What do you guys and gals do do wash your clothing? Specifically the BPL Beertooth Hoody and Patagonia R1 Hoody? Washing directions seem straight forward but they don't state how to dry. Figure washing machine may be harsh. Thanks.


Mark

for the R1, the care instructions are on the tag. Here's a link for symbol explanation -

http://www.textileaffairs.com/hirez.htm

I wash mine in the machine with unscented soap and dry lightly on low or just hang it up to dry. Don't use fabric softeners.

I wash my wool (Icebreaker, Smartwool, etc) items with this -- http://www.diaperjunction.com/imse-vimse-wool-shampoo.html

-- usually in the washing machine and I just swish the items around by hand or briefly run the washer on the delicate cycle. I let the machine spin out the excess water after a thorough rinsing. Hang to dry, sometimes after a brief low-heat fluff in the dryer. Depends on the care instructions. My layers don't get uber filthy so I don't feel the need to agitate the heck out of them with the washing machine.

I air dry any thing that doesn't have a DWR coating.

I handwash all my merino stuff in the sink and air dry with generic brand Woolite. I have accidentally machine-washed my BPL UL Merino Hoody a couple times without immediately obvious ill-affects. I air-dried it after both times. My understanding is that the violence of the wash cycle isn't great for the delicate fibers, same reason when you hand-wash you don't twist/wring it out, but squeeze and dry it with a towel before hanging. Tedious, but since it's merino I only wash every 5-6 days use, and for the price, a precaution I'm willing to take.

I do machine-wash all my merino socks, in a mesh bag of the type that women use for their delicates, so my expensive footwear doesn't do a disappearing act. I've never had damage issues, but the socks are made of heavier fabric.

The R1, I machime wash and dry on low, but I don't wear it that often as it's only a deep-winter piece for me, and doesn't smell until after several uses.