getting mud and grime off of my white snowboarding jacket?

Question

i have a snowboarding jacket with 15,000mm rating for waterproofing - it has mud stains and such on it, and normally i wouldnt really care but its a white jacket and is starting to look pretty crappy.

is there anything i can do to get out stains WITHOUT losing the waterproofing?

Answer 1

No problem.

Washing your riding gear is actually an important part of keeping it waterproof. Dirt and body oils will over time lower the breathability and waterproofness of your jacket, so keeping it clean is important (the tool or jewel comment was silly).

Your jacket more than likely has a DWR (Durable Water Resistant) coating and a waterproof fabric laminated to the inside of the outer fabric (cheaper coats usually have just the DWR and more expensive coats always have both). Wash it with a non-detergent soap and dry it on medium and it'll be all good. Detergents can clog the pours in the laminate and mess with the breathability of your jacket. You can buy special cleaners at your local shop, Revive X and Nikwax both make great stuff. Drying your jacket is important as well as it will redistribute the DWR coating. After a couple of washes this may wear off though but don't worry, both Nikwax and Revive X make great wash in and spray on DWR coatings. I use the spray on stuff for my gear as the wash in will apply the DWR to both the inside and outside of your jacket which could hurt the breathability.

Answer 2

It depends on the fabric. The jacket should have a care label. Read it. If not, go to the web site of whichever fabric or manufacturer is relevant, and look for care instructions. There are special detergents, such as Nikwax for cleaning most fabrics.

But seriously, what possessed you to buy something white?

Answer 3

You better pick Paul's answer. That was some fantastic info I would never have known. I suppose there's a reason he's the top guy in this section.