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How to prep your Klim gear for the upcoming season

37K views 29 replies 23 participants last post by  Mike II  
#1 ·
HOW TO WASH GORE-TEX®: WASHING A GORE-TEX® JACKET AND PANT/BIB TO KEEP IT LIKE NEW FOR SEASONS TO COME

Wet and wintry weather is just around the corner. But before you head out on your sled, make sure your waterproof GORE-TEX® jackets and bibs/pants are in top form for all your snowmobile adventures
To make sure the performance of your waterproof GORE-TEX® jacket and pants are ready for the upcoming season, ensure you wash and properly care for your prized threads. But don’t just toss your GORE-TEX® jacket into the wash with your pile of dirty undies: Take a minute to review how to clean and care for it so you don’t find yourself reinvesting in jackets season after season.
Washing GORE-TEX Jackets and Pants – Why Bother?
GORE-TEX® fabrics are highly specialized. In addition to a unique construction, they are made with a DWR (durable water repellant) treatment on their face. This treatment penetrates the fibers of the fabric, which allows water to bead up and roll off the fabric’s surface rather than being absorbed. This ensures a high level of water resistance – an extra layer of protection in addition to the waterproof GORE-TEX® membrane below the surface fabric.
However, with heavy use and time this treatment will wash or wear out. Dirt, sweat and sunscreen are just a few of the things that can also decrease the effectiveness of the DWR treatment and cause your garment to “wet out.” “Wetting out” is when the DWR treatment on the surface of your waterproof apparel has worn off, allowing the liquid to saturate the garment above the GORE-TEX® membrane and making you feel clammy, damp or wet. Fortunately, proper care and washing can help restore both the DWR treatment and its capabilities.
Dirt and oils from sweat – often found stained around the collar – can greatly affect the performance of your GORE-TEX® jacket; how often you use it and abuse it really dictates the frequency of cleaning. Keep in mind, proper washing can increase the garment’s performance and longevity. If you’re using waterproof jackets for hiking or high output activities like snowmobiling and ski touring, we recommend you wash your jacket more frequently.
Time to Wash
When it’s time to wash, first close all the zippers – pockets, pit zips, main center zipper – and release any tension on the draw cords.
Pick a liquid, free-rinsing soap to use on your garment. (We recommend Nikwax Tech Wash®, a product specifically designed to clean waterproof fabrics and restore their technical properties.) Do not use powder detergents, and steer clear of products with surfactants, detergents, bleaches, softeners, conditions, perfumes – these can contain waxes or oils or can be hydrophilic, or water-absorbing. These ingredients have the opposite effect of the DWR treatment and will affect the performance of the garment by adhering to the fabric and reducing the ability to breathe and repel moisture. This even includes dryer sheets. If you only have normal laundry soaps to use, make sure you rinse the garment a second time to get rid of any residue from the cleaners.
Next, machine wash your GORE-TEX® garments – in a front loader, if possible – on a warm cycle with temps around 105 degrees; permanent press is an ideal setting. Choose a cycle that rinses the garment twice to ensure any oils or chemicals are cleared out of the garment and then line dry or tumble dry on a warm, gentle cycle for roughly 40 minutes. The heat from the dryer will reactivate the DWR treatment.
Reactivating the DWR treatment on your GORE-TEX® Jackets
If you find your jacket wetting out, the original DWR treatment might need to be reactivated. First, tumble dry the garment for 20 minutes on a warm cycle or iron the garment on a warm setting placing a towel between the garment and the iron. This can reactivate the treatment – the heat encourages the activation of the water repellant properties.
If that doesn’t work, it might be time to replace the original treatment. Before you ditch your threads for brand new ones, try to restore your garment’s functionality by applying a new water-repellant treatment – either a surface spray-on product or wash-in product. Again, we recommend Nikwax TX.Direct® Spray-On or ReviveX can easily restore the DWR performance of your waterproof apparel. When applying a DWR concentrate on the high wear areas like the seat, knees, chest and arms that are more exposed to the elements when snowmobiling.
For more information on caring for GORE® products, visit the GORE® website.
 
#6 ·
Thanks for this!! I got the Tech Wash and TX.Direct as a combo pack at EMS for $20.00

Haven't washed my Klim gear yet for fear of destroying the waterproof properties... All clean now!

Mal
 
#13 ·
As long as your gear is fully dried you can store it anywhere as long as it is in a dry area. After washing my gear it goes back into my Klim team gear bag until the season starts up again. In the off season it is also a good idea to initiate any warranty issues you might need taken care of.
 
#14 ·
For offseason storage I clean them and then hang them once dry in a closet. The pants/bibs/glove/boots are all cleaned and stored in a plastic storage bin and I've never had an issue yet. I don't think you can go wrong either way, but if you were to keep them in a basement or attic then I'd recommend covering them with a garment or trash bag to keep the dust from accumulating on them. Just keep them clean and dry.
 
