Currently, outerwear made from membrane fabrics is very popular. To wash such items, special gels and liquids that do not contain chlorine and abrasives are used. You can buy them in sports and tourist clothing stores. Recently, they have begun to appear in large supermarkets. Products are washed by hand or in a washing machine on gentle cycles at a temperature not exceeding 40 C without spinning.

Features of washing clothes made of membrane fabric

Appeared in the textile industry new technology membrane fabrics - thin, light and warm. It is mainly used for production outerwear: ski suits, sports jackets, trousers, overalls.

The membrane is a mesh fabric with tiny pores that does not allow water to pass through. It has a water-repellent effect and does not get wet. At the same time, the fabric breathes well. It allows evaporation from the body to pass out. You don't sweat in these clothes. The membrane fabric is windproof. It does not let air in, so even in windy weather it will not blow through in such clothes.

In clothes made of membrane fabric, additional insulation from down and holofiber is not used, since in it the body heats itself, and the fabric does not allow cold air to penetrate inside.

The disadvantage of this fabric is that when using conventional detergents the pores of the membrane become clogged, and the properties of the clothing are lost. The price of things made from such fabric is quite high. In order to preserve the properties of the material and not spoil them, you need to properly clean things from dirt and use products intended for washing membrane clothing.

How can you not wash the membrane?

Before you start washing, you need to decide what products can be used for this. Use regular washing powders it is forbidden.

The membrane becomes clogged with insoluble powder particles and stops allowing air to pass through. The effect of ordinary rubberized clothing appears. The body begins to sweat in it, not allowing moisture to escape to the street. And since there is no additional insulation in such clothes, it becomes cold in them. Therefore, such items are washed gently using special products.

There are certain requirements for the product for membrane clothing:

• The composition should not contain chlorine. It will ruin the water-repellent properties of the fabric and destroy the structure of the top layer.
• The amount of enzymes should be minimal. They perceive the impregnation of the top layer as dirt and destroy it.
• Stain removers, bleaches, rinses and conditioners should not be used - the substances they contain can damage the structure of the fabric.
• The product should not contain large abrasive particles. They will clog the pores and the properties of the membrane will be lost.

Wash

In order to wash an item by hand, you must follow some rules:

• buttons and zippers on clothes must be fastened;
• the water should be warm, not hot;
• Do not use hard brushes;
• Clothes need to be rinsed well.

When using a washing machine, the rules remain the same, but in addition to them, you need to pay attention to the following:

• when loading clothes into the drum of the machine, there should be enough free space in it;
• Membrane clothing is washed separately from other items;
• You can only select “gentle” washing modes.

U different manufacturers washing machines they may be different. Approximate names: handwash, delicate wash, gentle wash, down, wool. The washing temperature should be no more than 40 C. Wash with an additional rinse. Items made from membrane fabric cannot be wrung out in a machine.

After the item is washed, you need to hang it on hangers and let the water drain on its own. Then leave the item to dry in a well-ventilated area in a vertical or horizontal position.

The best means

Before purchasing, please read the ingredients detergent to exclude components unsuitable for washing the membrane. If you have not purchased a membrane detergent, but you really need to wash the item, you can use a regular one. laundry soap. It is grated into large flakes, poured with warm water, mixed thoroughly until smooth and added during hand or machine washing. This solution does not contain spoiling agents. membrane fabric substances and perfectly cleanses all dirt without clogging the pores of the fabric.

The best means are presented in the table:

Prices for detergents for membrane fabrics vary on average from 130 to 500 rubles. per bottle.

Outerwear with a layer of membrane fabric, which is now very popular, costs as much as the span of a cast-iron bridge - very expensive. And its unique features are very easy to destroy if you do not care for things correctly. Let's see how to prevent this, what detergent to use for washing membrane clothes and what to do to extend their service life.

Difference between membrane and other types of fabric

Basic Rule: you cannot wash membrane clothes as usual! And the reason lies in the special structure of the fabric. Essentially, it is a mesh with tiny pores through which water does not pass.

In addition, this fabric is not blown by the wind, but allows steam to escape - it “breathes”. Therefore, in any bad weather, wearing a ski suit, you will not get wet, freeze or sweat. Or rather, you may sweat, but your underwear will not become wet from sweat, since it will evaporate.

Unfortunately, the structure of membrane tissue is very sensitive to mechanical and chemical influences. Therefore, special care methods and special detergents must be applied to it.

What tools can be used

As a rule, even when purchasing such clothes, sellers recommend purchasing branded care products. This should not be taken as a desire to get as much money from you as possible. To wash membrane clothing, you really need special products designed specifically for it.

