How to maintain your technical apparel?

Technical clothing

24 oktober 2023 / Written by Marieke

If you want your technical clothing to perform well, even after years of use, proper maintenance is essential! We tell you more in this article.

At Snowcountry, you'll find an extensive range of technical clothing. This includes thermal underwear, midlayers, and hardshell jackets and pants. In this article, we'll delve into the proper maintenance of technical clothing. In addition to the apparel mentioned, we'll also cover winter sports socks and gloves.

The best tip we will give

Always start by reading the care instructions! It may sound obvious, but it's often overlooked. The result can be clothing that no longer serves its intended purpose. If you want your technical clothing to perform well, even after years of use, proper maintenance is essential!

Maintaining thermal underwear

We'll go from layer to layer, beginning with thermal underwear, aka the base layer. At Snowcountry, we prefer natural Merino wool for this layer. Merino wool offers excellent breathability, regulates temperature variations, feels soft, dries quickly, and has unique moisture management and odor control properties. However, Merino wool is delicate, so maintenance is crucial.

The maintenance tips below focus on maintaining Merino wool base layers, but generally, the same rules apply to other materials like synthetics, recycled polyester, and wool.

Grangers Merino Wash 300ml

Special Price €8.46 Regular Price €9.95

Always wash thermal underwear inside out.
Use a wool-specific detergent. If your thermal underwear is made of recycled polyester or synthetic materials, a mild detergent is also suitable.
Wash at 30°C and select a wool program, or a gentle cycle if the base layer is not made of wool.
Air dry the base layer. Avoid direct sunlight, and do not use a dryer.
Do not use an iron.

Maintaining midlayers

Midlayers come in various types and materials, so the maintenance method varies from one midlayer to another. Here are some general washing tips for midlayers, but be sure to check the care label.

Wash midlayers inside out.
Use a cold and gentle wash cycle.
Always check the care label to see if your midlayer can be tumble-dried. This largely depends on the materials used. If your midlayer contains wool, never put it in the dryer, as the heat will cause the wool to shrink. If you have a down midlayer, you should, on the contrary, put it in the dryer to break up any clumps that have formed during washing. To do so, use dryer balls in the dryer. No dryer balls in the house? As an alternative, use three tennis balls.
Never iron the midlayer.

Snowcountry tip: Is your down midlayer not drying in the dryer? Then combine it with the dryer balls with, for example, damp towels. Make sure the wash contains only soft items without zippers, buttons or other materials that can damage the midlayer.

-35%

Mammut
Eigerjoch Insulated Hybrid Jacket Women

-35%

Ortovox
Ladiz Hybrid Jacket Women

-35%

Norrøna
Lyngen Alpha 90 Vest W

-50%

Jones
Re-Up Down Rec Hooded Jacket Men

-50%

State Of Elevenate
Fusion Stretch Jacket Women

Maintaining hardshell clothing

Hardshell clothing laminate possesses windproof, waterproof, and/or breathable properties. To enjoy these benefits for as long as possible, proper maintenance is essential.

Wash hardshell clothing with a tech wash detergent.
Check if your hardshell garment is dryer-safe. If not, air dry it. If the garment can be tumble-dried, it's recommended to do so. The material will recover better in the dryer.
Reapply a water-repellent treatment to maintain full waterproofing after extended use. Use an appropriate wash-in or spray treatment. The advantage of a spray is that you can apply it only to the outer surface, avoiding any impact on the inner lining.

Nikwax
300ml Tech Wash / TX.Direct Twin Pack

Nikwax
TX.Direct 1 Liter

Nikwax
Tech Wash 1 Liter

Grangers
Performance Wash + Performance Repel Plus Spray Eco Twin Pack

Organotex
BioCare Sport Textile Wash 500ml

Grangers
Performance Wash 1L Pouch

Grangers
Performance Wash 300ml

Grangers
Performance Wash & Clothing Repel Twin Pack

Gore-Tex EPE requires slightly different care than classic Gore-Tex or Gore-Tex Pro to maintain optimal performance. According to current brand guidance (2-12-2025): wash more frequently with Tech Wash to maintain the material’s waterproofing and dry it in the tumble dryer. With frequent use, do this 3 to 4 times per year, and preferably use a spray to restore waterproofing in between.

Maintaining winter sports socks

Wash the socks inside out.
Use a mild detergent, and consider a detergent specifically designed for wool if the socks are woolen.
Use a cold wash cycle.
Avoid using a dryer.
Do not iron the socks.

Maintaining gloves

Clean your gloves with a soft cloth or brush after use.
Dry the gloves only at room temperature. Avoid using heating, as it may damage the fabric and insulation.
For leather gloves, treat them with a leather conditioner to keep the material soft and supple.