Part one of this series talked about the fabrics. Today we cover washing them. Using the proper settings to wash and dry your clothing and other gear will help it last longer, keep colors brighter and avoid damage. Some clothing has tags that tell you to wash in cold water and hang to dry while others might just have a series of symbols.
Of course, these are actual hieroglyphics, but unless you understand laundry care symbols, it’s not any different.
There are 5 main symbol categories used for laundry. The first resembles a bucket that tells about washing. The triangle tells whether or not to use bleach. A square covers drying instructions. The little iron, unsurprisingly, covers ironing. The circle provides information about dry cleaning.
This graphic says to wash in cold water, no bleach, tumble dry with air only, and no ironing and no dry cleaning.
There are variations of all of these symbols that tell whether items should be hand washed or washed on gentle cycle or washed in a front load washing machine. You can find more about laundry symbols in this article by Reader’s Digest. Downloadable charts are available as well as nicer printed versions for purchase. I keep one hanging in a clear sleeve in my laundry room.
Detergents and fabric softeners
Be sure to use the right cleaner for your materials. Some clothes and gear ask for powdered detergent, while most can just use whatever detergent you use every day. Be sure to use a down wash for your down items. A down wash will help keep the loft in the down and that loft is what helps to retain warmth.
Generally speaking, you shouldn’t use fabric softeners with any camping fabrics. Fabric softeners can interfere with water repellent and insect repellent treatments.
A few drops of dish soap or shampoo will do the job if you need to clean something on the trail. You don’t need very much and be sure to do any washing well clear of any streams or other water sources.
General laundry care tips
You don’t need to wash things nearly as often as you think. Many articles of clothing can be worn a couple of times before washing them.
Be sure to close all buttons, zippers, snaps and Velcro. These can snag on parts of the washing machine, other garments, and put stress on the closures themselves.
Brush off any excess dirt or mud before washing. Getting dirt off prevents it from spreading to other items and will let the soiled items get cleaner.
Treat stains before you wash clothing.
Turn clothing inside out. This will help protect the surface and reduce pilling. It also allows the fibers in your socks to decompress after being on your feet all day.
Remove clothing promptly when dry. Don’t over dry materials. Heat is not always your friend.
Special notes on washing down insulation
It’s best to use front load washers for items with down insulation. Remember, wet down is very heavy and you need to support it carefully. You can easily tear out the baffles that keep the down spread throughout the item. Gently move the down about as you are drying it. A few tennis balls in the dryer can help. We take our sleeping bags (and down comforter) to the laundromat periodically to wash.
Using treatments on your fabrics
Dirt and oils on the surface of a garment can break down the water resistance of a material and interfere with the breathability of the fabric. Be sure to clean the article first and then apply the treatment.
There are treatments available to to improve the water resistance of your fabric. Be sure the treatment you choose is the right one for your material. Read and follow the instructions.
Most insect repellent treatments wash out in 6 to 8 washings, so they will need to be reapplied regularly.
Future posts will talk more about repair.
Sherrey
Great advice