I'll admit that this is my first post! I've had a look but I can't se a similar thread!
What do you wash your base layers in? I've been washing mine in pure soap flakes as I'm sure I've read somewhere that detergents can damage them. Unfortunately they some times don't come out of the washing machine clean.
So what do you use?
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 Welcome Tobe.
I use Persil non Bio.
I like em to be clean and smell nice, and think detergents do the job and help them wick better.
Unlike outer shells etc when I use Techwash, or Grannies Soapflakes.
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 Yep mine too, I mean they are just clothes. I find that deoderant knackers them more than washing.
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 i put mine in with everyday washing and have never had a problem.
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 I also wash them with normal clothes. It is just the wind/water proofs that get the 'techwash' treatment.
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 Like everyone who has posted above, I just put my base layers in the wash with normal clothes. Most garments have labels saying how hot a wash they can take (some of mine say 40 C and others 60 C) and if they can be tumble dryed. Waterproofs,windproos, soft shells should be washed with soap flakes or something like 'techwash' to maintain the DWR coating. My fleeces just go in the normal wash as well but it might be better to wash them with soap flakes.
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 yet another nod to a standard wash. Synthetics cycle at the default lowish temp, and we use Ecover Non Bio Laundry Liquid. Works okay for us. I do the "hand wash only" Paramo reversible shirts at the same time, and it doesn't seem to bother them either. Pete.
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 Non-bio powder. No softener as it sweats out (frothy man) and no washing liquids (seems to make microfleece go thin).
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 "...and no washing liquids (seems to make microfleece go thin)". ooh?
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| Edited: 10/01/08 10:07 |
 I use the Nikwax Base Wash and think it is fab, very soft clothes and nice smell.
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 My vote for Ecover non bio liquid too. BTW, I believe micro fleeces go thin whether you use powder or liquid detergent. It's the greater frequency of washing that causes that. Just my opinion.
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| Edited: 10/01/08 10:34 |
 Whatever you wash them in, make sure you give them an extra rinse. Detergent residue on baselayers is said to worsen their performance and I for one would not really wish to be sweating with my pores open next to a fabric laden with washing chemicals. It also depends on the material used in your baselayer. For wools, I would recommend a wool-specific product, like Woolite or Nikwax wool wash. For polypropylene, (LIFA, Meraklon...) the performance does not depend on fabric coatings but you must rinse them very well to ensure that they do not become hydrophilic. For polyester and nylon baselayers, fabric coatings are the important to their wicking ability and these will eventually wear off. Don't use harsh detergents on these for this reason. To keep things simple and relatively inexpensive, I put all my baselayer, fleeces and windproofs in a low temperature wash using Woolite and give them at least one extra rinse. I don't care about stains provided that they don't stink!
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"To keep things simple and relatively inexpensive, I put all my baselayer, fleeces and windproofs in a low temperature wash using Woolite and give them at least one extra rinse. I don't care about stains provided that they don't stink"! ...don't most windproofs have a DWR that could be adversly affected by using Woolite (liquid detergent)?
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Synthetic base layers go in the normal washing icebreakers go in with "grannies pure soap flakes".Seems to work fine.
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 baselayers in with the normal wash. fleeces get some fabric conditioner to help prevent me impersonating a van der graaf generator. all outerwear gets soap flakes and/or tech wash.
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