Common misunderstandings with Gore-Tex laundering

Washing instructions for Gore-Tex are available on the Gore-Tex website and on each manufacturer's website.

Many experienced people who are supposed to be doing the laundry as introduced, but it does not work or has problems, consult us professionals.

In this issue, we will introduce some of the most common Gore-Tex laundering failures and problems that we have received from such consultations.

We will also introduce the causes of these outbreaks and how they can be prevented.

Stains do not come off.

We often see people having trouble getting stains out of their Gore-Tex jackets. We consult with them about stains that are bothering them and stains around the neck and sleeves that are difficult to remove even after washing.

Many people wash their clothes at this time using special outdoor detergents such as NIKWAX or Grangers, but there is a problem here.

This is not to say that the use of specialized outdoor detergents is not a good idea, but they should be used for laundering. However, outdoor detergents are relatively mild in terms of cleaning power, but compared to general detergents, they prevent fatal damage to outdoor jackets as we will explain later, rinse well, and prevent deterioration of the DWR (durable water repellent) coating on outdoor jackets. However, it is inferior to general detergents in terms of stain removal.

Countermeasure: How to prevent stain removal problems?

Pre-treatment is very important. Before washing, soak the stained area with detergent and place it on the fabric and rub it so that it blends with the stain on the fiber. You may use a general detergent for this area only, but be careful not to apply too much. Be careful to use only a very small amount of detergent so that it soaks into the stained area only.

Water repellent treatment without thoroughly removing dirt.

Another problem is that the DWR process is done without adequate cleaning. We professionals are very careful about the initial surface condition, and since DWR is a type of coating, keeping the coated surface clean is a very important task.

When you apply the tape, you would not apply the tape if the surface to which it is applied is very dirty, would you? The surface condition of the fabric is a very important part of DWR quality.

Also, DWR treatment without sufficient washing will encourage stains to set in, and since DWR is a coating process, it acts as a protection for stains that remain on the surface. This leads to the disadvantage that the stain will be more difficult to remove by washing alone.

Countermeasure: Remove dirt thoroughly before applying DWR treatment.

The basic rule is to remove stains thoroughly before applying the DWR treatment, but stains that have accumulated over a long period of time may become fixed and cannot be removed by washing alone. To prevent this situation, it is also important to wash the jacket regularly. Instead of washing after the jacket becomes visibly dirty, invisible sebum stains accumulate on the underside of the jacket. Regular laundering will prevent the strong fixation of dirt.

Water repellent is not working even though I used a water repellent...

The DWR performance has been degraded, so we washed and applied the DWR treatment, but it did not recover as well as we had hoped. We often hear that the product returned to a wet condition immediately again.

This issue is very complicated because there are several possible problems. We are all professionals in this field because of this.

I will briefly raise a few causes.

Detergent will affect the subsequent water repellent performance. If you are not sure which one to use, it is most desirable to use an outdoor detergent.

2，Insufficient rinsing of detergent

Detergent residue also affects the subsequent water repellent treatment. Even if detergent is rinsed thoroughly, there will be quite a bit left over. Special outdoor detergents are easier to rinse out, so it is preferable to use outdoor detergents for this reason as well.

3, Influence of perfumes and deodorants

　These effects may occur if you normally use perfume, deodorant, or if you normally use waterproofing sprays.

4, Mismatch of water repellent

　It must be noted that the water repellents available on the market are only simple DWR treatments. These products are developed so that they can be treated at home without failure, and this sacrifices performance. If the performance is unsatisfactory, it may be difficult to be satisfied with the level of performance that can be achieved by the product you are choosing in the first place.

Countermeasure: If you are not satisfied with the DWR performance

As explained earlier, the reasons for unsatisfactory DWR performance are complex. For this reason, the average person will find themselves in a situation where sometimes it just happens to work and sometimes it does not. It can happen that the DWR process does not work for this jacket when it usually works for other jackets.

In such cases, leave it to us, a professional DWR processing store. We have a lot of know-how, and we can create better conditions for DWR processing by performing many pretreatments. And the DWR process itself is different from ordinary treatments. We have created a process that is designed first and foremost to produce DWR performance. Therefore, we are not in the business of selling only water repellents and treating them at home. For more performance, the process is also a dedicated treatment method and can be achieved. This is the difference between professional and general.

Water repellent stains.

It is also a common concern that water repellent stains have formed after DWR treatment. The cause of this is simple: the water repellent has been used more than the default amount. It is very understandable to feel that the more water repellent you use, the better the performance. However, this results in water repellent stains, not higher water repellent performance. Since the quantity of water repellent has only increased but the quality has not improved, using a lot of water repellent will only make water repellent stain accidents more likely to occur.

Countermeasure: To prevent water repellent stains from occurring

It is very simple: follow the usage amounts listed on the package. Let go of the idea that using more will increase DWR performance, as stated earlier, and stick to the default usage amount.

If a stain has formed, it is difficult for the general public to remove this. It needs to be removed by our professionals, so please consult with us.

Seam tape has come off.

Gore-Tex jackets have seam tape attached to the seams to maintain the waterproof performance of the seams. Because this is an adhesive, the adhesive strength deteriorates over time and will eventually peel off. Since the adhesive strength weakens over time, it is inevitable that the tape may come off after washing, but if it does, the seam tape will need to be replaced again.

Countermeasure: To prevent seam tape from peeling off

Seam tape peeling is an age-related deterioration, but storage conditions accelerate this deterioration. Seam tape deterioration is accelerated if the storage area is hot, humid, and without much air circulation. The worst situation is when the seam tape is left in the stuff bag after use in the mountains. After use, take it out of the stuff bag and hang it on a hanger.

Please note that seam tape that has come off can be replaced by maintenance and repair professionals like us, so please consult with us. At this time, make sure that they have a special machine for applying seam tape. Using an iron to apply the tape is not enough pressure to apply the tape and the quality is not consistent. A seam tape application machine can apply high temperature and pressure at the same time, so it can be highly reliable.

The fabric has peeled off.

Gore-Tex fabrics are actually three layers, with the front and back being common nylon or polyester fabrics, sandwiched between them is the membrane, which is the main body of Gore-Tex. Because it is sandwiched between fabrics and glued together like a laminate, it will deteriorate over time, just like the seam tape described earlier.

Countermeasure: To avoid fabric delamination

As with seam tape, its deterioration is accelerated by storage conditions, so attention must be paid to storage conditions. Seam tape is manually applied to products sewn into the shape of a jacket, but laminating GORE-TEX fabric is done by a special machine, which is unique in that it is a stable process. Therefore, peeling of the fabric is generally less likely to occur than peeling of the seam tape.

Unfortunately, when fabrics become detached, it is difficult to repair, even for professionals. We are currently working on a solution to this problem, aiming for the highest level of outdoor maintenance technology.

summary

Most problems that occur when washing GORE-TEX are caused by the above patterns. Knowing the causes of these problems will help you to wash GORE-TEX better. And if you have any problems in washing, please consult with us professionals.