Sitka Gear Care

WHY YOU SHOULD CLEAN YOUR SITKA GEAR

Sitka Gear is designed to provide exceptional weather protection and breathability.  Because hunters seek the trail less traveled, garments naturally build-up dirt and other surface contaminants such as blood, sweat and campfire smoke which can reduce the effectiveness of the textile’s performance and breathability.  Routine Care and maintenance ensures the optimum performance of your Sitka Gear. 
 
Properly washing and drying your Sitka Gear removes dirt and other contaminants to increase garments breathability, longevity and revitalises the Durable Water Repellent (DWR) treatment that is important to the performance of a GORE-TEX® garment.  

 

WHEN TO WASH YOUR SITKA GEAR AND GORE-TEX ®  GARMENT

This simply depends on how often and how hard your use your gear.  The following applies for both standard and GORE-TEX® Garments.  For next to skin layers, heavy activity or typical scenarios of a successful hunt we suggest washing every 10-12 days or once you get home.  For light activity wash every 20 to 30 days of use.  We recommend using your best judgment. If the garment is; sweaty, dirty/bloody, your garment is no longer shedding water and is wetting out, or you are beginning to feel damp or clammy it’s time to wash and dry your garment.  Not only will you be more comfortable but you will increase the life of your gear.

 

GORE-TEX ®  GARMENT CARE INSTRUCTIONS

Not only are GORE-TEX® garments built to last, they are easy to care for. Routine care will ensure excellent performance and extend their useful life. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s care instructions – typically found on the inside tag.

Before laundering your garment, zip the front closure, pockets and pit zips completely, and fasten all flaps and straps. Be sure to follow the garment manufacturer’s instructions to ensure high performance.

Wash

Wash your GORE-TEX® garment in the washing machine in warm (105°F/40°C) water using a permanent press or gentle cycle setting.  For the best results, use a small amount of liquid detergent, preferably a scent free or hunting specific detergent.  Rinse twice to remove any residual cleaning chemicals.  
 
Try and avoid washing your GORE-TEX® Garment with other heavily soiled clothing.   However, you can wash moderate or light soiled garments together.
 
NOTE : Do not use powder detergents or any products that contain fabric softeners, conditioners, stain removers or bleach as they will affect garment performance and DWR Treatment.

Bleach

Do not use chlorine bleach.

Dry
We recommend line-drying your garment; it uses less energy and reduces your impact on the environment. Once the garment is dry, it only takes 20 minutes of tumble-drying to revitalize the durable water repellent (DWR) finish of a GORE-TEX® garment.

If you use a dryer, we recommend a gentle cycle with medium heat. Because today’s high-efficiency dryers shut off as soon as the moisture rate inside the dryer reaches a certain level, continue the cycle an additional 20 minutes to reactivate the DWR.

Iron
If unable to tumble dry, iron the dry garment on gentle setting (warm, no steam) by placing a towel or cloth between the garment and the iron. This will help reactivate DWR treatment on your garment’s outer fabric.

Dry Clean
Gore recommends home laundering. If professional dry cleaning is necessary, request that the cleaner use clear distilled hydrocarbon solvent for rinsing and then spray DWR on the garment’s outer fabric before drying. Follow garment manufacturer’s instructions.

Durable Water-Repellent Treatment (DWR)
When the factory applied treatment can no longer be reactivated, apply a new water-repellent treatment available as a pump-spray or wash-in product to the garment’s outer fabric. More information under 'What is DWR'.

 

GENERAL CARE INSTRUCTIONS (for non-Gore-Tex items)

Each garment has its own care instructions.  Be sure to read the care tag before washing and or drying your gear.
 
Wash
In general, washing your gear under a Normal Setting, warm water with a hunting specific detergent will remove most dirt and blood stains.  We recommend a second rinse cycle.  Wash with like colors.  Do not use bleach or fabric softeners and do not dry clean.

Dry

We recommend line-drying your garment; it uses less energy and reduces your impact on the environment. If you use a dryer, use a normal or gentle cycle with medium heat. For all outwear garments, whether hung or machine dried an additional 20 minutes of tumble-drying will reactivate the DWR treatment and is recommended.  

 

WHAT IS DWR (DURABLE WATER REPELLENCY)

Many of Sitka Gear’s outerwear and all GORE-TEX® garments are treated with an ultra-thin treatment known as DWR, or durable water repellent. This treatment causes water to bead up and roll off of the outer layer of the garment, instead of being absorbed or wetting out. DWR is not what keeps you dry in a GORE-TEX® garment.  Its benefit is to prevent loss of breathability and performance caused when a garment wet’s out.  DWR is not permanent however; regular wear and tear, plus exposure to dirt, detergents, campfire smoke, cooking odors and other impurities diminish the protective DWR treatment. When water no longer beads up on your garment’s outer fabric, you can restore its DWR by using a topical spray-pump or a wash-in DWR treatment available at retail outdoor stores. These special treatments help maintain and restore the DWR on the outer shell fabric of the garment so that it remains water and stain repellent.

 

HOW TO REACTIVATE OR RESTORE DWR

Reactivate
DWR is reactivated after a standard wash dry cycle.  Once the garment is dry we recommend an extra 20 minutes of tumble-drying to fully revitalize the DWR treatment.  DWR is not permanent and if a garment wet’s out quickly after being reactivated it’s time to restore it. 
 
Restore
When drying the garment no longer Revitalizes DWR it’s time to restore.  When the factory applied DWR treatment needs to be restored, apply a new DWR treatment available as a pump-spray or wash-in product to the garments outer fabric.  A spray on DWR is easy to use and more efficient.  After washing the garment, shake to remove excess water, close all pockets and hang preferably in an open area.  Spray the new treatment evenly onto the wet face fabric.  Toss garment into a tumble dryer on a medium heat setting for 40 to 50 minutes.  Now, you can reactivate the DWR until you notice it needs restored again.

Can I use an aerosol DWR spray to replenish the DWR?
We recommend pump-action sprays instead of aerosol sprays to reduce the environmental impact. However, technically an aerosol spray can be used.

 

MERINO WOOL CARE INSTRUCTIONS

Merino wool is a delicate fibre and requires more attention than a synthetic garment. 

Wash
It is safe to machine wash Merino Wool under a gentle cycle with cold water.  Wash with other Merino Wool products of like colours.  Do not use bleach or fabric softeners and do not dry-clean.

Dry
Tumble dry on low heat or lay flat to dry.  Merino wool will shrink if not cared for properly. 

 

HOW TO WASH YOUR DOWN OR PRIMALOFT DOWN BLEND GARMENT

From continually compressing or the build up of sweat and dirt, down can lose loft reducing the garments insulating effectiveness.  When your down garment has lost it’s loftiness it is recommended that this garment be washed.  Although necessary, it is best to do it as sparingly as possible.  Use a front load washing machine and a down specific detergent such as ReviveX Down Cleaner Concentrate.  Use warm water on permanent press or gentle cycle and rinse twice to ensure all cleaner has been removed.

Remove excess water with a towel by patting dry.  Dry the down garment on low heat with two clean tennis balls to help regain loft.  If you don’t have any you can substitute heavy socks rolled up.  It is very important that you dry your down garment entirely which may take upwards of 2 to 3 hours.  Your down garment will not regain its loft until it is fully dry.  Store unstuffed in a dry place.  

 

HOW TO WASH YOUR PACK

Do not remove frame.  The best way to wash your pack is in your shower or at a car wash using the rinse setting.  Using warm water scrub lightly and use a small amount of a hunting specific detergent if heavily soiled.  Hang dry.

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