Another thing is that it is not necessary to buy products from well-known brands, the price of which can be unreasonably high. The choice is quite large. Here are just a few examples for comparison.

Special detergents for membrane fabrics	Volume, price	Description
	440 rub. for 300 ml	Nikwax Tech Wash Cleans porous fabric efficiently, preserving its properties. Restores them after washing with regular powder, washing out its stuck particles from the pores.
	470 rub. for 750 ml	DOMAL Sport Fashion It washes not only a ski jacket, but also a down jacket or sports shoes. Will make the color of the product brighter.
	930 rub. for 1500 ml	Perwoll Sport & Active Gives clothes a fresh scent and prevents unpleasant odors when worn. Ideal for washing sports and activewear.
	300 rub. for 250 ml	Salton Sport A universal product that efficiently and carefully washes membranes, elastane, polyester, microphaser and other synthetic fabrics.
	30 rub. for 300 g	Laundry soap Soap grated and dissolved in water can replace a special product if it is not available at the moment.

But washing powder cannot be used for membrane clothes. It clogs the pores with undissolved particles, causing the fabric to lose its unique properties.

The use of chlorine-containing bleaching agents and conditioners is also prohibited.

How to care

Caring for any clothing involves washing, ironing and storing it. We are primarily interested in how to wash the membrane in order to preserve its properties. This can be done either manually or in a washing machine. But each method has its own rules.

Rule 1. Wash by hand

Hand washing is performed in the following sequence:

• Inspecting the item to identify the most contaminated areas. Typically these are cuffs, collar, pockets and areas near zippers. Most often, children's jackets suffer from stains. Such areas are pre-lubricated with detergent.
• Preparing the cleaning solution. Lukewarm water is poured into a basin or bath and the gel or balm is dissolved in it. They produce very little foam, so don't try to get it by pouring out the whole bottle. The instructions on the package will tell you the dosage.
• The actual washing occurs without pre-soaking. As soon as the membrane fabric clothing is in the water, immediately take a soft brush and gently scrub the surface with it. Do not squeeze or twist the fabric with your hands.

• Rinsing performed with cold water several times. After it, the water should be allowed to drain freely without squeezing the product with your hands.

You need to wash one item at a time, as you can’t keep them in water for a long time..

Rule 2: Machine washable

Now about how to wash membrane clothes in a washing machine:

• We carry out the first point from the previous chapter, after which we place the item in the drum of the machine.
• Pour special shampoo into the detergent compartment.

• We choose the most gentle program without spinning and drying at a temperature not exceeding 30 degrees.

Rule 3. Drying and ironing

To remove water from a product after washing, it must first be allowed to drain and then wrapped in a terry sheet to absorb the water. You cannot squeeze it like an ordinary thing.

Dry clothes flat out on a horizontal surface in a ventilated area. The sun's rays and hot air flows from open fires or heating devices should not fall on it.

It is also forbidden to iron it, and categorically. At high temperatures, the protective properties of the fabric disappear.

Rule 4. Maintaining water-repellent properties

The top layer of any membrane clothing is impregnated with special compounds that repel water. As a result of washing and long wearing, the impregnation is washed off.

To restore this layer, special liquids and aerosols are used, which are applied to a clean product.

Some laundry detergents also contain the necessary components. If you use them, no further processing will be needed.

Conclusion

Due to their incredible convenience and practicality, membrane clothing is very popular. We must not forget that it requires special, delicate washing. The use of conventional washing powders can lead to the structure of the material being damaged and the protective properties being lost. To ensure proper care of membrane clothing, read useful tips and become familiar with suitable cleaning products.

What is membrane clothing

Often, the membrane is used to sew sportswear, things for children and tourists. It is a special layer located inside the material, in the form of a mesh with small pores. It is covered with special protection on both sides. Thanks to modern technologies, a multilayer structure with several important properties is obtained. Overall she:

• windproof, which makes membrane products comfortable to wear in almost any weather;
• repels water, due to which you can walk in the rain in a membrane jacket without getting wet;
• “breathes” well, i.e. in waterproof clothing you will not sweat much, because the fumes will easily escape;
• lightweight and retains heat well, so insulation is not made from membrane fabric, unless you take into account down jackets and winter jackets.

