How to wash your ski and snowboard wear [Let someone do it for you] - You can even wash down jackets automatically at the laundromat!

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

- Sweat and sebum inevitably accumulate on the inside of ski wear after being worn several times during the season. Leaving the wear in this condition can reduce its water-repellent and moisture-wicking properties.

- Leaving mud, oil, or other stains on the surface can reduce its waterproofing, cause fabric deterioration, and lead to discoloration.

- Storing ski wear in a damp state without washing, or in a humid place, can lead to mold growth, bacterial growth, odor, and deterioration of the ski wear.

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

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	- Clothing that can be washed and tumble dried, and sleeping bags, outerwear such as ski wear , down jackets , windbreakers, and sleeping bags (filled with down or polyester).
Things that cannot be washed	Items with wool or cotton filling ; items with deteriorated clothing ; large items such as tents and tarps ; and items made from heat-sensitive materials such as rubber, vinyl resin, EVA resin, and polypropylene.

Let's take a look at the actual process and results

I use Montbell's water repellent

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 this cheap or expensive for laundry is up to you, but for those who have been struggling to wash their favorite clothes themselves during the off-season, considering the benefits of ease, peace of mind, and restored functionality, it's probably quite reasonable.

Currently, the "Montbell Water-Repellent Course" is available at the following four stores:
BalukoLaundryPlace Koshimizu-cho Watashino Store(Hokkaido)
,BalukoLaundry Place Yoyogi-Uehara Store(Tokyo)
,BalukoLaundry Place Nishi-ku Shinmachi Store(Osaka)
, andBalukoLaundry Place Tenri-Tanba City Store(Nara).
If you live within a reasonable distance, why not give it a try?　

---