Starting out?

mm! i think i'll just reproof all my stuff in lard (if i can find any). means fish and chip stains won't show then.

Chris T - I had a pair of those Rohan (Schoeller type) salopette breeks. They didn't even bother with material down to the ankle, since I guess they wanted to allow the users lower leg to be resplendant in knee high red woolen socks or green gaiters. ;)

The material was tough warm and snow proof. But I looked like a right plonker in those trews. :)

So I don't get accused of going off topic, I use soap flakes to wash most DWR coated outdoors stuff apart from my paramo aspira trews, where I do two empty rinse cycles to remove ecover powder from the pipes, and then use the tech wash. Wouldn't be worried about using soap flakes when the tech wash runs out though, since it's essentially the same thing, in flake rather than liquid form.

And like many others on this thread, I wash all my merino base layers on a 40 degree wool cycle and absolutely no shrinkage (rohan and icebreaker) with ecover.

Chris Townsend-I didn't intend to convey the impression that Ecover Delicate is OK for DWR.Like you, I wouldn't use it for this.
JJNS-I like the idea of using soap flakes but have been put off by the warnings on the packet and in our front loader's handbook!And I don't hand wash!
If, as Chris T states,Techwash is soap,it makes sense to use soap flakes,albeit at reduced concentration, as you and others suggest.
What is the advantage of first dissolving the soap flakes as opposed to putting them directly into the drum or adding via the dispenser?

If cost is an issue (and with the price of tchwash how can it not be) try and find your local equestrian supplier. Apparently they sell the Graingers equivalent of techwash in huge containers at a fraction of the shop price as the equestrian centres get through gallons of it. Still looking for my local supplier ...

William - soap flakes dissolve best in very hot water. My technical kit doesn't like very hot water....if you put the soap flakes in the machine you'll maybe find that if you don't use the hot wash (please don't) then you will get lumps of soap residue from the undissolved flakes on your clothes and clogging the sides of the drawer.

P.s. the washing machine manufs are often tied in a trade agreement with soap power peeps e.g. 'Hitpint recommend that you use Peril' - you've prolly seen stuff like this...of course they won't suggest that you use a cheap alternative - and if used at the quantity on the soap flake box, it WILL foam out like a triffid - used as I said , it won't.

Thanks yet again JJ!

No probs. have fun

Another thanks JJ. The door handle has snapped off my washing machine (it came off in my hand, honest!). So I popped round to my folks last night and we tried Granny's finest in their washer.

Mixed up a guesstimate of flakes and sloshed them into the drawer as the machine filled. Plenty of foam but they all stayed in the washer. I left it chugging away and I've not had any phone calls from Mum saying my gear (or their washer) is wrecked.

Cheers!

You can always trust Auntie JJ
lol

Auntie JJ, Domestic Goddess

Watch it, you'll get me a sensible reputation - I'd rather be a fantasy Ninja warrior starfish....

<bakes apple pie in background while soloing banisters>

"Ask JJ" taking over from "Ask Richard Gear"? :)

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo