Washing & Care Instructions

Very Important!  Zip up all zippers and attach all Velcro before loading!  Zipper sliders and teeth can easily be damaged in the washer and/or dryer.  Velcro gets clogged up with fuzz from other garments and can snag your other clothes, causing damage to both.  

+Front-Load Machine Wash Only!  Using an agitator-style top-load washer could possibly do damage to your 686 technical outerwear or clothing.

-- Gentle cycle should be all that is needed to clean your 686 technical outerwear.  If your outerwear is stained, you may be out of luck.

-- Use cold water!  Actually, warm is OK, but cold is preferred to maintain the waterproofing.

-- Using outerwear-specific detergent or powder.  Using liquid detergent that is not outerwear-specific clogs the pores of technical fabrics and damage the DWR coating, greatly reducing the performance (waterproof/breathability) of the garment.

+ Hang Dry in shade or Tumble Dry on Low Heat.  Drying with excess heat can damage or melt fabric, zippers, and/or trims.  Leave in until “almost dry” and change to NO HEAT or hang dry to finish.  Low heat actually helps re-activate waterproofing after washing.  

+ Replenish Waterproofing (DWR) as needed .  The DWR coating (the gypsy magic that makes water droplets bead up on your outerwear) on all technical fabrics wear out after time and use.  Especially if you are around campfires, smokers, oily lift pulleys, or other contaminants in general.  Revive the performance of your 686 technical outerwear by washing as instructed, then using a spray-on waterproofing product such as NikWax TX-Direct.

+ Or roll in clean snow, repeat as needed! This is the preferred method to clean your 686 technical outerwear.  Go snowboarding, have fun!

DO NOT USE ON YOUR GARMENT

Bleach -  your colors will fade.  Technical outerwear in white should not use bleach either.  It can damage the waterproofing.

Fabric  Softener -  clogs the pores of technical fabrics and can damage the DWR coating, greatly reducing the performance (waterproof/breathability) of the garment.

Iron  - you may damage the performance of your technical fabric, or worse, melt the fabric itself.  

Dry Cleaning  - dry cleaning products can damage the performance of your technical fabric.  

Damage in the wash is not considered a manufacturer’s defect and is not covered under warranty.