Waterproof and breathable at the same time: Every oilskin should reliably fulfill these two attributes. To ensure you can rely on your sailing jacket and pants for a long time, you should follow a few simple tips for cleaning, care, and storage.
General Information on Caring for Functional Clothing
The main task of sailing clothing is to keep you dry and warm, and additionally to protect against UV rays. Thanks to the membranes used, good oilskins manage to prevent water from entering the jacket and pants while simultaneously allowing water vapor molecules to escape.
Not only the saltwater from spray, but also sweat and greasy substances like sunscreen settle in the pores and thus impair the function of the clothing. Regular cleaning is therefore an absolute must. The following applies:
GOOD CARE = LONGER LIFESPAN OF FUNCTIONAL CLOTHING
Since the membrane and the seams sealed waterproof in the high-temperature process can quickly become damaged, the following care instructions should be followed.
Washing of oilskins
Ideally, functional clothing should be rinsed with fresh water after contact with saltwater. Otherwise, salt crystals can settle in the pores. For optimal care, sailing pants and sailing jackets should also be cleaned regularly. Modern membranes can be easily washed in the washing machine at 30°C.
Dos and Don'ts for Washing in the Washing Machine
Please note:
- The washing machine is preferable to hand washing because the detergent is distributed better.
- Close zippers and snap buttons, tie cords; turn jacket and pants inside out.
- Use special detergent for breathable functional clothing. It should be specifically intended for functional clothing coated with polyurethane (PU). A cost-effective and efficient alternative is gall soap. It does not harm the membrane, is environmentally friendly, and biodegradable.
- Only wash with other functional clothing.
- Wash on delicate cycle at 30°C.
- Load the washing machine with only 50 percent of the specified amount.
- After the actual wash cycle, an additional wash cycle is advisable to remove detergent residues.
- Please follow the care instructions on the label.
Don'ts
- Use regular detergents from the supermarket, fabric softeners, washing powders, or bleach. Fabric softeners and fine washing powders settle in the pores, preventing sweat from being wicked away. Bleach damages the membrane, rendering it unusable. The perfumes in fine and conventional detergents also negatively affect the water-repellent surface of the fabric.
- Wringing or Spinning: The sailing clothing should not be heavily creased, as this can damage the membrane.
- Take to dry cleaning: The detergents used in dry cleaning are too aggressive and damage the membrane of functional clothing.
- Use conventional stain removers: Only stain removers suitable for functional clothing should be used.
Note! Oils, lubricants, and paints may potentially bond with the synthetic fiber. Therefore, they might not be removable. The clothing should not come into contact with solvents under any circumstances. These attack the synthetic fibers and the coating.
Drying of breathable functional clothing
After washing, the sailing clothing should be air-dried. It must be protected from direct sunlight during this process.
Sailing jackets and sailing pants should not be put in the dryer and must not be ironed.
Impregnation of sailing jacket and sailing pants
To ensure the longevity of functional clothing, it is advisable to refresh the impregnation from time to time. Whether a renewal is necessary can be quickly and easily tested: If water no longer beads off, the clothing needs to be impregnated.
There are two options for this:
- Wash-In Imprägnierer: This product is particularly suitable for high-quality and breathable functional clothing. It is simply used in the washing machine.
- Imprägnierspray: This impregnation is sprayed onto dry clothing.
Both are available in specialist stores. When purchasing, make sure that the waterproofing agents are free of silicones. As a rule, good sailing clothing is waterproof even without impregnation. However, moisture can "accumulate" on the surface, creating a feeling of dampness/wetness. Impregnation prevents this and also offers protection against dirt and stains.
Repairing oilskins
If small holes or tears are noticed when checking the sailing jacket and pants, there's no need to buy new ones right away. With the right material, these can be quickly and easily repaired. Tape and glue are available for this purpose in specialist stores.
Vulcanizing adhesives, such as Stormsure, are excellent for repairing oilskins, drysuits, and soles made from materials like rubber, polyurethane, PVC, leather, or fiberglass. Applied directly, it fills cracks without patches and dries clear. The area just needs to be clean and dry. After 24 to 48 hours, the adhesive is cured and the sailing gear is watertight again.
Alternatively, tape like the Multi-Solution Tape is suitable for the repair. The material around the tear should be cleaned before the tape is applied to the hole from both inside and outside. About 1.5 cm of adhesive surface should remain on each side. Rounded corners ensure that the tape lasts longer.
The Proper Storage of Functional Clothing
A few basic rules for storing oil gear between trips help to maintain its function for as long as possible:
- Before storing, it is important to clean, dry, and air out the sailing clothing well to avoid mold and mildew stains.
- The jackets and pants should not be creased or pressed: Too strong creases and folds could damage the membrane and thus impair functionality.
- Store the clothing in a garment bag that allows air circulation.
- When using hangers, make sure they are not plastic-coated.