Post by kapitan on Jan 9, 2009 12:08:30 GMT 9
[glow=red,2,300]Cleaning and Care Information from Mac Pac[/glow]
Cleaning Your Pack
You are best to clean your pack with a natural, non-detergent soap and a soft-bristled brush. Suitable soap types are: pure soap, vegetable soap, Nikwax Tech Wash or Lux Soap Flakes. Rinse the pack well and dry it in a well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight.
After washing we recommend reproofing our AzTec® packs with Nikwax Cotton Proof.
Zips
The manufacturer of our zips, YKK, intentionally makes the zip slider from a soft alloy. This is so the slider (which is relatively easy to replace) wears out before the zip teeth (which are very difficult to replace). So, when zips are used extensively and in dusty or dirty environments the inner parts of the slider are worn away to a point where they cannot bring the teeth of the zip together effectively.
To get the worn sliders working until they can be replaced you can use a pair of pliers to gently squeeze the sides of the slider together. This should allow the slider to bring the zip teeth together. Don't use too much force because you can jam the slider.
Always try to keep the zip teeth as clean as possible. Wash them with fresh, clean water and lubricate with a silicon lubricant suitable for use on fabrics. This stops the dirt and dust from wearing away the insides of the sliders.
Cleaning Your Tent
You are best to clean your tent with a natural soap (non-detergent; e.g. pure soap, vegetable soap, Granger's Tent Clean or Lux Soap Flakes) and a soft-bristled brush. Rinse well and dry in a well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight.
Reproofing Your Fly
After washing your tent with a solution of Nikwax Tech Wash, we recommend that you reproof the tent fly with Nikwax Tent & Gear Proof.
Condensation
Condensation is an ever-present problem when you're trying to stay dry in the outdoors. You have probably experienced the same thing on a wet day when you have just climbed into the car and the windows seem to take forever to clear. In small tents, the problem is exactly the same and shows up as condensation on the inside of the fly.
Condensation is the result of atmospheric conditions, which we cannot prevent, but can only minimize with good design and an understanding of the factors, which can make the problem worse.
What factors will increase the amount of condensation?
• High moisture level inside the tent
• A big temperature difference between the warm air inside the tent and the cold outside
• Low ventilation to carry the moisture-laden air away
• Very waterproof tent material
• A high overall humidity
During periods of high humidity, such as during rain, it can be impossible to remove or reduce condensation. In these conditions, even a high degree of ventilation can actually increase the condensation rather than reduce it. In dry snow conditions, the humidity is usually very low, which can help to minimize condensation.
The more effective barrier that the tent fly fabric provides to stop rain getting through, the worse the condensation problem will be. This puts our tent designers in a difficult position and they naturally tend to favour keeping the rain out.
Because we all have to live with condensation, Macpac tents are designed with a gap between the fly and the ground, as well as active ventilation systems, to reduce the amount of condensation forming.
What can you do to minimize condensation?
• Minimize the amount of moisture within the tent.
• Ensure that all available ventilation is used
• Pitch the tent to catch any available draft
• Leave damp items outside or in bags
• Dry the tent thoroughly between uses
Cleaning Your Down Sleeping Bag
We recommend hand washing your sleeping bag, but it must be done carefully. Rough handling can tear the interior baffles. A washing machine should not be used.
Use a non-detergent soap. Specialised down soaps are available from good outdoor stores. Fill your bath with enough lukewarm water to cover the bag. Work the suds in gently. Do not twist or wring your bag.
Rinse until all the suds stay white, two or three times at most. Rinse thoroughly the last time to remove all traces of soap. Press firmly but gently to remove as much water as possible.
When carrying your wet bag ensure you support it entirely to prevent any internal damage caused by the wet and heavy down.
It is best to dry your bag naturally over a period of time. Initially lay it flat on the floor. Once partially dry it can be hung outside. Warm windy days provide the best drying conditions.
Finally your bag can be tumble dried on a gentle cycle. You must use a large commercial drier. Do not use a household dryer.
The down may clump together in the drying process. These clumps should be broken apart gently by hand, or if a drier is used, place a tennis ball in with the bag to prevent clumping.
Do not dry clean your sleeping bag. Some dry cleaners may offer a washing and drying service for down filled items, check with them first.
NOTE: By using a sleeping bag liner you can keep your bag cleaner for longer, minimising the need to wash it.
Sleeping Bag Down
We often get requests for extra down to be added to a sleeping bag due the perception that the bag is no longer as warm as it was when new.
The baffles of Macpac sleeping bags are designed to accommodate a predetermined amount of down to give optimal loft. So, adding extra down will not allow the down to loft fully, which means there is no increase in warmth. In most cases, you can restore the lofting ability of the down in your sleeping bag by washing the bag.
Zips
The manufacturer of our zips, YKK, intentionally makes the zip slider from a soft alloy. This is so the slider (which is relatively easy to replace) wears out before the zip teeth (which are very difficult to replace). So, when zips are used extensively and in dusty or dirty environments the inner parts of the slider are worn away to a point where they cannot bring the teeth of the zip together effectively.
