If like me you are a recreational skier (however this does include snowboarders) who has one trip to the mountains each snow season; you may keep your ski jacket and snow pants for a few seasons before replacing them. Consequently you may need to clean them to keep them in tip top condition! On-the-other-hand you may go skiing or snowboarding many times, and your kit looks grubby. So this is for you too!

There are a few products out there you can clean and waterproof your ski clothing with; but at Tallington Lakes Pro Shop we stock Nikwax, so Nikwax Tech Wash and TX Direct Wash-In was the solution of choice when cleaning mine.

Please note: if you are one of those blokes who knows how to use a washing machine, and attempting this yourself, please read the instructions on the products and garments- you may get better results, rather than thinking you know best!

First job was to clean the washing machine of detergent; so I ran a cycle with no detergent. I event took the detergent draw out and gave it a scrub!

I only had the one garment to wash, however being in a hard water area I still added the full three cupfuls of Tech Wash and set the washing cycle to that of the ski jacket. On its completion I added TX Direct Wash-In  and set the cycle to a 30° synthetic and slow spin as stated on the bottle. The ski jacket was air dried because the label said I couldn’t tumble dry it!

The outcome was a rather clean fresh looking jacket; but was it still waterproof and warm. Rather than waiting until I was on my next ski holiday and half way up a mountain to find out; I went for walk the next time it rained – it was still waterproof and yes it kept me warm.

The ski jacket is hanging up where it will not get compressed (you don’t want to squash all the air pockets that keep you warm) ready for my next holiday! Result!

Nikwax have a large range of products so make sure you get the right one for your garments!

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