#20 ·
Go to the website below and fill out the warranty. You need pictures of the front of the bibs and the back. Explain the problem. Scan your invoice (I have heard the invoice isn't necessary but it is nice include). If warranted, they will send a Case# and instructions. The spray on works for awhile but won't keep you dry like a new pair will. Good luck.

http://klim.polldaddy.com/s/warranty-claim-registration
 
#24 ·
Found my valdez shell was no longer repelling water, even though the gortex still kept me dry, the outer shell would be wet in rain. I did as instructed, including the iron, it brought the jacket back to near new condition. Thanks for the tips. 6th season with the valdez and pro ride pants, have ridden in plus 10 celcius, all the way down to -40, and have ridden in rain and sleet, always dry and warm while I watch my buddies freeze and get wet. The pro shell gortex is a product I would buy again for sure.
 
#27 ·
HOW TO WASH GORE-TEX®: WASHING A GORE-TEX® JACKET AND PANT/BIB TO KEEP IT LIKE NEW FOR SEASONS TO COME

Wet and wintry weather is just around the corner. But before you head out on your sled, make sure your waterproof GORE-TEX® jackets and bibs/pants are in top form for all your snowmobile adventures
To make sure the performance of your waterproof GORE-TEX® jacket and pants are ready for the upcoming season, ensure you wash and properly care for your prized threads. But don’t just toss your GORE-TEX® jacket into the wash with your pile of dirty undies: Take a minute to review how to clean and care for it so you don’t find yourself reinvesting in jackets season after season.
Washing GORE-TEX Jackets and Pants – Why Bother?
GORE-TEX® fabrics are highly specialized. In addition to a unique construction, they are made with a DWR (durable water repellant) treatment on their face. This treatment penetrates the fibers of the fabric, which allows water to bead up and roll off the fabric’s surface rather than being absorbed. This ensures a high level of water resistance – an extra layer of protection in addition to the waterproof GORE-TEX® membrane below the surface fabric.
However, with heavy use and time this treatment will wash or wear out. Dirt, sweat and sunscreen are just a few of the things that can also decrease the effectiveness of the DWR treatment and cause your garment to “wet out.” “Wetting out” is when the DWR treatment on the surface of your waterproof apparel has worn off, allowing the liquid to saturate the garment above the GORE-TEX® membrane and making you feel clammy, damp or wet. Fortunately, proper care and washing can help restore both the DWR treatment and its capabilities.
Dirt and oils from sweat – often found stained around the collar – can greatly affect the performance of your GORE-TEX® jacket; how often you use it and abuse it really dictates the frequency of cleaning. Keep in mind, proper washing can increase the garment’s performance and longevity. If you’re using waterproof jackets for hiking or high output activities like snowmobiling and ski touring, we recommend you wash your jacket more frequently.
Time to Wash
When it’s time to wash, first close all the zippers – pockets, pit zips, main center zipper – and release any tension on the draw cords.
Pick a liquid, free-rinsing soap to use on your garment. (We recommend Nikwax Tech Wash®, a product specifically designed to clean waterproof fabrics and restore their technical properties.) Do not use powder detergents, and steer clear of products with surfactants, detergents, bleaches, softeners, conditions, perfumes – these can contain waxes or oils or can be hydrophilic, or water-absorbing. These ingredients have the opposite effect of the DWR treatment and will affect the performance of the garment by adhering to the fabric and reducing the ability to breathe and repel moisture. This even includes dryer sheets. If you only have normal laundry soaps to use, make sure you rinse the garment a second time to get rid of any residue from the cleaners.
Next, machine wash your GORE-TEX® garments – in a front loader, if possible – on a warm cycle with temps around 105 degrees; permanent press is an ideal setting. Choose a cycle that rinses the garment twice to ensure any oils or chemicals are cleared out of the garment and then line dry or tumble dry on a warm, gentle cycle for roughly 40 minutes. The heat from the dryer will reactivate the DWR treatment.
Reactivating the DWR treatment on your GORE-TEX® Jackets
If you find your jacket wetting out, the original DWR treatment might need to be reactivated. First, tumble dry the garment for 20 minutes on a warm cycle or iron the garment on a warm setting placing a towel between the garment and the iron. This can reactivate the treatment – the heat encourages the activation of the water repellant properties.
If that doesn’t work, it might be time to replace the original treatment. Before you ditch your threads for brand new ones, try to restore your garment’s functionality by applying a new water-repellant treatment – either a surface spray-on product or wash-in product. Again, we recommend Nikwax TX.Direct® Spray-On or ReviveX can easily restore the DWR performance of your waterproof apparel. When applying a DWR concentrate on the high wear areas like the seat, knees, chest and arms that are more exposed to the elements when snowmobiling.
For more information on caring for GORE® products, visit the GORE® website.
You can tie up some bucks in gear, good to know tips. my Klim pants are starting to absorb water now!! thanks
 
#28 ·
Hate to say it, but I live about 20 minutes from Klim. I used to love their gear, but it’s just not the same as it used to be. They do not stand behind their gear like they used to. Have an issue, Too bad. I’ve recently had better luck with Ski doo brand, and many others online. Less upfront cost and better service. Long time customer forced to go elsewhere