What do you do with your clothing after the season is over? Many people probably hang it out to dry, but don't wash or care for it, and just leave it as it is. If you want to keep your precious clothing in good condition for as long as possible, it's best to take good care of it and store it properly. But choosing how to do it yourself can be a hassle... For those of you out there, we're here to tell you that there are other options
Does ski wear need to be washed?
The answer is yes, and here's why
- Even if you wear skiwear several times during the season, sweat and sebum stains will inevitably accumulate on the inside. Leaving skiwear in this state can cause the water-repellent and moisture-wicking properties of the skiwear to deteriorate.
- Leaving skiwear with muddy or oily stains on the surface can reduce its waterproofing and cause the fabric to deteriorate and discolor.
- Storing skiwear in a damp place without washing it can cause mold and bacteria to grow, resulting in odors and deterioration of the skiwear.
In other words, if you leave your clothing without washing it, the functionality that it was originally supposed to have will deteriorate. This can make it difficult to stay comfortable on the snowy mountains, negatively affect your skiing performance, and in some cases even jeopardize your safety, so it's a big problem. Properly washing and keeping your clothing clean will help maintain the functionality of your clothing, allowing you to enjoy it for a long time and ensuring safe and comfortable skiing
Montbell Water-Repellent Course Now Available at Baluko Laundry Place
Have you heard of the coin laundry "Baluko Laundry Place"? In recent years, the number of stores has been increasing rapidly, mainly in the Tokyo metropolitan area, and there are now over 200 stores
The store has a chic and stylish atmosphere with this logo mark, is open 24 hours a day, and can wash everything from duvets to shoes fully automatically, with the machine even being able to be operated from outside using a smartphone app
What's more, some stores even have free Wi-Fi and cafes, making these coin laundries quite different from the typical image of laundromats you've had up until now
In the fall of 2023, Bulko Laundry Place's Yoyogi-Uehara store and Bulko's first store (Watashino, Koshimizu-cho, Hokkaido) will be introducing a new washing course called the "Montbell Water-Repellent Course." This is a collaboration with Montbell, the outdoor wear brand, and it means that you can restore the amazing water-repellent properties of your down jackets and ski wear by simply washing them fully automatically in a coin laundry machine! STEEP reported on the introduction of this course, but now that many people have finished their winter season, let's review its details
What is the Montbell Water-Repellent Course?
Dirt from outdoor wear and sleeping bags that have lost their water-repellent properties is thoroughly removed during the washing process, and Montbell's water-repellent agent is applied during the rinsing process. The finishing touch is to apply heat in a dryer, which allows the water-repellent agent to set and achieve its water-repellent properties. This versatile product can be used on ski and snowboard wear, down jackets for mountain and town use, sleeping bags, rainwear, and even regular winter coats that can be washed
The large drum can hold up to 5kg. It can hold 4-5 layers of ski wear, so you can wash a pair of ski wear tops and bottoms plus a down jacket in one go. The entire process of washing, rinsing, and drying takes 65 minutes. Isn't it amazing that after waiting about an hour, you can have your ski wear and down jackets looking shiny and water-repellent without having to do anything?
Until now, many people have had to worry about which special detergent to use, frantically scrub their clothes by hand, or run the washing machine at home, worrying about damaging their precious clothing. Even if they used a water repellent, they would have had to soak the clothes three or four times, which was quite a lot of work. Now, all of that is done automatically. The convenience, peace of mind, and quality of the finished product are unmatched
By the way, the items that can and cannot be washed are as follows:
| Items that can be washed with the Montbell Water-Repellent Course | ・Clothes and sleeping bags that can be washed and tumble dried ・Outerwear such as ski wear ・Down jackets ・Windbreakers ・Sleeping bags (filled with feathers or polyester) |
| Things that cannot be washed | - Items with wool or cotton filling - Deteriorated clothing - Large items such as tents and tarps - Items made of materials that are sensitive to heat, such as rubber, vinyl resin, EVA resin, or polypropylene |
Let's take a look at the actual process and results
I use Montbell's water repellent
OD Maintenance SR Wash-in
This environmentally friendly water repellent uses a non-fluorine water repellent. The Montbell Water Repellent Course installed at Baluko automatically dispenses the liquid type, but there is also a spray type that is convenient for when you want to make only the outer fabric water repellent. After spraying, the spray type is heated in a dryer to enhance its water repellency
This water-repellent function is said to last for several months after one use of the course. If you wash your clothes once before the season starts using the Montbell Water-Repellent Course, you should be able to get through at least the harsh winter. Fleece, synthetic fibers, and nylon are all OK, so why not wash down jackets, fleece, and insulation along with your ski and snowboard wear to improve their water-repellent properties?
The price is 1,700 yen.
Whether you consider that to be cheap or expensive for laundry is up to you, but for those who have had to go to the trouble of washing their favorite clothes themselves during the off-season, it's probably quite reasonable when you consider the benefits of ease, peace of mind, and restored functionality.
During the 65-minute laundry time, you can comfortably wait while enjoying a donut and a drink at the attached cafe. The donuts at this cafe are
from "Donatsubiyori," an original donut brand of "Baluko Laundry Place" from Kanazawa, and are fluffy, chewy, and simply delicious!
Although the store is a coin laundry, it has a modern and stylish atmosphere, and is strangely relaxing. Wi-Fi is also available, so many people use it as a cafe instead of just to do their laundry
Currently, the Montbell Water-Repellent Course has been installed in the following four stores:
Baluko Laundry Place Koshimizumachi Watashino Store (Hokkaido)
, Baluko Laundry Place Yoyogi Uehara Store (Tokyo)
, Baluko Laundry Place Nishi-ku Shinmachi Store (Osaka)
, and Baluko Laundry Place Tenri Tamba City Store (Nara)
.If you live within a store's reach, why not give it a try?
Baluko Laundry Place Yoyogi Ueharahttps
://baluko.jp/baluko-uehara/
Business hours |
[Self-service laundry] 24 hours, open all year round
[Cleaning and laundry service] 9:00-20:00
[Cafe] 9:00-20:00
No fixed holidays / Closed during the New Year and summer holidays