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Fltwistygirl
Posted on Saturday, May 30, 2015 - 07:22 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Now that the rain seems to be slowing down here in Colo, and the weather here is getting nice, its time to haul my butt north to hang with family and teach. As part of my prep, I am treating my riding and rain gear. I have a couple stubborn road grime stains on my textile water resistant Jacket. I ran through washer with nikwax but the stains are still there. I've researched the topic, so am aware that one needs to be careful Not to damage the fabric with harsh detergent, especially since its all there is between the pavement and me if I crash.

Any suggestions?

(Message edited by fltwistygirl on May 30, 2015)
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Uly_man
Posted on Sunday, May 31, 2015 - 09:11 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

NIKWAX Tech Wash, if thats what you used, is soap based so it will not take out any serious stains on the garment. It does say to "sponge on neat" to serious stains before washing with the product so you could try that.

Otherwise I would lightly scrub the stained area with nail brush using a normal fragrance free hair shampoo and wash off before using the Tech Wash. It is what I use to clean the insides of my helmet.
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Hughlysses
Posted on Sunday, May 31, 2015 - 09:42 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I have a Fieldsheer mesh jacket which has solid Cordura panels on all of the areas apt to meet pavement in a crash. It is mostly "Hi Viz" yellow with some black sections and the Hi Viz areas show road grime stains vividly.

The instructions basically say "wash the jacket in nothing more harsh than tepid virgin's tears", which needless to say do nothing to remove any stains. Last summer, I decided I was either going to have to replace the jacket, or try something stronger. I finally sat down one night with a bottle of Simple Green and a cloth and in about 30 minutes had removed every stain from the exterior of the jacket. I think took it in the shower and rinsed it with cold water.

A year later, the washing appears to have had no effect on the integrity of the material, although it did fade the "Hi Viz" yellow color somewhat.

YMMV, but it's worth trying as a last resort.
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Uly_man
Posted on Sunday, May 31, 2015 - 09:55 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

"I have a Fieldsheer mesh jacket". I have a Mach 2 jacket, with leather panels/ love it, and washed it in NICKWAX Tech Wash with NO effect on the stains.
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Teeps
Posted on Sunday, May 31, 2015 - 10:49 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Have you consulted a "professional" cleaner?
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Uly_man
Posted on Sunday, May 31, 2015 - 11:15 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Is that me or them?
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Etennuly
Posted on Monday, June 01, 2015 - 09:50 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

When I got my '06 Uly new I rode everywhere with my Buell textile ballistic material jacket and pants. I went for a few years washing them only one time at home, then next trip out I rode to Florida during "Love Bug" season.

The suit got excessively covered in goo that would certainly have ruined the jacket and pants if it was allowed to dry. It was a Hot spring day and the only choice I found was to go to a car wash. I clipped the jacket and pants up on the floor mat washing board and let the suit have it. Bubbly soap and pressure wash. It came out amazingly clean and the soap even had a pleasant smell.

I rinsed them thoroughly then after riding for a few hours in the sun to dry them completely, I stopped at a clothing store for a can of water proofer. I sprayed them liberally to protect the fibers, though the suit was not water proof to begin with.

I still have the jacket, now at 9 years old it is still my favorite.
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Fltwistygirl
Posted on Wednesday, June 03, 2015 - 12:55 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

"NIKWAX Tech Wash, if thats what you used, is soap based so it will not take out any serious stains on the garment. It does say to "sponge on neat" to serious stains before washing with the product so you could try that.

Otherwise I would lightly scrub the stained area with nail brush using a normal fragrance free hair shampoo and wash off before using the Tech Wash. It is what I use to clean the insides of my helmet."

Yep, I used the Nikwax Tech wash and overall it is cleaner. When I have time, I will try applying it on the stains with a tooth or other stiff brush. If no progress with that, then fragrance free shampoo sounds worth a try.

"I finally sat down one night with a bottle of Simple Green and a cloth and in about 30 minutes had removed every stain from the exterior of the jacket. I think took it in the shower and rinsed it with cold water. "

Hmmm....simple green. The other thing I found works in a pinch is the dollar store orange degreaser/cleaner. When my hi viz work shirt got gunked up from iron in the well water, it definitely helped remove the stains until I went to the store for "iron out".

"Have you consulted a "professional" cleaner?"

