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 Care for Functional Clothing
The main task of sailing clothing is to keep you dry and warm, while also protecting you from 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 does the saltwater from spray, but also sweat and greasy substances like sunscreen get trapped in the pores and thus affect the function of the clothing. Regular cleaning is therefore an absolute must. Here's the rule:
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 Oilskins
Ideally, functional clothing should be rinsed with fresh water after contact with saltwater. Otherwise, the 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 Laundry in the Washing Machine
Please note:
- The washing machine is preferable to hand washing because the detergent is distributed more evenly.
- Zip up zippers and snap buttons, tie cords; turn jacket and pants inside out.
- Use special detergent for breathable sailing clothing. It should be specifically designed 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.
- Wash only with other functional clothing.
- Wash on gentle cycle at 30°C.
- Load the washing machine with only 50 percent of the recommended amount.
- After the main wash cycle, an additional wash cycle is useful to remove detergent residues.
- 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 get trapped 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: 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 harsh and can 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. As a result, 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 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 pants should not be put in the dryer and must not be ironed.
Waterproofing of Sailing Jacket and Sailing Pants
To ensure the longevity of functional clothing, it's a good idea to refresh the waterproofing from time to time. You can quickly and easily test if it's time for a renewal: if water no longer beads off, the clothing needs to be waterproofed.
There are two options for this:
- Wash-In Impregnator: This product is especially suitable for high-quality and breathable functional clothing. It is simply used in the washing machine.
- Waterproofing Spray: This waterproofing is sprayed onto dry clothing.
Both are available in specialty stores. When purchasing, make sure that the waterproofing agents are free of silicones. Generally, good sailing clothing is waterproof even without impregnation. However, moisture can "settle" on the surface, creating a feeling of dampness/wetness. Impregnation prevents this and also offers protection against dirt and stains.
Repairing Oilskins
If you notice small holes or tears in your sailing jacket and pants during a check, there's no need to rush out and buy new ones. With the right materials, you can quickly and easily repair them. You can find tape and glue for this at specialty 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. To do this, the material around the tear should be cleaned before the tape is applied to the hole from both the inside and outside. About 1.5cm of adhesive surface should remain on each side. Rounded corners ensure that the tape lasts longer.
Proper Storage of Functional Clothing
A few basic rules for storing oil gear between trips help maintain its functionality for as long as possible:
- Before storing, it's important to clean, dry, and air out the sailing clothing well to prevent mold and mildew stains.
- The jackets and pants should not be creased or pressed: Too many 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.