If you’re wearing your EE gear, it’s probably going to get dirty. It might even begin to take on a particular woodsy scent. So save your hiking buddies (and yourself) by washing it! As a bonus, washing your gear also helps maintain water repellency and loft.
These instructions will cover how to wash synthetic and non-insulated accessories such as Torrid jackets, Copperfield wind pants and shirts, Sidekicks, and Stronghold mittens, to name a few. For quilts, check out our quilt washing instructions. If you’re not sure whether an item is down or synthetic, reach out to customer support for clarification.
- Get a gear-specific soap. It should say tech wash or performance wash. You can shop Granger's Performance Wash here.
- Fill a sink or bucket with the appropriate amount of water for the amount of detergent you will be using. Warm water is fine, just make sure it isn’t scalding hot.
- Read the directions on the soap to determine the correct amount of detergent to add to the water. Try to use the least amount recommended, as using too much makes it harder to rinse thoroughly.
- Follow the washing instructions on the soap. I like to leave my gear soaking for a short time, and then gently swirl it and press the soap through all the fabric and insulation. If there are heavily soiled or stained spots, you can rub them gently with a washcloth or bandanna.
- Rinse thoroughly until the water runs clear. You may need to rinse two or three times.
- Press all the water out, then tumble dry on NO HEAT or hang to dry. If you use a dryer, make sure there are no hot spots before you begin.
We recommend hand washing because it’s more gentle on the ultralight fabrics. Enlightened Equipment is not responsible for any damage that occurs during washing or drying.