How do you clean your riding gear?

[Muriel]

The last time I was in a local store to pick up the Tech Wash and Nick Wax, the clerk pointed out that most people don't put their garment in the dryer. He said that is the most important part as the heat bonds the Nick Wax. I've only dried my suit once, but I'll have to try it again. I have the 2-piece Roadcrafter.

Oh, to get out the grunge, I use a nail brush after smearing straight Tech Wash on the soiled spots, then a sponge, then more nail brush. With patience I've been able to get my cuffs, especially, almost clean again (they're Hi Viz yellow). Then I put the garment, without rinsing, into the washer.

Muriel

[RoboRider]

I used to remove the armor and wash in a machine. But now, all I really want to do is get the sweat out from the inside. I hang my suit in the shower and use the shower head to run water through it.

Sometimes if it is really dirty, I fill the tub with some warm water and dish detergent. I soak it a while, then wash in the shower as above. I like this since it is quick and easy and I don't hassle removing the armor.

For waterproofing, I use a waterproofing spray from REI (for backpacking) to renew the waterproofing once a year.

Never had an issue.

[RSPENNACHIO]

I run it on gentle cycle in a front loader only (per the instructions on the tag) with and extra rinse (my chioce here). I leave the armor in. It hang dries unless it is really warm out in which case I go ride and let nature handle the rest.

[ragtoplvr]

I just hang the Olympia high vis mesh jacket on the hooks at the car wash and give it heck with the high pressure hose. Then I saturate with foam from the foam brus and let soak while I wash the bike. Then rinse both well, 100 miles later it is dry. 3000 Miles later it is due again. This is really nice on those 100 degree summer days.

You can also have dry cleaned, remove armor first.

Rod

[RINTY]

...front loader only...rspennachio

We've become big fans of front loaders...

[lionlady]

I've washed all my textile gear in my Maytag front loader. I remove the armor and give the really grungy spots a good saturation of Spray N Wash/Resolve. I use "regular" detergent and warm water. Extra rinse, I hang it up to dry, then put the armor back in.

I don't have waterproof gear, use a rainsuit, so waterproofing isn't really an issue for me.

P

[flymymbz]

+10000 for Nik Wax and Grangers and front load washers

My Roadcrafter gets washed once a year.

For spot cleaning I use an industrial orange cleaner and a stiff brush. Oxy Clean works well, too.

Spot clean first, then run through an entire cycle (with no soap) to make sure all the cleaner is off. (jacket first, then pants)

They each get their own turn in the washer with NikWax or Grangers. because I ride in the rain a lot, before I stick it in the dryer I give them a good coating of the spray on water proofing (Nik Wax product works best for that).

Into the dryer until dry. Armor pads go back in, and then all the junk goes back in the pockets, boots get scrubbed and re-waterproofed, helmet liner comes out and gets hand washed with Woolite. Gloves get re-waterproofed with NikWash glove spray.

Then I patiently wait for the snow to melt.

[motorcycletripper]

I agree with the minority of responses above and break out the 'cred' excuse when I get really lazy! However, I do have one problem I haven't been able to fix yet... Smelly gloves - not from sweaty palms but from mildew - guess they took just a little bit too long to dry one wet day. They are the 'multi' leather bmw Rallye 2 glove... nothing seems to work. Any suggestions?

[RINTY]

For any of you who might be feeling guilty in not having recently washed your riding gear, consider that Edmonton student Josh Le wore his Nudie jeans almost every day for 15 months, and slept in them for a month, without washing them. Then he and assistant University of Alberta human ecology professor Rachel McQueen swabbed the inside of the jeans and tested them, they found levels about the same as from jeans that had recently been washed.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/canadian-st...ry?id=12722442

Speaking for myself, I feel better already.

[36654]

For any of you who might be feeling guilty in not having recently washed your riding gear, consider that Edmonton student Josh Le wore his Nudie jeans almost every day for 15 months, and slept in them for a month, without washing them. Then he and assistant University of Alberta human ecology professor Rachel McQueen swabbed the inside of the jeans and tested them, they found levels about the same as from jeans that had recently been washed.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/canadian-st...ry?id=12722442

Speaking for myself, I feel better already.

Field dressing a gut shot deer is less disgusting than what you just described....

[dsauer608]

For some reason I'm like Pigpen - I seem to get dirtier than everyone else....? I wash my Olympia stuff in the washer with armor in - I've found taking it in and out tears it up. I pre scrub the bad spots with dishwashing liquid (Dawn takes grease outta your way!) - it's cheap and works really good - then I usually hang dry just because I need every millimeter of length I can get.

Deb
CO

[bumblebee]

I have a 7 year old First Gear Kilimanjaro jacket that I wash in a top loading washing machine, after removing the armour, with regular detergent at least twice a riding season. I have scrubbed the extra grubby parts using 'Resolve' and a soft brush...let it rest for an hour or two then washed it. I use extra fabric softener in the rinse and hang to dry. It still sheds the rain very nicely. My Joe Rocket perforated leather and textile Reactor jacket gets the same treatment and looks pretty good for being 6 years old. The reflective parts still reflect and it does not shrink in size.

[bmwgsrider]

There is one riding jacket I have that for the life of me I can't get the Armour out... and if I do I am afraid I won't get it back in. I have always been "afraid" to wash the gear with the Armour thinking it will ruin the Armour per what I was told by a dealer. Does it ruin the Armour when you leave it in when you wash your riding gear?

The other gear I have washed I have taken the Armour out and it seems as though I have ruined an Armour piece by doing so or perhaps it was defective... the company did replace it with no problem and claimed they never heard of it happening before...

Should I be afraid of washing the gear with the Armour in? A jacket could really use a washing. LOL

I also have a front loader too.

Thanks.

[jkmolt]

What I want to know is whether or not the riding coats and pants are still as waterproof after washing as before. I've got a Kilimanjaro coat and First Gear pants that have not leaked once while riding in Oregon's Northwestern rain (about 6 months out of the year) and they're six years old. Everyone I've spoken with who washes their riding gear sprays a waterproofing material on them after they've been washed. Every one of them gets wet when we ride all the day in rain. I don't. I think I'll just leave it all the way First Gear treated it.

No one has mentioned leathers. I now prefer my textile outfit because it's lighter in weight. Heck, I'm 67 next month and all that leather gets heavy! For years I wore Langlitz Leathers made right here in Portland. Obviously never washed it. About every three months I'd treat it with their leather dressing. After 20 years the pants finally started to get damp in the crotch after an all day ride because the needle holes finally stretched the leather enough that the dressing couldn't fill them properly. The coat, however, (now over 25 yrs old) still doesn't leak. If I'm not going to be walking very much I often wear the First Gear pants and the leather coat.

Karl

[amiles]

I agree with the minority of responses above and break out the 'cred' excuse when I get really lazy! However, I do have one problem I haven't been able to fix yet... Smelly gloves - not from sweaty palms but from mildew - guess they took just a little bit too long to dry one wet day. They are the 'multi' leather bmw Rallye 2 glove... nothing seems to work. Any suggestions?

I'd recommend a Peet dryer. I comes with attachments for shoes/boots. Available are attachments for helmets and gloves. Mine cost somewhere under $40.00 sans attachments. Dry shoes in particular are a real joy. Perspiration is my main enemy and the Peet dryer works well for me.