Just washed my textiles.....

[teech]

The label said handwash, so I bunged them in the bath with loads of liquid and set to them.

Couldn't believe how filthy they were - three years of muck, the water was almost black! Also found quite a lot of gently dissolving midges.

Had to do it, I was getting comments of my classroom smelling of wet dog. They are now hanging up in the garage with a broomstick through the sleeves. I had forgotten how reflective the silver strips on it actually are!

Its funny how it balloons up with the 'supposed' waterproof material, it was like trying to drown a blow up doll.

Ramble over.
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In everyday life good people do good things, bad people do bad things. It takes religion to make a good person do bad things.

[crackfinder]

[Irn-Bru]

Suppose I should wash my jacket as well... What do you do after they dry though? Aren't you suppose to use some stuff to make them water proof?
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KTM 990 SMT & Suzuki DR-Z 400 SM

[Flip]

[teech]

I don't know. I'm guessing it says hand-wash because it's made up of lots of synthetic materials that would go silly with anything more harsh like dry cleaning.

I think that it has a certain level of integral 'showerproof' -ness, even after washing because of the material.

If anyone has any advice on treatments that will make it more effective in the wet then I'd love to know. (thanks flip - your advice was posted as I was writing - I'll look into Tekwash).

As it stands it keeps me pretty dry, apart from water getting in at the seams and sleeves after a long ride in the rain.
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In everyday life good people do good things, bad people do bad things. It takes religion to make a good person do bad things.

[Flip]

This is the stuff I meant. HG sell it. (I got the name wrong, sorry).

https://www.nikwax.com/en-gb/products/productdetail.php?productid=4&activityid=5

[teech]

Cheers Flip

I'll definitely get some of that and give it a try.
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In everyday life good people do good things, bad people do bad things. It takes religion to make a good person do bad things.

[Irn-Bru]

I get SOAKED with my jacket. It was a hand-me-down from my dad though, and he said it'd need some of that treatment stuff to make it water proof again Cheers for the info flip

EDIT: This should do, right:

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NIKWAX-Tech-Wash-TX-Direct-300ml-Twin-Pack-Waterproof_W0QQitemZ150367640771QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_3?hash=item23029c1cc3&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14#ht_1857wt_894

Seems like a good deal
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KTM 990 SMT & Suzuki DR-Z 400 SM

[Gazz]

I have just rated this post because it is very informative and I suffer from a similar issue to yourself - of people commenting on how smelly I am (after I have taken my bike gear off).

I sometimes get paranoid that someone will smell my suit when its hanging up in the work changing room and people will spread vicious rumours about me being a stinky bastard.

The smell almost makes my girlfriend sick. She fucking hates the smell. Had my stuff for the best part of a year now, so its good to know that I have another 2 years of use left before it needs washed.

In all honestly though, I'm going to wash mine next week or the week after cos I will have my other suit by then.

[caragh]

Grangers Fabsil for the win, cheaper a little goes a long way good stuff.

https://www.busyoutdoors.com/shop/awnings-tents/awnings/awning-accessories/grangers-fabsil-waterproofer/prod_512.html
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Triumph Tiger 800 XR

[baldy]

3 years, is that all?

I did almost 5 years before having to clean my leathers. It looked like the council had tarmacked over them.

It's suprising how flexible they are after a good clean.

They now smell like lemon and jasmine
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One day i will rule the world, just not today.

[Zero]

Nikwax (or Grangers, or Storm, there's loads...) just helps to prolong the time it takes for water to start soaking into the outer-most fabric of clothing, it does not actually waterproof it. It adds a chemical to the outer fabric to make the rain and water 'bead up' and run off the clothing. The garment has to have a waterproof membrane (like Gore-Tex) or coating (almost always the cheaper than Gore stuff) to stop water from actually penetrating to the inside. It also has to have seam taping covering the inside of the stitch lines otherwise water will force its way in through these tiny holes too. Even the most expensive jacket in the world, with a brand new coating of Nikwax will eventually 'wet out' and appear soaking wet on the outside. It's the waterproof membrane / coating underneath this outer fabric that actually stops the water getting all the way through. Sorry, bit of a long and boring explanation... basically, even if it's a fabric jacket that looks waterproof, but hasn't got seam-taping and a membrane or coating inside, then it wont be 100% waterproof. Shower-proof is bollocks, it just isnt enough on a bike jacket for use in the UK. It's either waterproof or it isn't, simple!!