eternalX Posted February 6, 2003 Share Posted February 6, 2003 What's the deal with Gore-Tex? What really happens if you don't use the fancy GoreTex wash stuff? It seems if the stuff is that tough, it shouldn't break down when you wash it like every other piece of clothing you own. sorry if this has already been covered. --eternal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshK Posted February 6, 2003 Share Posted February 6, 2003 I wash my goretex in normal detergent and have never had a problem. One thing is to use powdered detergent, NOT liquid, as the liquid tends to clog the membrane and reduce the breathability, or so I am told. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freeclimb9 Posted February 6, 2003 Share Posted February 6, 2003 The Gore-Tex won't break down, but you might screw the waterproof coating on the nylon. Nylon is hydrophilic, and once the coating gets washed away (or funked up with body oils, dirt, etc.), you get wet. I don't think you need to use soap any more special than liquid detergent (though I've used powdered). Then throw your stuff in the dryer, and monitor is closely. The heat sorta reactivates the waterproof coating. Even a quick ironing can help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snoboy Posted February 6, 2003 Share Posted February 6, 2003 I usually run it through a second cycle with no soap. This seems to help. I was told that soap is hydrophyllic, and so you wanna get rid of as much of it as possible. SOme people also do this with their polypro and socks too. I think that's a bit over the top. They should get rid of thier stinky polypro and wear wool. Much cosier. Seriously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allison Posted February 6, 2003 Share Posted February 6, 2003 Of course soap is hydrophilic, that's how it works!! Wash as directed above, iron on lowish heat, and if that doesn't work, get a bottle of the spray-on Revivex, follow directions on bottle. One bottle does one jacket. Stuff works wonders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snoboy Posted February 6, 2003 Share Posted February 6, 2003 Well, technically it works by being soluble in water at one end of the molecule, and soluble in "grease" at the other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Attitude Posted February 6, 2003 Share Posted February 6, 2003 They should get rid of thier stinky polypro and wear wool. Much cosier. Seriously. Wool Rocks! And the thinner, the better. Smartwool, Ibex, and Icebreaker make great gear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelle Posted February 7, 2003 Share Posted February 7, 2003 Wash as directed above, iron on lowish heat, and if that doesn't work, get a bottle of the spray-on Revivex, follow directions on bottle. One bottle does one jacket. Stuff works wonders. Definately spend the few extra $ and get Revivex not the TxDirect stuff. It works so much better and lasts a lot longer than other DWR sprays/washins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco Posted February 7, 2003 Share Posted February 7, 2003 embrace the stench and dirt! Don't wash it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EJohnson Posted February 7, 2003 Share Posted February 7, 2003 Use a sideload washing machine more gentler on jacket. To restores the water-repellent finish, i'm now using 3M Scotchgard. Works well on everything, jacket, backpacks even fleece. Erick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allison Posted February 7, 2003 Share Posted February 7, 2003 I would not recommend this method. ScotchGard does not work at all like any DWR on the market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EJohnson Posted February 7, 2003 Share Posted February 7, 2003 Have you tried it? It beads up the water just all the others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted February 7, 2003 Share Posted February 7, 2003 revivex is the best dwr for gore and schoeller scotchgard is good dwr for coated nylon etc. also works good on tents fly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allison Posted February 7, 2003 Share Posted February 7, 2003 The ingredients of Scotchgard are a secret. As Dru suggests, I wouldn't be afraid to use it on a coated nylon tent piece, though it may not stick to SilNylon. Despite claims by Scotchgard that it doesn't mess up the breathability of DWR fabrics, I would not trust my Goretex to it, especially since there is a product out there specifically for DWRs, that is, Revivex. I thought Scotchgard was being pulled off the market for being carcinogenic, anyone know what happened with that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternalX Posted February 7, 2003 Author Share Posted February 7, 2003 Have you tried it? It beads up the water just all the others. I would think Scotchguard would prevent the gore-tex from breathing. Also, you guys keep spouting hydrophilic around, but as far as i can tell, that only means something that has a strong affinity to water. Can someone describe in detail how spraying something on a jacket make it more waterproof AND breathable? I understand the jacket is loaded with tiny holes and that makes it breathable...but wouldn't spraying a coating of say Scotochguard just clog up the holes? I could understand a dryer melting the jacket enough to clog the holes too, or soap not dissolving enough to clog the holes as well.... argh, sorry, it's the geek in me. --eternal less talk, more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshK Posted February 7, 2003 Share Posted February 7, 2003 I think one of the reasons that a DWR coating helps breathability is that it keeps the fabric from wetting out. When the fabric wets out the moisture now contained in the fabric acts as a barrier to vapor escaping. By using a DWR, the water, for the most part, will roll off,leaving the fabric to breath as it's designed to. Just my guess tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cj001f Posted February 7, 2003 Share Posted February 7, 2003 I've had no problems with Woolite to clean outdoor gear - it's a common, much lower priced, non-detergent soap. (Available at Safeway, etc.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Figger_Eight Posted February 8, 2003 Share Posted February 8, 2003 Have you tried it? It beads up the water just all the others. Yeah...and I could spray Krylon on my jacket and it would work just as well. I haven't noticed a considerable advantage using Revivix over TX-Direct...I still need to reaplly it at least two or three times a season. The wash in stuff makes it so much easier though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EJohnson Posted February 9, 2003 Share Posted February 9, 2003 (edited) I haven't notice a change in breathability after applying scotchgard. What I have noticied is that my jacket is lighter and dryer because its not wetting out. If you really want to know whats in scotchgard here, is a link to pdf file from 3M. scotchgard Edited February 9, 2003 by EJohnson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allthumbs Posted February 9, 2003 Share Posted February 9, 2003 Hey EJohnson, I'm inclined to agree with you about Scotchgard. I like the shit. Used to spray it on my sofas when I had cloth and nothing nasty would stick to it. I've also used it on my gortex shit with no apparent loss of breathability...course I don't think the shit breathes anyway. My opinion...there's allot of "voodoo" about this and that miracle product. I don't buy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billygoat Posted February 9, 2003 Share Posted February 9, 2003 Wool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allthumbs Posted February 9, 2003 Share Posted February 9, 2003 Werd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freeclimb9 Posted February 10, 2003 Share Posted February 10, 2003 Wood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cpt.Caveman Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 I laugh at the breathable comments. I wash mine with any detergent that is closest. I've had my jacket for over 9 years and the best thing I like to use is the spray on shit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 human skin is waterprrof and breathable go naked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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