How To Take Care Of And Clean The Submachine Suit In The Wrong Way

Recently, a message that "assault jackets cannot be machine washed" has attracted attention on the Internet. Some people say that once the jacket is washed in the washing machine, the waterproof layer will be washed off, and it will never be waterproof again.

This statement is not accurate. Washing is really easy to affect the performance of waterproof coating, but as long as the method is appropriate, the jacket can also be cleaned with a washing machine.

Waterproof clothing has hydrophobic coating on its surface, which is easy to be damaged in use and washing.

Damage to the coating does not mean that it is not waterproof at all, but the comfort will decline.

Machine washing is not absolutely taboo. Mild mode+neutral detergent can reduce coating loss.

When the coating is damaged, some special products can help improve the waterproof performance of clothes.

How is the submachine suit waterproof?

To explain this problem in detail, we need to first understand the structure of waterproof fabrics. Outdoor clothing such as assault suit has waterproof and breathable effect, which is usually due to the joint action of two ingredients.

The first ingredient is waterproof and breathable film. This film is the main force of waterproof, and it is usually sandwiched between the outer fabric and the inner lining. It can prevent rainwater infiltration, and at the same time allow the water vapor generated by the human body to be discharged, which can keep the inside of the clothes dry. This film can be realized through a variety of materials and processes. In the famous waterproof fabric GORE-TEX, it is a layer of polytetrafluoroethylene with many small air holes.

The second component is hydrophobic coating. This coating is an auxiliary component of waterproof and antifouling, which is located on the outermost layer of clothes. The hydrophobic coating changes the nature of the outer fabric, making it easy for water droplets to roll off and not wet the surface of the clothes.

Among them, the hydrophobic coating on the surface is easy to be affected by washing. The waterproof film inside the fabric is generally more durable and not easy to be washed.

What if the coating is damaged?

Although it is called "durable water repellent coating", the service life of the current hydrophobic coating of clothing is still limited, and it will inevitably be damaged slowly in use. Washing is indeed an important factor leading to coating damage. Some experiments have found that five times of washing is enough to significantly reduce the hydrophobic property of the coating. If the washing method is wrong, the coating will fail faster.

Clothes with damaged coatings do not necessarily lose their water resistance completely. If the waterproof film inside the fabric remains intact, the clothes will still have the ability to block liquid water.

However, losing the coating does make clothes more uncomfortable to wear. Although rain will not enter the interior of the clothes, the surface fabric outside the waterproof membrane will become easy to absorb water after losing the hydrophobic coating. The wet surface will make the clothes feel colder, and it may also hinder the internal moisture discharge.

Machine washable, but try to be gentle

One of the main reasons for coating damage is mechanical wear, which occurs in daily wear and washing. Many machine washing modes have long time and fast speed, which will lead to more friction of clothes, which is really bad for maintaining the coating.

However, the submachine suit is not completely machine washable. In fact, many fabric and clothing manufacturers, including GORE-TEX, have said their products can be machine washed - but they also stressed that it is very important to choose the appropriate mode and detergent.

Machine wash waterproof clothing should choose a gentle washing mode, use low water temperature (30 ℃), and use low speed to dry. To reduce friction and winding, it is better to clean them separately. Before machine washing, the dirt on the surface should be gently brushed off with a soft bristle brush, and the clothes should be zipped up.

In terms of detergent, mild neutral detergent should be used instead of bleach or fabric softener. Detergent residues will also change the surface properties of clothes and reduce the water resistance, so detergent should not be used too much. To ensure no residue, you can add another rinse after the normal laundry procedure.

Of course, the above is only a general suggestion, and the specific situation shall be subject to the label of the clothes.

What if the coating is broken?

Water spray can be used to check whether the waterproof coating on the clothing surface is damaged. If the water sprayed on the surface of the clothes gathers into round drops, which are easy to roll off, it indicates that the hydrophobic coating is in good condition; If no water drops can be seen, and the surface cloth is obviously soaked with water, it means that the hydrophobic coating has been damaged.

If the coating performance declines, try to use low-temperature drying or low-temperature ironing for heat treatment. Many hydrophobic coatings are composed of fluorocarbon compounds. Heat treatment can help rearrange the molecular side chains of these compounds and improve their hydrophobicity. When ironing, be sure to choose a low temperature gear without steam, and put a layer of cloth on the surface of the clothes for protection.

In addition, some special products can be used to supplement hydrophobic coating for clothes. These products can be applied by spraying or washing. Please refer to the product manual for details.

It's so troublesome. How about not washing it?

Even if it is washed gently, the hydrophobic coating will lose a little. Would it be better not to wash it completely? The answer is no.

Dust and dirt will also affect the surface performance of waterproof clothing, resulting in a decrease in hydrophobicity. In addition, small dirt particles may also block the pores on the fabric, resulting in decreased permeability. Therefore, although it is not advisable to clean the jacket frequently, it is necessary to clean it when it becomes obviously dirty.

(Source: CCTV News Client)