Cleaning Gear

[Azhyen]

How do you guys clean your gear?

I've got a textile joe rocket jacket and it says not to machine wash it. I guess I'll just take a sponge, soap and water and start scrubbing.

So I just thought I'd ask all of you what do you all do to get rid of Gear Funk.

[dubojr1]

I've machine washed on gentle and have even used a pressure washer before on my Firstgear textile. Both worked equally well with no damage.

[dubojr1]

I also recommend using a pre-wash spray on the tough areas prior to the wash. Works wonders!!!

[Locksmiff]

I used to wash my last jacket by hand in the laundry tub.

[YORCHI]

My jacket says I can wash it in the gentle cycle...I wonder if a dry cleaner can do it?

[ninja_sleeper]

Keep in mind your gear is made to protect you when you crash on asphalt, rocks, etc. I really don't think anything bad is going to happen if you put it on a normal cycle in the wash. I have white in my jacket. Tossed it in my crappy washer machine, poured some bleach in and it came out looking brand new. Don't forget to remove the armor.

[Azhyen]

Originally Posted by ninja_sleeper

Keep in mind your gear is made to protect you when you crash on asphalt, rocks, etc. I really don't think anything bad is going to happen if you put it on a normal cycle in the wash.

See I was thinking the same thing. If anything, MAYBE the mesh liner would rip, but that's a big maybe. Bah I'll try the machine this weekend...

[Alex]

Have never had an issue with the washer. Have had an issue with the dryer when I left a textile jacket in too long; it burned it and weakened it so much in the shoulders that it ripped easily when replacing the armor. I had the dryer on low and thought I was being careful, I wasn't. I now wash them without worry, but leave them to hang dry.

[Momaru]

Beware of using bleach on things. Some textiles don't react well and will weaken over time. Obviously you're not washing your gear as often as say, one's underoos, but just be aware.

Some of my fencing protective equipment needed cleaning and I used a little bleach to whiten them. Next time I put 'em on, the garment suddenly acquired several new holes.

[Cuongism]

For mesh and textile, I remove the armor and hang dry (have one of those efficient machines). Works great so far. For leather, I just use leather conditioner/cleaner.

[gfloyd2002]

Originally Posted by Azhyen

I've got a textile joe rocket jacket and it says not to machine wash it. I guess I'll just take a sponge, soap and water and start scrubbing.

This. Take out the pads, use water and a mild soap (Woolite is the classic, time proven one), rub the garment against itself to get clean. Then I let it air dry.

Do not use bleach. Don't use a scrub pad. For heaven's sake, don't dry clean it. In my opinion, a top load washer even on gentle cycle can be too rough on delicates, especially over time. I don't want any extra wear or strain on the stitching - even if it looks fine, I don't want to find out as I'm skidding across the pavement I'd weakened the construction at all over time. The reason the instructions are what they are is because they want the stitching to hold at max strength in a crash. I'd probably do gentle cycle if I had a front-loader though.

[Havok]

I run my textile jacket through the washer, I pretreat it with laundry soap on the bad areas then wash it with more soap in the wash. I then run one more gentel cycle with no soap toque sure it's rinsed very well then hang dry. I would not reccomend bleach or any thing other then mild detergent, bleach will weaken it over time and you may not notice it till it's too late. Hang dry and you should be good to go.

My leather jacket gets leather cleaner and I plan on conditioning it every 6 months or so.

[bonbon76]

I take out the amour and throw it on the gentle cycle with Oxy clean. Comes out new looking and white again! Oxy isnt as harsh as bleach so it may go easier on your threads.