For lots of us, it’s only after you lean on a dirty car too many times grabbing skis and boards out of the back or out of a topper, you think about washing your ski clothes. But in order to keep that gear going strong, we should all be washing our gear a little more frequently. With our expensive waterproof pieces, throwing them in the wash can feel intimidating. But it’s essential to keep the waterproofing and water repellency in place. No need to fear! We put together the ultimate guide on how to wash your ski gear. Everything from washing jackets and pants to your down puffers. Let’s dive in!
How to Wash Ski Jackets and Ski Pants
The first best step for washing your gear is acquiring the right detergents. Regular laundry detergent will strip the muck and dirt from your gear, but also strip the water repellencies. Specially formulated detergents don’t alter the good stuff about the gear while getting things clean.
Washing gear is typically a two-step process. First, wash the product using a performance gear wash that is designed to clean the gear without stripping anything away. Then, you follow up with a second wash with a reproofing product to re-waterproof the gear. These washes help revitalize the DWR (durable water repellent) and bring the gear back to those first few weeks you owned it. For both of these washes, check the care label inside the jacket or pant. All my ski apparel suggests different temperatures for the wash.
Some products like Grangers Wash and Repel 2 in 1 make things a little easier. A couple cups of this and you’ll be off to the races with just one wash. Saving water and one less detergent to buy! Win-win! That’s what I’ve used in these two images, and while I haven’t taken it out in a snowstorm yet, I’m really happy with the results.
After the garments have been washed, throw the gear in the dryer. Follow the specific care instructions on each garment to set the dryer correctly—they can vary from piece to piece. Don’t be afraid of using them in the dryer; the heat helps revitalize the DWR coating as well.
How to Wash Down Jackets
Down jackets can often be the most intimidating of technical gear to wash. No one wants to mutilate their down jacket. But that gear can get a little filled with odor after one too many ski days out and about with the jacket on. Luckily for us, there are down-specific washes that can help keep the gear functioning great, while also protecting what’s inside.
Grangers offers two kinds: a downwash kit and another 2 in 1 kit to help revitalize the DWR water repellency on the jacket. We definitely recommend jumping to the 2 in 1, just so you can have extra protection from the drizzle and snow sprinkles we get while wearing our down jackets out.
Once you wash the jacket (or sleeping bag), you can drop the jacket in the dryer. Follow the care instructions on the label to get the dryer settings correct. Before you press start, drop in the dryer balls that came with your kit. Some folks use tennis balls, but we find that tennis balls are actually too dense and heavy, and don’t fluff the down appropriately. Use the dryer balls that came with the kit, or some dryer-specific ones you can find at the store.
Check the dryer periodically to check how the down is lofting. You want the down to be spreading evenly throughout the garment, so check on it manually fluff it up, and spread things out as needed.
Some things to think about
Newer products use fewer “forever chemicals” like PFAS and PFCs, and we don’t find them quite as potent as the stronger products. That’s totally fine, you might just need to wash your garments a little more frequently. Instead of once a season, maybe a few times a season. With the appropriate detergent, washing more frequently is not a problem.
You’ll notice the garment is ready to be washed when the gear stops beading water on the face fabric as well as it used to. DWR naturally wears off with use and as dirt and oils get on the fabric. It’s totally normal to need to wash these pieces, and they’re designed to be thrown in the laundry.
