How to wash a ski suit

washing a ski suit If you're a fan of a healthy lifestyle and can't imagine winter, or maybe even summer, without skiing and snowboarding, you're well aware of the intricacies of ski clothing. A comfortable and warm ski suit makes exercise a joy—at least until you wonder how to wash a ski suit in the washing machine. And, indeed, a good ski suit is expensive, and you don't want to throw it away after the first wash. To avoid that, read this article; we'll help you figure it out!

General rules for washing and care

Ski suits don't need to be washed very often. The typical washing frequency for this type of clothing is about 1-2 times per season, and if you don't ski very often, you can get away with dry cleaning them once at the end of the season. However, in the middle or at the end of the second season, washing your suit is essential, even if it appears clean.

If you regularly take care of your ski suit, dry it and store it properly, you won't have to wash it often.

Ultimately, the frequency of washing will depend on your personal hygiene, your activity level, weather conditions, the quality of your ski suit, and other factors. But these aren't particularly important; the main thing is to know what to do and what not to do if your ski suit, gloves, and other similar clothing become soiled.

You can even use a washing machine to wash ski clothing, but only use gentle cycles. Intensive washing and high-speed spin cycles will damage the suit.
When washing a ski suit in a washing machine, turn off the spin cycle or at least reduce the speed to 300-500 rpm.
If you hand-washed your suit, avoid wringing it out. Let the excess water drain, then air-dry the garment.
Avoid drying ski suits near strong heat sources, in a washing machine with a tumble dryer, or in a dryer. The only exception is a drying cabinet, and only if it has a gentle drying cycle. Also, you should not dry the suit in the open sun, even in winter.
Avoid bleach and chlorine-containing laundry detergents, and don't even mention powdered laundry detergent. This type of detergent is unsuitable for any purpose – no powders!
Don't be lazy about treating your ski suit with various protective products. Firstly, they will protect the fabric from excess dirt, and secondly, they will help you when dry cleaning the garment later.

How and with what to wash ski clothes?

How do you wash ski clothing? Experts recommend hand washing, as it ensures the gentlest care for the fabric. However, if you have a modern automatic washing machine with a variety of features, it's a shame not to use them, but you need to do so wisely.

In general, the washing method and the nuances of this process will largely depend on the characteristics of the suit's material and its filling. But we'll talk about that a little later. First, let's decide what to wash the ski suit with. There are many detergents available, but not all are suitable for this type of use.

Ecowoo, a sportswear laundry gel. A very good liquid detergent suitable for ski suits made of neoprene and lycra. It gently washes membrane fabrics without damaging them. This gel is great for washing down suits, thermal underwear, sleeping bags, and even athletic shoes. It's environmentally friendly and inexpensive, with an average price of $3.10.
Cotico. A gel specifically designed for washing sportswear made from high-tech fabrics. Tested by our experts, it's suitable for both machine and hand washing. It's perfect for washing sportswear, tents, velour-covered inflatable mattresses, sleeping bags, and much more. The gel is gentle on membrane fabrics. One liter costs $5.30.
Burti Sport. Special shampoo for hand or machine washing sportswear with membranes, fleece, and down and feather fillings. It copes well with various types of dirt, including stubborn sweat stains. Burti Sport shampoo doesn't contain conditioner. This product will easily answer the question: how to wash a ski suit. The average price is about $6 for 753 ml.
SODASAN Active Sport. A high-quality gel for a variety of sportswear. Made in Germany. Specifically designed for washing ski suits and other sportswear made of microfiber and membrane fabrics such as Gore-Tex and Sympathex. It does not impair the breathability of the membrane fabric and is environmentally friendly. The gel is machine- and hand-washable. It can also be used for washing athletic shoes. Average price: $16.
NORDLAND shampoo for washing various sportswear. Made in Germany, it's suitable for washing ski suits, thermal underwear, fabrics with high-tech impregnations, down jackets, overalls, and more. It's gentle on membrane fabrics. This eco-friendly, hypoallergenic product costs around $11.

All of the above-mentioned detergents for washing sportswear do not create excessive foam, so they can be used when washing ski suits in an automatic washing machine.

So, we've learned how to wash a ski suit. Now we'll describe the process of hand and machine washing one. This description will be very general, and we'll provide further details in the following sections when we discuss washing ski suits made from specific materials. How do you hand wash ski clothes?

Carefully study the information label and determine the nuances of washing a ski suit. This label contains a lot of useful information, so it's essential to study it. If you're having trouble understanding the information on the label, read this post. Washing instructions for clothes (signs, icons and symbols).
Fill a suitable basin with enough water (40°C/104°F) and dissolve a small amount of gel or shampoo (following the instructions on the bottle). Place the basin in the bathtub.
Turn the suit inside out and then place it in a basin for 10-15 minutes.
Remove the suit to the bottom of the bath and then use a foam sponge to wipe down the dirty areas.
Fill the bathtub with cold water and rinse your ski suit. You'll need to do this at least three times, as even easily soluble gel is quite difficult to rinse out of a ski suit.
Drain the water from the bathtub and allow any excess water remaining in the suit to drain away.
Lay several terry towels on a flat surface (such as a drying rack) and lay the suit flat on top. Smooth out any wrinkles as it dries.

The suit should be dried naturally in the shade in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight or heat sources.

Now that we've gotten a more or less clear idea of how to wash a ski suit by hand, let's talk about machine washing. Without pre-soaking, place the ski suit in the washing machine. Next, pour a couple of capfuls of washing gel into the detergent dispenser. Set the washing program; "Delicate Wash," "Hand Wash," or "Down Jacket" are all suitable. We adjust the temperature to 40 degrees, and set the spin to no more than 500 rpm. Set the cycle to double rinse, or even better, repeat the double rinse. Dry the suit in the same way as after hand washing.

Down and fleece ski clothing

How to wash ski pants and other fleece-lined ski suit components. There aren't any special requirements. Fleece-lined items can be washed either by machine or by hand, but avoid using harsh detergents, fabric softeners, or bleaches. Dry fleece-lined items only under natural conditions, avoid radiators, direct sunlight, or other heat sources. Drying is best in warm weather, in the shade, with a slight breeze.

Down ski clothing should be washed very carefully, and it's best to turn off the spin cycle entirely. Only wash gels or shampoos that rinse well should be used. The products listed in the previous section are suitable. Dry down ski clothing as described earlier, but shake and turn it frequently during the drying process to prevent the down from clumping.

Washing ski clothes with membrane fabric

When washing a ski suit made of membrane fabric, use only the delicate cycle and be sure to turn off the spin cycle. You should also carefully select your shampoo; the shampoos and gels mentioned above are best. Rinsing requires careful attention. To be sure, use 3-4 rinses with plenty of water, otherwise the detergent will not be rinsed out of the membrane satisfactorily.

Ironing a ski suit made of membrane fabric is strictly prohibited. As a last resort, you can use a steamer and hang the suit on a hanger, but it's best to avoid this. Dry a suit with membrane fabric in a horizontal position in warm weather in the wind.

In conclusion, it's worth noting that ski suits don't need to be washed frequently; in fact, frequent washing can actually cause significant damage. However, washing is essential, and if done correctly, your suit will last a long time. Good luck!