Mountain Jacket Maintenance/Reproofing

For winter use we have paramo gear that we wash and reproof at the
start of the season with Nikwax Tech wash / TX-10 wash in.

I also Tech wash / TX-10 wash in this at start of spring summer on our
Packlite stuff.

For work I have a Berghaus cagoule that I use every day but being pale
blue it gets scruffy round the cuffs, so at the moment it is getting a
monthly wash with Tech wash and the occasional reproof.

So am I right in thinking that you wash with Tech wash and reproof with
TX-10? (Sorry, I'm not yet familiar with these products, I will do a search
on them though!)

So generally speaking (apart from the cagoule), you reproof anually then.

R.

"D and J" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

For winter use we have paramo gear that we wash and reproof at the
start of the season with Nikwax Tech wash / TX-10 wash in.

I also Tech wash / TX-10 wash in this at start of spring summer on our
Packlite stuff.

For work I have a Berghaus cagoule that I use every day but being pale
blue it gets scruffy round the cuffs, so at the moment it is getting a
monthly wash with Tech wash and the occasional reproof.

Richard Phillips said:

"D and J" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

For winter use we have paramo gear that we wash and reproof at the
start of the season with Nikwax Tech wash / TX-10 wash in.

I also Tech wash / TX-10 wash in this at start of spring summer on our
Packlite stuff.

For work I have a Berghaus cagoule that I use every day but being pale
blue it gets scruffy round the cuffs, so at the moment it is getting a
monthly wash with Tech wash and the occasional reproof.

Quoted message said:

So am I right in thinking that you wash with Tech wash and reproof with
TX-10? (Sorry, I'm not yet familiar with these products, I will do a search
on them though!)

That's about it. First make sure your washing machine or bucket id
free of detergent build up. I usually put a load of washing through
without any detergent before I put my gear through with tech-wash.
Then I find it easier to use spray on proofing but beware of overspray
on your shiny floor or it will end up like a skating rink.

Grangers http://www.stay-dry.co.uk/product-selector.php and Nikwax
http://www.nikwax.co.uk/en-gb/index.php# are the usual suspects for
cleaners and proofers.

Quoted message said:

So generally speaking (apart from the cagoule), you reproof anually then.

My jacket wasn't done for some time. It's total lack of any effective
DWR [1] led me to do something about it, being dark green it doesn't
show the muck so I can get away without cleaning it for ages. :-)

[1] DWR Durable Water Repellency -- another marketing lie.

--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"

Phil Cook said:

Richard Phillips wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"D and J" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

For winter use we have paramo gear that we wash and reproof at the
start of the season with Nikwax Tech wash / TX-10 wash in.

I also Tech wash / TX-10 wash in this at start of spring summer on our
Packlite stuff.

For work I have a Berghaus cagoule that I use every day but being pale
blue it gets scruffy round the cuffs, so at the moment it is getting a
monthly wash with Tech wash and the occasional reproof.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

So am I right in thinking that you wash with Tech wash and reproof with
TX-10? (Sorry, I'm not yet familiar with these products, I will do a search
on them though!)

Quoted message said:

That's about it. First make sure your washing machine or bucket id
free of detergent build up. I usually put a load of washing through
without any detergent before I put my gear through with tech-wash.
Then I find it easier to use spray on proofing but beware of overspray
on your shiny floor or it will end up like a skating rink.

Quoted message said:

Grangers http://www.stay-dry.co.uk/product-selector.php and Nikwax
http://www.nikwax.co.uk/en-gb/index.php# are the usual suspects for
cleaners and proofers.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

So generally speaking (apart from the cagoule), you reproof anually then.

Quoted message said:

My jacket wasn't done for some time. It's total lack of any effective
DWR [1] led me to do something about it, being dark green it doesn't
show the muck so I can get away without cleaning it for ages. :-)

Quoted message said:

[1] DWR Durable Water Repellency -- another marketing lie.

I found that the wash-in shower-proofing worked very well on a
favourite ancient woven wool windcheater which is very nice in dry
wether, but sops up rain like a sponge. After proofing it has become
sufficiently shower proof that it's now also in effect a light rain
coat, which has greatly extended it's usefulness.

--
Chris Malcolm [email hidden] +44 (0)131 651 3445 DoD #205
IPAB, Informatics, JCMB, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3JZ, UK
[http://www.dai.ed.ac.uk/homes/cam/]

Richard Phillips <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Hello,

I have a Berghaus Cornice II jacket and am wondering how often people
generally reproof their jackets (if at all), what products they recommend,
what other "regular maintenance" they carry out etc etc?

I have had a breghaus Mira Peak for 2 years 3 months.
I wash it in NikWax TechWash when it looks as though it needs it, about
three or four times in the 2 years. :-)

When the rain spreads across the surface of any waterproof instead of
pilling into droplets I was with TechWash then again in TX-Direct and
tumble dry at low temperature as recommended. I did the proofing for
the first time on this jacket for the first time last week and haven't
had chance to test it yet in a decent downpour.

Quoted message said:

As well as it's intended walking/mountain use, I tend to wear mine to work
daily but am wondering if maybe I'll buy a
cheaper jacket for this to avoid unnecessary wear, is this just being
silly?!

I have worn the jacket almost daily except during warm weather for two
years, I am retired, and expect my money's worth from the coat, and that
is impossible if it's only worn on Sunday walks. ;-)

I have a 14 year old Abris jacket which I sometimes use as a summer
rainproof, and I recently re-proofed that, but the lining is worn again,
having already been repaired once (in a different place!) by a lady
friend who is a whizz at sewing.
--
Gordon Harris

Richard Phillips said:

I have a Berghaus Cornice II jacket and am wondering how often people
generally reproof their jackets (if at all), what products they recommend,
what other "regular maintenance" they carry out etc etc?

