If you’ve bought an Arc’teryx jacket, knowing how to wash it properly is crucial. You don’t want any risk of destroying an expensive piece of kit, but if you spend a lot of time outdoors in bad weather, you’re going to need to know how to clean your jacket properly.
You’ll be using your washing machine on a medium heat, with a cleaning product intended for technical fabrics. You can use a dryer afterward, and you may wish to look at re-waterproofing your jacket occasionally.
Let’s look at the safest and easiest way to wash an Arc’teryx jacket!
How Often Do You Need To Wash Your Arc’teryx Jacket?
This depends heavily on your use habits and the sort of terrain you are operating in. If you use your jacket daily or almost daily in wet and muddy conditions, you might want to wash your jacket as often as twice a month.
However, if you only use your jacket every few days and you work in cleaner areas, you will probably only want to wash it once a month, or a little less frequently.
There’s no need to wash it as often as you would wash clothes that you wear against your skin, and doing so will result in a shorter lifespan for the product.
Step One: Washing The Jacket
First, empty the pockets. Close the jacket’s zips, but not any pocket zips, as you want the insides of the pockets to wash. Fasten the Velcro on the cuffs neatly and firmly so it will stay in place, and loosen the elastic cords so there is no stress when the washing machine agitates them.
Next, place the jacket in the washing machine and set the machine to wash at 104 degrees F (40 degrees C) on a normal cycle. Add a suitable detergent.
The best options include those designed for use on technical fabrics, such as the Arc’teryx Nu Care Products.
You can use normal laundry detergent, but this may not be as good for your jacket. Avoid any laundry detergents that contain fabric softeners, as this will spoil the waterproofing and may make your jacket leak. Similarly, avoid detergents with whiteners, colors, or strong fragrances.
Set the machine running and wait for the cycle to end. When it has, put it on for a second rinse. This removes any remaining soap residue from the jacket and ensures that it is clean and ready for use again. Lingering soap may affect the waterproofing, so this secondary rinse is a key part of maintaining your jacket properly.
Step Two: Re-Waterproofing The Jacket
If your jacket needs re-waterproofing, this is the next step. Take it out of the machine and check whether water is still beading on the outside of the material, as you would expect. If not, your jacket’s waterproofing has worn off and it needs reapplying.
A spray-on waterproof treatment is the best option. Purchase one from a reliable brand (Arc’teryx stocks them) and then hang your jacket on a hanger. Shake away any excess water, but leave the jacket damp.
Close the zippers on all parts of the jacket, and then spray the waterproof treatment all over it. Add extra in areas that get a lot of wear, such as the insides of the arms and armpits. Spray both the back and front of the jacket and the hood.
Finally, turn the jacket inside out; this will help the waterproofing to bind to the material properly.
Step Three: Drying Your Arc’teryx Jacket
You can use a dryer for your Arc’teryx jacket, and this has the added benefit of sealing the waterproofing in. Make sure the jacket is still damp before you move on to this step. If it doesn’t need waterproofing, you can move directly to this step after you get the jacket out of the washing machine.
With the jacket still inside-out, place it in the dryer. Set it to a medium heat, and allow around 40 or 50 minutes, as this should seal the waterproof spray in. Check the jacket after 50 minutes, and see whether it is dry to the touch.
If it isn’t dry, put the jacket back in the dryer and give it another few minutes, and then check again. Keep doing this until the jacket feels completely dry.
If you have not added waterproofing, you can allow the jacket to dry near a heater, but be aware that it may take some time. The dryer will speed things up.
When your jacket is fully dry, you’ve completed your care cycle, and it should be ready to wear again.
If your jacket is damaged at all, read my guide on repairing an Arc’teryx jacket!
Conclusion
It’s important to clean your Arc’teryx jacket correctly, and not use normal laundry liquid, a hotter wash cycle, or a hot drying cycle, as all of these things could ruin its waterproofing.
Washing and re-waterproofing your jacket regularly will help it to last well.
