Nikwax Down Wash Specialist Technical Cleaner - 1lt

Product Information

Conventional laundry detergents leave behind a water attractive (hydrophilic) residue on both the outer fabric and the down fill which masks Durable Water Repellency (DWR). This causes the fabric and down to absorb water and ‘wet out’ in damp or wet conditions, leading to loss of insulation.

Water, whether it is rain or condensation from sweat, compromises the insulating properties of down. If down gets wet it loses all of its insulating capacity and also causes weight gain. This reduces the comfort of the user, causing them to feel cold and wet, but more importantly the reduction in insulation is dangerous and in severe cases can lead to hypothermia. When wet, down loses all of its insulating properties, as water conducts heat away from the body up to 25 times faster than air. After the washing cycle has finished run multiple spin cycles, each time incrementally increasing the spin speed, to remove excess water. Through use, dirt and body oils build up on down items. This effects both the fabric and the down fill. Dirt attracts water; if the fabric absorbs water, rain and condensation can easily transfer into the down. If down gets wet it clumps together. This causes it to lose loft and insulation as it can’t trap air effectively. When wet, down loses all of its insulating properties, as water conducts heat away from the body up to 25 times faster than air. It will also gain weight and its breathability will be significantly reduced; leaving you feeling cold, wet and uncomfortable. The reason why this 2-step method is so important is because of down’s incapability to insulate if it gets wet, therefore a water-repellent treatment is a necessary step. Gear Aid ReviveX Down Cleaner, 12 Ounce Down filled items are most likely to get sweaty and wet inside when used in damp or wet conditions. Therefore it is important to stop down filled gear from getting wet by maintaining Durable Water Repellency (DWR). The outer fabric of your down filled item, as well as the down inside, must be maintained to ensure comfort. Nikwax Down Wash Direct will revitalise the insulation and restore DWR. Down is ideal for very cold and dry conditions...

Whitmor Dryer Balls – Eco Friendly Fabric Softener Alternative

Down filled items are used to provide lightweight insulation to keep you warm. The structure of down allows air to be trapped between its filaments and warmed by body heat to provide insulation for the user. However, once the gear has been thoroughly used, you will need to add DWR, using Nikwax Down Proof>, after cleaning first with Nikwax Down Wash Direct. This will add DWR to the outer fabric of the gear and also the down fill. Down needs Nikwax Down Wash Direct; a specialist cleaner... Whitmor’s dryer balls come in a set of 4, in the color blue. They are made of reusable and non-toxic material and designed with soft spikes that help massage the fabric of any garment, therefore substituting fabric softener.

There’s only so many adventures your sleeping bag can handle before it needs to be refreshed. When it’s time to give it a clean, make sure you use Down Wash from Nikwax. Wash: Gear performs better when closest to its original, pristine state. Case in point: the birdbath. Birds know that their down will best protect them when it is clean. Down, specifically, requires a gentle, detergent-free cleaner. We recommend our very own, Nikwax Down Wash.Direct, which is specially formulated to launder down feathers without weighing down the loft (also see Down Proof, below).Conventional detergents can have a detrimental effect on down, whereas this wash is designed to clean and restore the water repellency of down while maintaining the fill and insulation. It will also restore breathability which helps to keep the down performing well in damp or cold conditions. This product is water-based, non-hazardous, biodegradable and environmentally friendly as well for good measure. Through use, dirt and body oils build up on down items. This affects both the fabric and the down fill. Dirt attracts water; if the fabric absorbs water, rain and condensation can easily transfer into the down. If down gets wet it clumps together. This causes it to lose loft and insulation as it can’t trap air effectively. When wet, down loses its insulating properties, as water conducts heat away from the body up to 25 times faster than air. It will also gain weight and its breathability will be significantly reduced; leaving you feeling cold, wet and uncomfortable. Now, onto today’s selection, which is that of down cleaners. Why down-specific cleaners are important you can find out in the aforementioned guide, now it’s time to take a look at some of the best and essential products needed to properly wash a down-insulated coat. However, once the gear has been thoroughly used, you will need to add DWR, using Nikwax Down Proof, after cleaning first with Nikwax Down Wash Direct. This will add DWR to the outer fabric of the gear and also the down fill. Down needs Nikwax Down Wash Direct, a specialist cleaner... Also by Nikwax, Down Wash Direct is a down cleaner formulated for all types of down that comes as a one-step cleaner. It not only cleans the feathers, but also helps restore their water-repellency, therefore it is suitable to be used with hydrophobic down as well as regular down.

Rinse & Spin: So long as there isn’t a center-mount agitator, a special washing machine isn’t required for down gear. If the washer is large enough to handle the load, it’s good to go. The hard and fast rule is rinse, spin, then spin again. Get as much water out before drying as possible.Hand wash sleeping bags or wash in a professional machine). Nikwax Down Wash Direct can also be applied by hand... Wet down is heavy, so it is important to use the right wash cycle to ensure no damage occurs to your machine or your down items. A gentle cycle with a slow spin is recommended.