of technical fabrics designed to provide various properties, such as waterproofness, thermal insulation, breathability, elasticity, and resistance to tearing and abrasion. For this reason, they require specific care when washing: improper treatment can damage the membranes and technical finishes.
Here are ten tips for washing a ski jacket and pants properly, so that they maintain maximum material performance without risking damage to the membranes and compromising their functionality.
1 - Hand wash
Avoid the washing machine or dry cleaning whenever possible. Good old hand-washing is the safest and best solution for ski jacket or pants. Use normal laundry detergent and wash in lukewarm water, at about 85°.
2 - Turn it inside out
It’s a good idea to turn the garment inside out to wash it properly from both sides, so that the inner membrane, which has more contact with the body during sports activities, gets cleaned thoroughly as well.
3 - Rinse carefully
Start with one rinse, then rinse again. You need to make sure that the clothes are completely free of detergent before leaving them to dry. Residue from detergent could trap water, ruin the fabric, and negatively affect the waterproof properties of the membrane.
4 — Do not use fabric softener
The specific composition of commercially available softeners may compromise the DWR water-repellent treatment on ski clothing’s outer membrane. It’s better not to use it. On the snow, it’s not softness that counts.
5 – An important step: drying
Mold can damage clothing if it isn’t dried properly, going on to cause bad odors. It’s a step not to be underestimated, as important as the washing itself.
6 - Don’t use the dryer
Keep that jacket away from the dryer, just like the washing machine. Adhesive and transfers may become detached. The high temperatures and tumbler do the technical materials of ski jackets and pants no favors.
7 - No wringing out
Again, twisting the clothing risks damaging the membranes, as well as causing potentially permanent creases. Let the jacket and pants drain as much as necessary.
8 - Dry away from heat sources
Let your ski jacket and pants dry in a dry and ventilated place, avoiding proximity to heat sources such as radiators or stoves. Open zips and air vents to facilitate the passage of air. It can take several hours to dry completely, but it's crucial to preserve the filling.
9 - Put it on a hanger
Hanging your ski jacket on a hanger helps maintain the original shape of the garment and avoids unwanted creases. Your pants should also be hung properly.
10 - Careful: don't wash your garments too often!
Frequent washing can accelerate the wear of technical membranes. Generally, washing a ski jacket and pants once or twice a season is more than enough.
Washing technical ski garments is never something to take for granted. The modern technologies applied to materials are highly advanced, and incorrect treatment that doesn’t follow the manufacturer’s instructions risks compromising their properties.
Follow these tips on how to wash and maintain your ski jacket and pants to preserve their functionality, comfort, and protection over time. Take care of the garments that you rely on every day in the snow.