To get the worn sliders working until they can be replaced you can use a pair of pliers to gently squeeze the sides of the slider together. This should allow the slider to bring the zip teeth together. Don't use too much force because you can jam the slider.
Always try to keep the zip teeth as clean as possible. Wash them with fresh, clean water and lubricate with a silicon lubricant suitable for use on fabrics. This stops the dirt and dust from wearing away the insides of the sliders.
Clothing
Care Information – Cleaning Interwool™
• Warm machine wash on a gentle cycle using synthetic laundry detergent
• Do not use soap or fabric softener
• Do not bleach or dry clean
• Line dry in the shade
• May be warm tumble tried and ironed
Cross-Terrain®
• Cold machine wash with similar colours on reduced cycle
• Line dry
• Cool iron only on the inside of the garment, if required
• Do not bleach or tumble dry
6th Sense™
• Cold wash only
• Line dry
• Do not bleach
• Do not tumble dry
• Machine wash gentle cycle
• Do not use fabric softener
• Do not dry clean
Reflex™
• Hand wash in warm water
• Use non-detergent soap
• Line dry out of direct sunlight
• Do not dry clean
• Do not use bleach
• Do not iron or tumble dry
Down Wear
• Wash only as necessary
• Warm hand wash in non-detergent pure soap
• Handle with care when wet
• Rinse well by gently kneading the down
• Do not bleach
• Do not use fabric softener
• Dry flat in shade initially, then tumble dry on low heat several times to separate the clumps of down
• Do not dryclean
All other Macpac clothing
• Hand wash
• Use non-detergent soap
• Line dry out of direct sunlight
• Do not dry clean
• Do not use bleach
• Do not iron or tumble dry
Care Information - Zips
The manufacturer of our zips, YKK, intentionally makes the zip slider from a soft alloy. This is so the slider (which is relatively easy to replace) wears out before the zip teeth (which are very difficult to replace). So, when zips are used extensively and in dusty or dirty environments the inner parts of the slider are worn away to a point where they cannot bring the teeth of the zip together effectively.
To get the worn sliders working until they can be replaced you can use a pair of pliers to gently squeeze the sides of the slider together. This should allow the slider to bring the zip teeth together. Don't use too much force because you can jam the slider. Always try to keep the zip teeth as clean as possible. Wash them with fresh, clean water and lubricate with a silicon lubricant suitable for use on fabrics. This stops the dirt and dust from wearing away the insides of the sliders.
Cleaning Your Pack
You are best to clean your pack with a natural, non-detergent soap and a soft-bristled brush. Suitable soap types are: pure soap, vegetable soap, Nikwax Tech Wash or Lux Soap Flakes. Rinse the pack well and dry it in a well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight.
After washing we recommend reproofing our AzTec® packs with Nikwax Cotton Proof.
Zips
The manufacturer of our zips, YKK, intentionally makes the zip slider from a soft alloy. This is so the slider (which is relatively easy to replace) wears out before the zip teeth (which are very difficult to replace). So, when zips are used extensively and in dusty or dirty environments the inner parts of the slider are worn away to a point where they cannot bring the teeth of the zip together effectively.
To get the worn sliders working until they can be replaced you can use a pair of pliers to gently squeeze the sides of the slider together. This should allow the slider to bring the zip teeth together. Don't use too much force because you can jam the slider.
Always try to keep the zip teeth as clean as possible. Wash them with fresh, clean water and lubricate with a silicon lubricant suitable for use on fabrics. This stops the dirt and dust from wearing away the insides of the sliders.
Cleaning Your Tent
You are best to clean your tent with a natural soap (non-detergent; e.g. pure soap, vegetable soap, Granger's Tent Clean or Lux Soap Flakes) and a soft-bristled brush. Rinse well and dry in a well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight.
Reproofing Your Fly
After washing your tent with a solution of Nikwax Tech Wash, we recommend that you reproof the tent fly with Nikwax Tent & Gear Proof.
Condensation
Condensation is an ever-present problem when you're trying to stay dry in the outdoors. You have probably experienced the same thing on a wet day when you have just climbed into the car and the windows seem to take forever to clear. In small tents, the problem is exactly the same and shows up as condensation on the inside of the fly.
Condensation is the result of atmospheric conditions, which we cannot prevent, but can only minimize with good design and an understanding of the factors, which can make the problem worse.
What factors will increase the amount of condensation?
• High moisture level inside the tent
• A big temperature difference between the warm air inside the tent and the cold outside
• Low ventilation to carry the moisture-laden air away
• Very waterproof tent material
• A high overall humidity
During periods of high humidity, such as during rain, it can be impossible to remove or reduce condensation. In these conditions, even a high degree of ventilation can actually increase the condensation rather than reduce it. In dry snow conditions, the humidity is usually very low, which can help to minimize condensation.
