The wet and cold season has begun! The next few months will not only pose enormous challenges for us cyclists, but also for the material and clothing. The latter should reliably protect us from the cold, rain and snow - and thus bring us healthy through the winter. In order for the cycling clothing to be able to cope with this task over the long term, a few important points must be observed when it comes to care and cleaning.
Washing the cycling clothing in the washing machine
When the respective piece of clothing should be washed can be deciphered relatively easily with the three-layer onion skin principle. The outer layer is directly exposed to the weather and therefore has wind and water-repellent properties. Coarsely adhering dirt can be tapped off or, if necessary, removed with a soft brush. You should go into the washing machine as little as possible, but as often as necessary. Each wash reduces the effectiveness of the impregnation.
The middle layer should be washed more regularly, depending of course on how dirty it is. Base layers and underwear do not normally come into contact with mud or dirt, but sweat, body fat and cosmetics can affect the material. Laundry that absorbs a lot of sweat must therefore be washed after every intensive use. An exception to this is merino wool, for which extensive airing is sufficient.
Basic information about washing in the washing machine
In order to maintain the functionality of the clothing, fabric softener must never be used! The surfactants in the fabric softener impair moisture transport, which means that the function is severely impaired. If the functional clothing has accidentally been washed with fabric softener, there is no need to worry. After a few washes (then without fabric softener!), the initial function is restored. Of course, special detergents for functional textiles are suitable as detergents, but liquid detergents that do not contain fabric softeners are also suitable.
Powder detergents, on the other hand, should not be used, as they are difficult to dissolve at low washing temperatures. Of course, before washing, the information label on the item of clothing – also with regard to the washing temperature – should be observed. A problem with washing can always cause Velcro fasteners. In order to protect the garments during washing, the Velcro fasteners should always be closed. The same goes for zippers. A small laundry bag is ideal for smarter clothing items such as gloves.
spin and dry
When setting up the washing machine, you should also pay attention to the point of spinning. In order not to damage the functional fibers, only spin at very low speeds, if at all. It gets even more dramatic with clothing with membrane technology, such as softshell jackets. They shouldn't be thrown at all. Some modern washing machines have a special program for functional/outdoor clothing. Here it is worth taking a look at the operating instructions. A look at the information label quickly clarifies whether the garment can be put in the dryer.
The drier is mainly used when reactivating the impregnation of the third layer. After several washes, the impregnation must be refreshed. A rough rule of thumb is three to five machine washes. To do this, spray the freshly washed, still slightly damp piece of clothing with a special impregnation agent and put it in the dryer for thirty minutes.