Gear cleansing

[TexasShadow]

Spring cleaning?
This issue seems to have stumped everyone I've asked thus far. Let's see what y'all can come up with.

My Joe Rocket touring jacket, now two years old and worn almost daily, used to be a bright yellow and black. Now it looks like big bumble bee that rolled in black dirt. Until I can afford to purchase the Olympia Hi-vis jacket I covet, this old bumble bee will have to keep flying.

But it looks like I *do* live in it. (I sorta do)

So how can I clean it? All the inner labels read like a hazardous substance: do not dry clean, do not put in washer, do not put in dryer, do not use harsh chemicals, do not spit upon, blah blah. Maybe I need to put a fluorescent hazardous waste sticker on the back*.

Suggestions for cleaning it and restoring the brilliance of its yellow humbleness will be appreciated. Note that I will have to re-treat for water proofing afterwards, so any ideas on that too will be appreciated.

Or I can just grow scales and a set of gills..........

Is it Friday yet?



* Actually, I am looking for a fluorescent hazardous waste sticker for the back of my helmet. If anyone knows where I can get one, let me know. I have genuine HW decals in the lab, but they are not fluorescent.

[kurt]

I hand wash followed by using the hose end nozzle of the garden hose to rinse while it is laying on the patio. It has just enough pressure to blast the dirt away. My four year old Firstgear mesh jacket looks almost new. Of course, it's gray, not yellow....

[Squeaky]

I have been told that you can toss them in the washer as long as it's a front-loader and not a top-loader with an agitator. Take all the padding and armour out first, then hang it to dry after.

I've yet to do it myself, but it's about time I do...

[TexasShadow]

I have a top-loader on its last spin cycle (aka it's nearing the end of its disposable life). And I have mataphobia (an incurable phobia of laundrymats; I hate shopping, too. Is that shopaphobia?). I'd rather use the hose. ;)

So the garden-hose method is more attractive.

Next question is: what detergent or cleaning 'aid' is helpful without disintegration of the textile?

[dukey33]

I just recently cleaned my JR Reactor jacket (mesh and perf'ed leather). Remove all removable padding. Wash by hand in the bathtub using tepid water, regular detergent and a small brush for the tough stains on the leather. Rinsed 3-4 times and then drip dry with a fan to help circulate the air. Followed up with leather conditioner on the leather parts. Looks 100% better than before, but the yellow leather parts will never be as bright as when they were new. It's just been sun bleached too much.

This is the second time I've done it this way.
If I had a front-loader washing machine I would have used that. They are much easier on the articles yet still more effective at cleaning too.

[Calgary-Yogi]

I been washing all my riding gear (mesh and regular) regularly for the past year with no damage to them. However, as Squeaker mentioned you need to do this is a front loading washer. It’s the agitator in a top loader that wrecks the jackets and pants.

You might want to scout out your local laundry mats.

Remember to use a mild detergent with NO Bleach

[TexasShadow]

I just recently cleaned my JR Reactor jacket (mesh and perf'ed leather). Remove all removable padding. Wash by hand in the bathtub using tepid water, regular detergent and a small brush for the tough stains on the leather. Rinsed 3-4 times and then drip dry with a fan to help circulate the air. That might just work. Although I'll hang it over the bike to dry outside like I usually do :sun:

Any one water-proofed textile jackets?
The scotchguarding technique I used last was less than successful.

[dukey33]

That might just work. Although I'll hang it over the bike to dry outside like I usually do :sun:

Any one water-proofed textile jackets?
The scotchguarding technique I used last was less than successful.

Yeah, outside works where you are. Not where I am. ;-)

Waterproofing textiles with products like Nikwax or Granger can only be marginally effective for motorcycle gear. The pressure from 60mph water just pushes right through coatings. A membrane is the only way to get true waterproofing for riding gear. But either of the aforementioned products will be more effective than Scotchguard or spray silicone. I believe they both offer wash-in solutions as well as spray-on.

[Quick-Silver]

Yeah, outside works where you are. Not where I am. ;-)

Waterproofing textiles with products like Nikwax or Granger can only be marginally effective for motorcycle gear. The pressure from 60mph water just pushes right through coatings. A membrane is the only way to get true waterproofing for riding gear. But either of the aforementioned products will be more effective than Scotchguard or spray silicone. I believe they both offer wash-in solutions as well as spray-on.
I hand wash in bathtub with Woolite, soak for 24 hours. I don't remove the padding, but I rinse until I can no longer squeez a lot of bubble (soap) from the padding, then drip dry. My yellow & black 1st gear mesh cleans up pretty good except the yellow has picked up some of the black. This is after 50k miles & several washings. At least the gear smells fresh after a good wash job.