How often, when it's been desperately needed done for a bit and I
get a Round Tuit... Usually wash in liquid soap and then use a
reproof from Grangers or Nikwax.
Note that this tops up the water repellency that helps keep the
outer fabric from wetting out, it does nothing to/for the
waterproof layer: if that's shot, you need a new coat.

Quoted message said:

As well as it's intended walking/mountain use, I tend to wear mine to work
daily but am wondering if maybe I'll buy a
cheaper jacket for this to avoid unnecessary wear, is this just being
silly?!

Not at all. The less you use waterproofs the longer the face
coating lasts.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Gordon <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

breghaus

And:

Quoted message said:

I did the proofing for the first time on this jacket for the first
time last week

Must remember to proof read!
--
Gordon Harris

Richard Phillips said:

I have a Berghaus Cornice II jacket and am wondering how often people
generally reproof their jackets (if at all), what products they recommend,
what other "regular maintenance" they carry out etc etc?

According to test results in May's Trail magazine, Comfort Pure fabric
conditioner works as well as most of the dedicated re-proofers, at a
fraction of the price. I've just re-proofed my Paramo Cascada trousers
using it, so I will soon know if it's worked. Even if not, they now
smell nice. 😉
--
remove the ox to reply

Message-ID: <[email hidden]> from Chriss
contained the following:

Quoted message said:

According to test results in May's Trail magazine, Comfort Pure fabric
conditioner works as well as most of the dedicated re-proofers, at a
fraction of the price. I've just re-proofed my Paramo Cascada trousers
using it, so I will soon know if it's worked. Even if not, they now
smell nice. 😉

Can this be true? I hope so, I really don't care much for the smell of
Nikwax TX Direct

--
Geoff Berrow (put thecat out to email)
It's only Usenet, no one dies.
My opinions, not the committee's, mine.
Simple RFDs http://www.ckdog.co.uk/rfdmaker/

Geoff Berrow said:

Message-ID: <[email hidden]> from Chriss
contained the following:

Quoted message said:

According to test results in May's Trail magazine, Comfort Pure fabric
conditioner works as well as most of the dedicated re-proofers, at a
fraction of the price. I've just re-proofed my Paramo Cascada trousers
using it, so I will soon know if it's worked. Even if not, they now
smell nice. 😉

Can this be true? I hope so, I really don't care much for the smell of
Nikwax TX Direct

When did May's Trail come out? Last week by any chance?

Fabric conditioner is NOT recomended for re-proofing.
--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"

Message-ID: <[email hidden]> from Phil Cook
contained the following:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Can this be true? I hope so, I really don't care much for the smell of
Nikwax TX Direct

When did May's Trail come out? Last week by any chance?

Fabric conditioner is NOT recomended for re-proofing.

What, last Saturday, do you think?
--
Geoff Berrow (put thecat out to email)
It's only Usenet, no one dies.
My opinions, not the committee's, mine.
Simple RFDs http://www.ckdog.co.uk/rfdmaker/

"Chriss" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

According to test results in May's Trail magazine, Comfort Pure fabric
conditioner works as well as most of the dedicated re-proofers, at a
fraction of the price.

That'll be why fabric conditioner is NOT recommended for
use on towels.

Phil Cook said:

When did May's Trail come out? Last week by any chance?

Fabric conditioner is NOT recomended for re-proofing.

Maybe not recommended by the makers of expensive dedicated
re-proofers, but it appears to work. The testing was carried out by
Leeds University's Clothing Performance Research Group.
--
remove the ox to reply

How much difference does TechWash make compared to normal detergents then?

Thanks,
Richard.

"Gordon" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Richard Phillips <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Hello,

I have a Berghaus Cornice II jacket and am wondering how often people
generally reproof their jackets (if at all), what products they recommend,
what other "regular maintenance" they carry out etc etc?

I have had a breghaus Mira Peak for 2 years 3 months.
I wash it in NikWax TechWash when it looks as though it needs it, about
three or four times in the 2 years. :-)

When the rain spreads across the surface of any waterproof instead of
pilling into droplets I was with TechWash then again in TX-Direct and
tumble dry at low temperature as recommended. I did the proofing for the
first time on this jacket for the first time last week and haven't had
chance to test it yet in a decent downpour.

Quoted message said:

As well as it's intended walking/mountain use, I tend to wear mine to work
daily but am wondering if maybe I'll buy a
cheaper jacket for this to avoid unnecessary wear, is this just being
silly?!

I have worn the jacket almost daily except during warm weather for two
years, I am retired, and expect my money's worth from the coat, and that
is impossible if it's only worn on Sunday walks. ;-)

I have a 14 year old Abris jacket which I sometimes use as a summer
rainproof, and I recently re-proofed that, but the lining is worn again,
having already been repaired once (in a different place!) by a lady friend
who is a whizz at sewing.
--
Gordon Harris

Richard Phillips said:

How much difference does TechWash make compared to normal detergents then?

"normal" detergents work by reducing the surface tension in the wash so
it's easier for water to penetrate the garment and get the grot out.
Obviously this is somewhat counter-productive in a cloth you wish to
resist water ingress as any detergent traces left over will encourage
the face fabric to drink up water falling on it!

Techwash is a pure soap that works (if I remember O-level chemistry,
which I might not...) by having molecules that have one end latch onto
the dirt and the other onto water (or something like that: if there are
any Real Chemists out there they'll hopefully correct this), so it can
help hauling things out. Any pure soap should work this way, and
several are available that are much cheaper than TechWash.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/