How to wash membrane clothes

In order for the unique properties of membrane fabric to be preserved as long as possible, it requires special care. Conventional washing powders contain large abrasive particles that can destroy the membrane or clog it. In this case, the appearance of the clothing will not be affected, but its specific qualities will be impaired. For this reason, you need to choose a suitable detergent for washing membrane fabrics and follow some recommendations:

• Take a close look at your clothing and identify the areas with the most dirt. On jackets and sweatshirt tops, the collar, cuffs, and area near the zipper tend to get the most dirty. Pre-treat them using a special liquid or gel. As a last resort, you can use simple laundry soap, but then you will need an additional rinse to deeply clean the membrane layer. Do not use stain removers or bleaching soaps.
• Decide on the washing method. This can be done by hand or using a washing machine. In any case, remember that only one thing is allowed to be cleaned at a time.
• It is strictly forbidden to dry products made from materials with membranes near an open fire or radiator. It is recommended to dry them on a horizontal surface at room temperature, and in a pre-flatten form. To prevent the clothing impregnation from evaporating, avoid direct sunlight.
• If you are afraid that the down product will fall off, then adjust it periodically. Gently smooth out the fluff in the capsules with your fingers. If you feel that dense lumps have formed from the fluff, then completely dry the clothes and lay them out on the bed. Then gently tap it with a stick or walk with your hands, carefully kneading individual places.
• When hand washing, do not twist the product. Act carefully: without removing things from the water, gently press on them. The lack of foam should not alarm you, because... All products for cleaning membrane products have this feature. Rinse the product thoroughly and then allow the water to drain freely. Spinning has a negative effect on the structure of the membranes.
• For further care, it is recommended to use special impregnations that help restore the moisture-repellent properties of the fabric. It is easier to use liquid in the form of a spray, the main component of which is fluoride. They will ensure not only the restoration of the membrane tissue, but also its protection from deep penetration of dirt.

In the washing machine

If you already have a suitable powder for membrane clothing, you can begin the cleaning process. An easy option is to use a washing machine. Helpful Tips:

• Shake the bottle of liquid product before applying it to items or adding it to the washing machine.
• Choose the most gentle and gentle mode with a temperature of no more than 30 degrees. At the same time, make sure that drying and spinning are turned off.
• Try to avoid soaking. As soon as you put your clothes in the water, immediately begin the cleaning process. Prolonged contact with water can destroy the impregnation of membrane fabric and make it more vulnerable.
• Don’t forget that you don’t need to squeeze the product out of the membrane in an automatic machine. This must be done manually. To do this, gently squeeze it in different places, but do not twist it. Or you can wrap the item in a cotton towel to absorb moisture.

Manually

Although using a washing machine makes work easier, it is better to wash clothes made of fabric with a membrane by hand. The fact is that even a delicate mode cannot guarantee the absence of damage to the membranes. How to wash membrane clothing by hand - detailed instructions:

• Heat the water to 20–30 degrees. Place clothes in water for 20 minutes. Wait until it is completely soaked. The top layer may not absorb liquid, so turn the products over with different sides to the surface of the water.
• Rub the surface of the material with a suitable product. Do not add it to water, otherwise the composition will not be absorbed into the pores of the material. Direct application is possible only by hand without the use of brushes or sponges.
• Fabrics with a membrane should be cleaned in a basin using running water. After applying the detergent, rinse the material under running water. Cold water will help wash away any remaining cleaning ingredients.
• Do not manipulate the fabric in any way. That is, it is necessary to rinse and rinse off the components of the product without squeezing or twisting.
• Leave membrane fabric items to dry. This can also be done in a vertical position. Be sure to turn them over so that the drops that are stuck in the pores drain and evaporate faster.

Fund requirements

First, keep in mind that regular washing powder will not work for membrane clothes - you will need a special product. You can order it in a specialized online store with delivery by mail. You can find dozens of types of similar products on sale, but to make the best choice, consider these requirements:

• the detergent you choose for washing membrane clothes should not contain chlorine, because this component will spoil the water-repellent property of the material;
• the powder should not contain a large amount of enzymes, because they “perceive” the impregnation of the fabric as dirt and destroy it;
• make sure that there is no oxygen bleach in the washing products, otherwise it will clog the pores of the membrane and the fabric will no longer be “breathable”;
• the composition should not contain large abrasive particles;
• Some other substances are also harmful to tissue with membranes: bioactive additives, softening components, aggressive surfactants.

Taking into account the described requirements, we can confidently list a list of products that are not suitable for washing membrane items. They are:

• any ordinary powders Tide, Persil, etc.;
• ordinary liquid laundry detergents, because... they contain enzymes;
• compositions for delicate things like “Laski”, “Vorsinki”, etc.;
• liquid soap;
• stain removers, bleaches.

