All of our garments have cleaning instructions on a tag inside the garment. You will most likely find the tag stitched in a seam on the garment. If you have any questions about cleaning your product, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01-2149352 or email us at info@53degreesnorth.ie.
JACKETS
Q1: How do I wash my waterproof Gore-Tex® jacket?
Washing your Gore-Tex® jacket will not hurt it. In fact, washing your jacket regularly will help maintain the DWR coating on the outside of the fabric, which causes water to bead up and shed off, rather than being absorbed.
Be sure to zip all zippers, and close all Velcro® fasteners before you wash your jacket. Please use the Tech Wash from Nik Wax or a mild powder detergent. Liquid detergents can leave a residue on your jacket that will interfere with the DWR performance. You can wash your jacket in a regular washing machine, in cold water, on a gentle cycle. Put it through the rinse cycle twice, to be sure the detergent residue washes out. You can dry your jacket in a low temperature dryer, and if necessary, use a cool iron. Do not use bleach or fabric softeners, dry clean, or store when wet.
Q2: How do I wash my down jacket?
Periodic cleaning of down jackets is essential to maintaining maximum loft and ensuring the long life of the product. Though it is possible to wash your own down product, we recommend that you have your jacket, pant or sleeping bag professionally cleaned by a service that specializes in cleaning down.
PANTS
Q1: How do I wash my waterproof Gore-Tex® pants?
Washing your Gore-Tex® pant will not hurt it. In fact, washing your pant regularly will help maintain the DWR coating on the outside of the fabric, which causes water to bead up and shed off, rather than being absorbed.
Be sure to zip all zippers, and close all Velcro® fasteners before you wash your pant. Please use the Tech Wash from Nik Wax or a mild powder detergent. Liquid detergents can leave a residue on your pant that will interfere with the DWR performance. You can wash your pant in a regular washing machine, in cold water, on a gentle cycle. Put it through the rinse cycle twice, to be sure the detergent residue washes out. You can dry your pant in a low temperature dryer, and if necessary, use a cool iron. Do not use bleach or fabric softeners, dry clean, or store when wet.
Q2: How do I wash my down pants?
Periodic cleaning of down pants is essential to maintaining maximum loft and ensuring the long life of the product. Though it is possible to wash your own down product, we recommend that you have your jacket, pant or sleeping bag professionally cleaned by a service that specializes in cleaning down.
FOOTWEAR
Q1: How do I extend the life of my footwear?
Here are a few tips to help you to care for your boots or shoes.
(1) Use a silicon-based weatherproofing agent to protect your leather footwear against the elements. There are several different products on the but our footwear experts recommend Nikwax Waterproofing Systems, the industry standard for treatment to leather boots.
(2) Make sure to clean your shoes after use, as mud and dirt getting into the fabric can cause fiber decay. It is a common error to machine wash shoes. Instead, use hot water, a rag and a cleansing agent to clean the footwear. To dry, stuff shoes and air-dry for best results.
(3) Store footwear in a cool, dry place to ensure they last as long as you do on that long run or hike.
SLEEPING BAGS
Q1: What is the best way to store my sleeping bag by The North Face?
The following is a list of general care instructions to help maintain the quality of your sleeping bag. Please refer to the care label attached to your sleeping bag for more specific instructions.
(1) Store your bag in the provided large nylon/mesh bag (instead of a stuffsack or compression sack) to maintain the bag's loft throughout its lifespan. Storing your sleeping bag in a small sack constricts the insulation and may be harmful for an extended amount of time.
(2) When not using your sleeping bag, store it in a cool, dry place.
(3) It is imperative to completely dry the sleeping bag before storage. If the bag is stored when wet or damp, you run the risk of mildew growth. The most efficient way to do this is to air-dry the bag outside, avoiding direct exposure to the sun. When drying, alternately turn the bag inside out. This allows for the insulation to dry more rapidly through the lining materials as well as helping to freshen the sleeping bag.
Q2: Feathers seem to be leaking from my down jacket/sleeping bag. Is this normal?
In the case of products manufactured with goose down, it is natural for some of the down and feathers to escape through the fabric, particularly in the seams. The sharp quills of the feathers can poke tiny holes in the fabric and work their way through to the outside. It is normal for this to happen, particularly in newer products when the down has not had an opportunity to settle. There is no reason for alarm, and this phenomenon should not affect the insulating property of your product. To minimize the amount of down that escapes, simply pull the down back through the underside of the fabric and massage the fabric and down underneath. This will cause the "hole" or separation in the fabric fibers to close up.
Q3: How do I wash my down sleeping bag?
Periodic cleaning of down sleeping bags is essential to maintaining maximum loft and ensuring the long life of the product. Though it is possible to wash your own down product, we recommend that you have your jacket or sleeping bag professionally cleaned by a service that specializes in cleaning down.
Q4: How do I wash my synthetic sleeping bag?
We recommend that you use a commercial sized, front loading washing machine to wash your synthetic sleeping bag. Wash in warm water with a mild powder detergent. Rinse several times to remove all the dirty, soapy water. An extra spin cycle will also remove excess water. Line dry. Be sure your bag is completely dry before storing.