The Olympia has only needed one washing so far. Did it the same way.
:sun:

[rocketbunny]

Ride through a heavy rainstorm? Oh wait.....

I'm a big fan of Nikwax, mainly because a friend in Washington works for the company. The company supports the motorcycle community with donations of product, etc for raffles at events I've been to. I think they've even had booths at shows in the past.

I usually buy it at REI, but I don't know if they carry it here. Be sure to get the Techwash AND the Waterproofing stuff. The process takes some time, but I've found it pretty effective.

The Techwash washes the jacket and preps it for the waterproofer. The waterproofer then does a pretty good job on the fabric. Make sure to use a frontloading washer and cold water.

[sherob]

I've picked mine up at REI, just an FYI ;-)

Like RB says, use a frontloader... I run it down to a coin operated place and use their washer.

[Quick-Silver]

I'm assuming that by water proofing you are not doing this on mesh gear. What would be the purpose?
:sun:

[Maintainer]

I hand wash in bathtub with Woolite, soak for 24 hours. I don't remove the padding, but I rinse until I can no longer squeez a lot of bubble (soap) from the padding, then drip dry. My yellow & black 1st gear mesh cleans up pretty good except the yellow has picked up some of the black. This is after 50k miles & several washings. At least the gear smells fresh after a good wash job.

The Olympia has only needed one washing so far. Did it the same way.
:sun:

1+ works great on jackets and helmet liners too!!

[TexasShadow]

Ride through a heavy rainstorm? Oh wait..... Been doing that for a couple of weeks now. Tested and proven ineffective.

I'll try the bathtub method first and go from there. If that doesn't work, I'll try the wash-in method.

[hardybaker]

I have a white Cortech mesh jacket, bought from Lone Star BMW, which is ,,,, maybe five years old. Super fine garmet. I normally remove the five pieces of padding and wash it in our front loader. This jacket has been washed twenty five to thirty times. Hang the jacket to dry, or just put it on and go for a ride. The black piping has lost a bit of it's color. If I'm lazy, I leave the padding in the jacket and wash it too. The jacket is still as good as new. HB
ps, I never treat it with anything.

[bluedogok]

I washed my stuff at the car wash yesterday, the ground in mud from my crash wouldn't come out with gentler means so I clipped it up the to mat clips and blasted away at it. They are clean now.

[flb_78]

I find this thread humorous,

Spend a bunch of money on a big safe armored indestructible jacket, and then you arent supposed to wash it in a machine because the jacket is too delicate!!!!

I'd say throw it in the machine with some tide and then air dry it over the bike...

or on a really hot day, just put the jacket on wet and ride till its dry...

for waterproofing, I was wondering if something like you'd use to waterproof a tent would work?

[bluedogok]

I did wash mine in the top-loader but it didn't get the mud out. I think the idea of not using a machine (or using a front loader) is to possibly extend the life of the gear. With jackets costing $300 or more most are going to try to do what it takes to get the most time out of them.

[TexasShadow]

I did wash mine in the top-loader but it didn't get the mud out. I think the idea of not using a machine (or using a front loader) is to possibly extend the life of the gear. With jackets costing $300 or more most are going to try to do what it takes to get the most time out of them.Well, I'm all about getting the most out of mine!!!!! I want it to live as long as possible. :-?

I should clarify, this is not a mesh jacket. It is a touring coat with good protection forms/pads; a good coat but for a few minor faults. But it looks like <insert negative explative here>. And no longer is yellow in the front. More like black-smudged-yellow.

Oddly enough, the back is still decent.

[TexasShadow]

for waterproofing, I was wondering if something like you'd use to waterproof a tent would work? A big resounding NO!!!

I suspect that is one reason why it is black along the seams that I treated with tent H2O-proofing.

[beverly200rider]

I hand wash in bathtub with Woolite, soak for 24 hours. I don't remove the padding, but I rinse until I can no longer squeez a lot of bubble (soap) from the padding, then drip dry. My yellow & black 1st gear mesh cleans up pretty good except the yellow has picked up some of the black. This is after 50k miles & several washings. At least the gear smells fresh after a good wash job.

The Olympia has only needed one washing so far. Did it the same way.
:sun:

I used to hand wash my Olympia jacket and pants in the kitchen sink in cold water and woolite. Pull out all the padding. Let it drip dry. Worked great! Now I throw it in the washing machine on the delicate cycle, warm water, and woolite. And yes, I still pull out all the padding first. Haven't had any issues, except the reflective piping is starting to show some wear. But it was before I washed it using the washing machine.

[Squeaky]

I washed mine today at the pay-fer-suds in a front loader and it didn't get as clean as I would have hoped. It got some of the crusty bug guts off, but not the stains the bugs left behind. I might try the power washing or hand scrubbing ideas next.