How to Wash Your Ski Jacket and Pants?

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Maintaining your ski jacket and pants is crucial for preserving their functionality and longevity. Proper washing not only keeps them looking good, but also ensures their waterproof and breathable features remain intact. Ski wear is made from various materials like synthetic fabrics, base layers, and technical fabrics such as Gore-Tex, each requiring special care.

What to Do Before Washing Your Ski Jacket and Ski Pants

1. Read the Care Label

Always start by reading the care label on your ski jacket and ski pants. For Orage garments, care instructions are provided on a tag inside the garment, usually stitched in the seam at the waist. The manufacturer's instructions provide vital information on how to properly clean and maintain your ski or snow gear without damaging it. Make sure to follow these washing instructions: 

  • Machine wash in cool water
  • Use a mild liquid detergent or powder detergent
  • Wash your ski clothes separately
  • Rinse thoroughly or use a gentle spin cycle twice
  • Do not use fabric softeners
  • Do not soak
  • Tumble dry at low heat for a short time (5-10 min) to reactivate surface water repellency
  • Hang to dry
  • Do not iron
  • Do not dry-clean

2. Gathering Necessary Materials

You will need a gentle detergent, like Tech Wash, cold or warm water, and a clean washing machine. Avoid using fabric softener as it can damage the waterproof coating of your waterproof clothing.

3. Checking and Preparing Your Ski Wear

Before washing, make sure all pockets are empty, zippers are closed, and any visible stains are pre-treated using a damp cloth. This preparation helps protect your gear and ensures a thorough clean.

4. Put Your Ski Jacket in the Washing Machine

  1. Set your washing machine to a delicate cycle with cold water.
  2. Use a special detergent specifically designed for technical fabrics.
  3. Place your ski jacket and snow pants in the machine, avoiding overloading.

For synthetic materials, down, and Gore-Tex, follow these tips:

  • Synthetic Materials: Use cold water and avoid high heat during drying.
  • Down: Add tennis balls to the dryer to keep the down from clumping.
  • Gore-Tex: Close all zippers and velcro to prevent damage.

Handwashing Alternative

If the care label recommends or if you prefer, gently wash your ski wear by hand using hot water. Use lukewarm water and a mild detergent, gently agitating the water to clean the fabric. Rinse thoroughly to remove all detergent residues.

How to Wash Your Shell Jacket

Washing your DERMIZAX® jacket will not hurt it. In fact, regular washing helps maintain the DWR coating, allowing water to bead up and shed off. Follow these steps:

  1. Zip all zippers and close all Velcro® fasteners.
  2. Machine wash in cold water using a mild powder detergent.
  3. Wash separately.
  4. Rinse thoroughly or rinse twice.
  5. Do not use fabric softeners or soak.
  6. Tumble dry on low or medium heat for a short time (5-10 minutes) to reactivate surface water repellency.
  7. Hang to dry.
  8. Do not iron or dry-clean.

How to Wash Your Down Garment

Periodic cleaning of down garments is essential to maintain maximum loft and ensure the long life of the product. Follow these steps:

  1. Zip all zippers and close all Velcro® fasteners.
  2. Machine wash in cold water using a mild powder detergent.
  3. Wash separately.
  4. Rinse thoroughly or rinse twice.
  5. Do not use fabric softeners or soak.
  6. Tumble dry at low heat for a short time (5-10 minutes) to reactivate surface water repellency.
  7. Hang to dry.
  8. Do not iron or dry-clean.

My Shell Jacket is Leaking: What Should I Do?

All Orage outerwear shell fabrics are treated with a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finish. This treatment helps the shell fabric resist wetting by causing water droplets to bead up and fall off. Over time, soils and body oils can reduce the effectiveness of these finishes, particularly during the ski season. To revive the DWR:

  1. Follow the cleaning instructions on the tag inside the garment.
  2. Attach all Velcro® closures and zip all zippers.
  3. Use two rinse cycles to ensure no detergent residue remains.
  4. Touch up the entire outside the garment with a warm iron on the steam setting after laundering to restore DWR properties.
  5. For even better performance, treat your product with a coating of DWR spray.

Drying Your Ski Gear

General Drying Tips

Air drying is often the best choice to prevent damage from a high heat source, especially for technical gear like ski wear. Lay your ski clothing flat on a clean surface or hang them in a well-ventilated area.

Material-Specific Drying Instructions

  • Synthetic: Air dry or tumble dry on low heat.
  • Down: Tumble dry on low with tennis balls to maintain fluffiness.
  • Gore-Tex: Air dry and avoid direct sunlight.

Advanced Care Tips

Re-Waterproofing Your Ski Wear

After washing, you might need to re-waterproof your snowboard jacket or ski jacket. Use a waterproofing spray or wash-in product designed for waterproof membranes to restore its water resistance.

If you're looking for high quality waterproof jackets, you should check out our ski jackets for men and our ski jackets for women collection. 

Repairing and Treating Stains

For minor repairs and stubborn stains, use fabric repair kits and specialized lip balm and stain removers. Address issues promptly to avoid long-term damage.

Storing Ski Clothing Properly

Store your ski clothing in a cool, dry place. Hang jackets and other outdoor gear, like our ski pants for men and our ski pants for women, to maintain their shape and avoid folding to prevent creases. Ensure they are clean and dry before storing to prevent mould and mildew.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can you determine the appropriate detergent for washing ski wear?

Regular detergent can be too harsh for ski wear. It is crucial to use a mild powder detergent specifically formulated for technical fabrics, as suggested by most manufacturers, to preserve these key properties.

What are the consequences of using fabric softeners on ski wear?

Fabric softeners can degrade the waterproof coating on ski wear, reducing its effectiveness in resisting water. This results in diminished garment performance in wet conditions, which can compromise comfort and protection.

Why is it important to empty pockets and close zippers before washing ski wear?

Emptying pockets and closing zippers helps prevent damage during the wash cycle. Items left in pockets can tear the fabric or impact the drum of the washing machine, while open zippers can snag on other parts of the garment.

What is the best method to dry ski wear to maintain its quality?

The optimal method for drying ski wear is air drying in a well-ventilated area or tumble drying on low heat, depending on the fabric. This approach helps maintain the integrity of the materials and ensures that any waterproof treatments remain effective.

How does reactivating the DWR coating on a ski jacket work?

Reactivating the Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating involves tumble drying the garment on low heat for a short time after washing. This process helps to restore the jacket's ability to repel water, ensuring it continues to perform well in wet conditions.