How to clean your textiles
Your motorcycle gear soon becomes dirty thanks to muddy roads and other grime. To keep your textiles in top shape, washing it regularly will remove any debris caught in the fabric. It’s a lot easier than you think. You just need the right products and a bit of patience.
Follow these simple steps below.
Motorcycle Textiles Washing Guide
Preparation: Unlike regular clothing, bike gear comes with added extras. Remove any armour, buckles and inner linings before washing.
Wash: It’s as simple as popping your gear in the washing machine. Use a non-bio washing powder or a specialist wash for motorcycle gear. Make sure you wash on a low temperature to avoid damaging the fabric and any protective coatings. DO NOT use fabric conditioner in your wash cycle. Fabric conditioner is known to remove waterproof coatings.
Drying: You can dry your gear outside or inside, depending on the weather! If you have one, using a tumble dryer is the best bet. Set on the low heat setting and make sure you check regularly and do not overheat. Slight heat will make sure the waterproof coatings are “reset”.
If you don’t have a tumble dryer, you could always air dry then apply a low heat setting hairdryer or iron (cover fabric with a clean tea towel, set on low heat, no steam).
Recommended Leather Cleaning Products
There are lots of great products on the market but here are two great picks to help you clean and nourish your motorcycle leathers.
Add both to the washing machine for a clean and fresh finish plus waterproof restoration.
Concentrated wash suitable for all washing machines with handy tough stain removal spray.
Ben's top kit cleaning tips
- Use an old toothbrush and some washing up liquid in hot water to pre-scrub any heavily soiled areas before washing. I find my collars are always dirtier than anywhere else on the jacket and fly-splatters on the chest can leave marks behind if you don't pre-scrub them.
- Unzip any liners and layers and wash them separately.
- Remove any built-in armour and remember to check the pockets and remove anything you find in there!
- Hand-washing is preferable as you won't damage zips or poppers or anything else that's printed on the jacket or that might get damaged by mechanical action.
- Do not tumble dry any of your kit. Even if you think your machine has a gentle setting, it's far better to hang it outside to dry naturally.
The Waterproof Test
Once your kit is dry, pour some water on it to see what happens. If the water beads up and runs off the jacket then congraulations, you’re in business, the jacket’s waterproofing has activated.
If the water looks like it’s soaking into your jacket, then its waterproofing hasn’t properly activated. In which case, don’t fret. You just need to use a waterproofing spray like this one which will give your jacket a proper water-repellant layer, which will keep the water out.