Not yet, but I will keep that option open if none of the other plans work. Like others here, I really like the jacket, and not to discredit the pro cleaners, but just like some of us are picky about who they let work on their bikes, even though cleaning is not rocket science, I am real hesitant to let just anyone work on my motorcycle specific gear.

"...then next trip out I rode to Florida during "Love Bug" season.

The suit got excessively covered in goo that would certainly have ruined the jacket and pants if it was allowed to dry. It was a Hot spring day and the only choice I found was to go to a car wash. I clipped the jacket and pants up on the floor mat washing board and let the suit have it. Bubbly soap and pressure wash. It came out amazingly clean and the soap even had a pleasant smell. "

OMG Vern, lovebugs are the worst! I am still finding remnants of them in crevices of formerly used in Florida helmet. There's another type of gummy bug that lives in stagnant water in Lake County, and when your ride through clouds of them, not only are they gummy, but they smell like dead, rotting fish! Don't remember what type of bug they were but Ewwwwwwwwe! Genius idea, going to the car wash!

Oh, another favorite of mine is the Army worms in Minnesota. Yuck! Was glad my jacket is almost the same color as Army worm guts! We just have Miller Moths here in Colorful Colorado.

Thanks again everyone! Will keep you posted. B.
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Skifastbadly
Posted on Wednesday, June 03, 2015 - 02:10 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Can't help, I am completely unfamiliar with the concept of washing a jacket. Perhaps I ride in the rain too frequently.
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Fltwistygirl
Posted on Wednesday, June 03, 2015 - 02:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The gummy bug from the stagnant Florida water is called a blind mosquito, BTW.
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Fltwistygirl
Posted on Wednesday, June 03, 2015 - 02:39 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Hahahaha, Ski.

It's been feeling quite "Pacific North Wet"
here this spring. 300+ sunny days, my a#$.

Hope MN is a little drier....
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Figorvonbuellingham
Posted on Wednesday, June 03, 2015 - 05:04 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

you could always just wash it in harsh whatever and then reseal it by mixing 1 tube of 100% pure clear silicone caulking with 1 quart of odor free mineral spirits. Brush on.

Or just buy new stuff.

(Message edited by figorvonbuellingham on June 03, 2015)
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Uly_man
Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2015 - 10:04 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I have to say, given what has been said here and what I have know from others, I do not much relish the idea of riding a bike in the Southern states.
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Etennuly
Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2015 - 11:48 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

relish the idea of riding a bike in the Southern states.

Don't worry, relish will wash off to!

My wife found that the odor of my jacket was becoming offensive one summer day several years ago. I next found it hanging out on the clothes line to dry. She read the instructions on the label and just tossed it in the washer.

If you think about it "ballistic material" has to mean something. How can a simple run through a washer hurt that?
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Buewulf
Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2015 - 01:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

As someone who lives in the Houston TX area, I wash riding gear pretty often. Here is what I have always done. For reference, this almost matches the washing instructions for my new Klim gear verbatim.

For stains: My wife always has Shout pre-wash stain treatment in the cabinet. That's what I use for the grimy stains.

Machine wash warm with a mild liquid detergent. (I use All Clear.) For your waterproof/resistant stuff, put it through a second rinse and spin cycle with no soap to make sure you get all of the detergent out.

Dry on medium heat until it is completely dry. (My Klim stuff says to throw it in the dryer for an additional 20 minutes AFTER it has dried to reactivate the DWR on the shell. That is something I have never done in the past with my other gear, but I always left the gear in the dryer for a looong time to be sure it was completely dry. So I probably got the same effect.)

Boom. Done.

When water doesn't bead on the shell anymore, apply your favorite DWR.
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Figorvonbuellingham
Posted on Friday, June 05, 2015 - 05:23 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I don't think washing hurt the material its the coating that gets messed up. I hadn't washed mine in about 60,000 miles. I could no longer take the stench so I washed it. It was about as waterproof as a cotton shirt after that.
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Buewulf
Posted on Friday, June 05, 2015 - 07:08 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

"It was about as waterproof as a cotton shirt after that."

You can retreat that with Nikwax or Revivex.
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Figorvonbuellingham
Posted on Friday, June 05, 2015 - 11:26 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Yeh I will probably use the concoction I mentioned above. I bought a new coat also. Motorcyclegear.com has all if good closeout prices. Thats where I go the one I put 60,000 miles on and I think I paid $80 for it. Its a Tourmaster convertible. Shell comes off and the mesh liner can be worn with the protective equipment in it. Its a great jacket.
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