Detergents

Modern manufacturers produce detergents for washing membrane fabric products in the form of liquid and gel. Before giving preference to one form of release or another, consider the features of each of them:

• The gel is a solution of surfactants that are completely ready for use. Compared to conventional powders, the gel has a milder cleaning effect and can be used for daily washing. Such products are usually used in warm or cool water. The gel has a softer effect on the fabric, but it is very difficult to wash off complex stains or heavily worn items. In addition, it does not have particles that can get stuck between the fibers of the fabric. Hand washing with gel is not as effective as using a washing machine. In the latter case, the so-called mechanical activation, which, together with the chemical action of the product, provides the desired cleaning effect.
• Liquid formulations, like gel ones, are distinguished by their careful treatment of very demanding types of fabrics. Due to the presence of a measuring cap, it is very convenient to calculate the required dosage. They do not leave streaks on clothes even without additional rinsing, because... have good solubility. The use of liquid products can ensure longer operation of the washing machine due to the absence of absorbent particles and elements that corrode fabrics and device parts. True, like gels, liquid formulations are less effective on everyday items made from coarse fabrics. At low temperatures they cannot remove oil or grease stains.

Liquid

On store shelves in St. Petersburg, Moscow and other cities you can find dozens of products for washing membrane products in liquid form. On average, their price, depending on the volume and manufacturer, is 300–500 rubles. A considerable part of them are efficient and environmentally friendly. Popular options:

• Nikwax Tech Wash. Liquid composition for washing clothes made from waterproof fibers, cleaning and restoring the properties of fabrics with membranes. The product does not create damage to the top water-repellent coating. Dirt is removed gently. Can even be used for cleaning awnings, tents, marquees, covers, etc. To achieve the best effect, it is recommended to use Nikwax TX.Direct impregnation.
• TOKO Eco Textile Wash. Environmentally friendly composition for washing membranes and other high-tech fabrics. Capable of restoring the optimal properties of the material, providing protection and deep cleaning. Does not contain phosphates, bleaches or dyes. Has excellent biodegradation rates. One bottle is enough for eight washes. It is effective in cold water.
• HEY SPORT Tex Wash. An effective cleaning agent for membrane fabric products that preserves the functional characteristics of the material and color saturation. Due to its deodorizing effect, it can neutralize unpleasant odors. Does not have a negative impact on the environment, because made using environmentally friendly ingredients. Special additives can neutralize unpleasant odors. Contains no bleach.
• Perwoll Sport & Active. Liquid products for cleaning contaminants from workwear, thermal underwear, tracksuits, jackets, etc. Contains a softener. Has a pleasant aroma.
• Salton Sport. Shampoo for washing items with climate membranes. Due to a special combination of active ingredients, the composition penetrates deeply into the fibers, carefully and effectively removing contaminants. Helps eliminate unpleasant odors. Cannot be used with fabric softener.
• Burti Sport & Outdoor. A liquid composition for sportswear that gently washes, removing traces of dirt. Able to neutralize the smell of sweat and maintain a feeling of freshness for a long time. Does not contain chlorine, phosphates, petrochemical derivatives. Safe for elastic, membrane fabrics.
• Domal Sport Fashion. Concentrated balm for cleaning dirt from sports suits, outdoor products, tourism, jackets, down jackets, etc. This product has a special composition, due to which it will thoroughly and carefully clean the products, preserving their unique properties, including the waterproofness of the membrane material. It is economical - 1 bottle is enough to clean 12.5 kg of dry laundry.

Gel

Products in the form of a gel are able to penetrate fibers no worse than liquid analogues. Before you buy one or another option, familiarize yourself with the features of several formulations. So you can make the purchase of the optimal product:

• Caress Active&Fresh Active care 3D. A composition that carefully washes products for outdoor activities and sports. The 3D formula protects things, adds freshness and neutralizes unpleasant odors. In addition, Weasel is designed for the membrane, so it retains the function of the membrane tissue. Suitable for both manual and automatic washing.
• Perwoll Sport & Active. Modern products in the form of a gel, designed for delicate washing of sportswear made of membrane, fleece, synthetics and other fabrics. Does not destroy the fibers of the material and gives the product a pleasant fresh aroma. It has the effect of renewal, restoring the color of things and at the same time does not discolor black or colored fabrics.
• Denkmit Fresh Sensation. A gel-like product that copes well with odors and dirt. Gives fabrics water-repellent properties. Gently washes items made of polyester, stretch, viscose, elastane and preserves the structure of micromembrane fibers. A 1.5 liter bottle is enough for 35 washes.
• Cotico. Specialized gel with reduced foaming for outer sportswear and outdoor products, including items made from membrane fabrics. Effectively removes stubborn stains, eliminating unpleasant odors. Able to preserve the properties of the membrane and water-repellent impregnation.
• EcoWoo. A gel made from UV-treated water and vegetable oil. It has high biodegradability of components - 97%. Suitable not only for materials with membranes, but also for feathers and down.