The more effective barrier that the tent fly fabric provides to stop rain getting through, the worse the condensation problem will be. This puts our tent designers in a difficult position and they naturally tend to favour keeping the rain out.
Because we all have to live with condensation, Macpac tents are designed with a gap between the fly and the ground, as well as active ventilation systems, to reduce the amount of condensation forming.
What can you do to minimize condensation?
• Minimize the amount of moisture within the tent.
• Ensure that all available ventilation is used
• Pitch the tent to catch any available draft
• Leave damp items outside or in bags
• Dry the tent thoroughly between uses
Cleaning Your Down Sleeping Bag
We recommend hand washing your sleeping bag, but it must be done carefully. Rough handling can tear the interior baffles. A washing machine should not be used.
Use a non-detergent soap. Specialised down soaps are available from good outdoor stores. Fill your bath with enough lukewarm water to cover the bag. Work the suds in gently. Do not twist or wring your bag.
Rinse until all the suds stay white, two or three times at most. Rinse thoroughly the last time to remove all traces of soap. Press firmly but gently to remove as much water as possible.
When carrying your wet bag ensure you support it entirely to prevent any internal damage caused by the wet and heavy down.
It is best to dry your bag naturally over a period of time. Initially lay it flat on the floor. Once partially dry it can be hung outside. Warm windy days provide the best drying conditions.
Finally your bag can be tumble dried on a gentle cycle. You must use a large commercial drier. Do not use a household dryer.
The down may clump together in the drying process. These clumps should be broken apart gently by hand, or if a drier is used, place a tennis ball in with the bag to prevent clumping.
Do not dry clean your sleeping bag. Some dry cleaners may offer a washing and drying service for down filled items, check with them first.
NOTE: By using a sleeping bag liner you can keep your bag cleaner for longer, minimising the need to wash it.
Sleeping Bag Down
We often get requests for extra down to be added to a sleeping bag due the perception that the bag is no longer as warm as it was when new.
The baffles of Macpac sleeping bags are designed to accommodate a predetermined amount of down to give optimal loft. So, adding extra down will not allow the down to loft fully, which means there is no increase in warmth. In most cases, you can restore the lofting ability of the down in your sleeping bag by washing the bag.
Zips
The manufacturer of our zips, YKK, intentionally makes the zip slider from a soft alloy. This is so the slider (which is relatively easy to replace) wears out before the zip teeth (which are very difficult to replace). So, when zips are used extensively and in dusty or dirty environments the inner parts of the slider are worn away to a point where they cannot bring the teeth of the zip together effectively.
To get the worn sliders working until they can be replaced you can use a pair of pliers to gently squeeze the sides of the slider together. This should allow the slider to bring the zip teeth together. Don't use too much force because you can jam the slider.
Always try to keep the zip teeth as clean as possible. Wash them with fresh, clean water and lubricate with a silicon lubricant suitable for use on fabrics. This stops the dirt and dust from wearing away the insides of the sliders.
Clothing
Care Information – Cleaning Interwool™
• Warm machine wash on a gentle cycle using synthetic laundry detergent
• Do not use soap or fabric softener
• Do not bleach or dry clean
• Line dry in the shade
• May be warm tumble tried and ironed
Cross-Terrain®
• Cold machine wash with similar colours on reduced cycle
• Line dry
• Cool iron only on the inside of the garment, if required
• Do not bleach or tumble dry
6th Sense™
• Cold wash only
• Line dry
• Do not bleach
• Do not tumble dry
• Machine wash gentle cycle
• Do not use fabric softener
• Do not dry clean
Reflex™
• Hand wash in warm water
• Use non-detergent soap
• Line dry out of direct sunlight
• Do not dry clean
• Do not use bleach
• Do not iron or tumble dry
Down Wear
• Wash only as necessary
• Warm hand wash in non-detergent pure soap
• Handle with care when wet
• Rinse well by gently kneading the down
• Do not bleach
• Do not use fabric softener
• Dry flat in shade initially, then tumble dry on low heat several times to separate the clumps of down
• Do not dryclean
All other Macpac clothing
• Hand wash
• Use non-detergent soap
• Line dry out of direct sunlight
• Do not dry clean
• Do not use bleach
• Do not iron or tumble dry
Care Information - Zips
The manufacturer of our zips, YKK, intentionally makes the zip slider from a soft alloy. This is so the slider (which is relatively easy to replace) wears out before the zip teeth (which are very difficult to replace). So, when zips are used extensively and in dusty or dirty environments the inner parts of the slider are worn away to a point where they cannot bring the teeth of the zip together effectively.
To get the worn sliders working until they can be replaced you can use a pair of pliers to gently squeeze the sides of the slider together. This should allow the slider to bring the zip teeth together. Don't use too much force because you can jam the slider. Always try to keep the zip teeth as clean as possible. Wash them with fresh, clean water and lubricate with a silicon lubricant suitable for use on fabrics. This stops the dirt and dust from wearing away the insides of the sliders.