What washing powder for cycling gear?

rodgers73
rodgers73 Posts: 2,626
edited May 2014 in Road general
No, not looking for a brand as such but wondered if stuff with fabric conditioner in it can mess up waterproof or breathable membranes?

I heard it can do but that was ages ago.

If I haven't got the wrong end of the stick here, does it also have any impact on things like baselayers?

Apologies if all this is nonsense!
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Comments

  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,317
    Look no further... :lol:

    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/ass ... rrency=GBP
    left the forum March 2023
  • rodgers73
    rodgers73 Posts: 2,626
    Oh lord! I'm going to have to get that stuff as I've just bought some of their gear.

    How about for the usual bog standard stuff though? Daz ok?
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Just never use conditioner on any sports stuff.

    I either use Assos or Halo Sports Wash depending on what it is and what I have.

    Must get some more Assos from Evans ;-)
  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    Best stuff to use? Assos if you've money to burn and aren't washing wool. Halo is cheaper but only seems available from Sainburys but isn't suitable for wool. Best and cheapest? Either Grannys soap flakes or Liquid Soap by DP or Wilkinsons soap flakes. These items are just soap and as such you can use them on wool/lycra/polyester etc. My partner and I have a lot of cycle kit as we commute most days and it's Rapha/Assos/Castelli so it's an expensive wash. Avoid bio wash - it has enzymes that eat the lycra and fabric conditioner strips the proofing off eg Nanoflex/No-Rain stuff. I wouldn't use Daz but that's my choice. I'm not washing £100+ shorts in some save-money general powder. However Assos clothing and wash aren't magical. Any of the products I recommended do the job well.
    M.Rushton
  • darkhairedlord
    darkhairedlord Posts: 7,180
    Liquid soap flakes from waitrose.
  • rodgers73
    rodgers73 Posts: 2,626
    darkhairedlord wrote:
    Liquid soap flakes from waitrose.

    Any particular reason?
  • owenlars
    owenlars Posts: 719
    Soap flakes don't knacker DWR coatings like biological washing compounds do to waterproofs and are also good for merino fabrics.
  • rodgers73
    rodgers73 Posts: 2,626
    owenlars wrote:
    Soap flakes don't knacker DWR coatings like biological washing compounds do to waterproofs and are also good for merino fabrics.


    Good enough for me. They're on my shopping list.
  • d_o_g
    d_o_g Posts: 286
    What is wrong with you people? How do you even have the capacity to consider this sort of stuff, let alone get to the point of spending cold hard cash on special detergent?

    Just bung it in the wash with everything else, can't say I've ever had a problem.
  • rodgers73
    rodgers73 Posts: 2,626
    When the gear costs as much as £185 its not bonkers to buy a detergent that doesnt knacker it. The liquid soap I'm going to buy off the back of this thread costs £3.50 for a normal size bottle of washing goo. Not sure what the issue is?
  • kajjal
    kajjal Posts: 3,380
    For most a very small amount of washing power and a quick 15 minute low temp wash is fine. For coated or treated check the manufacturers recommendations.
  • jezzpalmer
    jezzpalmer Posts: 389
    I use Halo.
  • simon_masterson
    simon_masterson Posts: 2,740
    D O G wrote:
    What is wrong with you people? How do you even have the capacity to consider this sort of stuff, let alone get to the point of spending cold hard cash on special detergent?

    Just bung it in the wash with everything else, can't say I've ever had a problem.

    Do you use a special lube rather than 3-in-1?
    Retro(ish) TT 2017-
    Fixed TT 2015-2016
  • johnny25
    johnny25 Posts: 344
    Simon Masterson wrote:
    D O G wrote:
    What is wrong with you people? How do you even have the capacity to consider this sort of stuff, let alone get to the point of spending cold hard cash on special detergent?

    Just bung it in the wash with everything else, can't say I've ever had a problem.

    Do you use a special lube rather than 3-in-1?

    I think that would completely f**k your clothes and the washing machine up.
  • mfin
    mfin Posts: 6,729
    johnny25 wrote:
    Simon Masterson wrote:
    D O G wrote:
    What is wrong with you people? How do you even have the capacity to consider this sort of stuff, let alone get to the point of spending cold hard cash on special detergent?

    Just bung it in the wash with everything else, can't say I've ever had a problem.

    Do you use a special lube rather than 3-in-1?

    I think that would completely f**k your clothes and the washing machine up.

    Why?

    Is it (a) because you think a specific bike lube in your wash would ruin your clothes and washing machine, or is it (b) that your joke doesn't make sense at all because you didn't actually read or understand what was being said?
  • simonj
    simonj Posts: 346
    Halo, whilst most non bio powers may be ok, because of the low temp you have to wash kit at it can sometimes start to smell after a while. Halo has anti bacterial stuff in it that works at that low temp so gets the smell out. Tesco do a cheap and easy to get hold of alternative also. Never bung your kit in with your other stuff as it will probably be at the wrong temperature and will probably also have conditioner in there. It's not about getting geeky even to the degree of your washing powder, it's just about looking after your expensive kit or even if it is not expensive to stop your kit from smelling which it will after a while. I've have some old gym kit and walking gear that has been washed with normal non bio stuff for years that was really starting to pong, even if I gave it the odd wash at a higher than recommended temp, did one was with Halo and the smell went straight away.
  • thegreatdivide
    thegreatdivide Posts: 5,807
    Any non bio liquid detergent will do for Lycra, merino and sports wool. Wash at 30C. I like the concentrated stuff from tesco. I've got a lot of high end kit (some of it very high end) and some of it is entering its third year if use. Non damage whatsoever from washing this way.

    Buy some Nikwax of whatever DWR treatment takes your fancy for waterproofs and proof every few months.
  • casatikid
    casatikid Posts: 229
    Overpriced stuff just isn't worth it.All you need is to use Non Bio and wash at 30 degrees.I use this for Assos and cheaper kit and its perfectly ok.Just don't use conditioner.
  • on-yer-bike
    on-yer-bike Posts: 2,974
    liquid for wool and silk that you put in a plastic ball. 15 mins unless very dirty. slow spin
    Pegoretti
    Colnago
    Cervelo
    Campagnolo
  • rodgers73
    rodgers73 Posts: 2,626
    Try Napisan to kill germs on your kit. Just discovered this as a result of daughter's arrival. You just add it to ordinary washing powder/gel.
  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    D O G wrote:
    What is wrong with you people? How do you even have the capacity to consider this sort of stuff, let alone get to the point of spending cold hard cash on special detergent?

    Just bung it in the wash with everything else, can't say I've ever had a problem.

    I appreciate the thought but when your bike wash is approaching £1000 in cost and you realise you've prob got 3 x that in the wardrobe then you need to take care of it. Your thought on this is the same as mine re high end gear systems and aero/carbon wheels.
    M.Rushton
  • thegreatdivide
    thegreatdivide Posts: 5,807
    mrushton wrote:
    D O G wrote:
    What is wrong with you people? How do you even have the capacity to consider this sort of stuff, let alone get to the point of spending cold hard cash on special detergent?

    Just bung it in the wash with everything else, can't say I've ever had a problem.

    I appreciate the thought but when your bike wash is approaching £1000 in cost and you realise you've prob got 3 x that in the wardrobe then you need to take care of it. Your though on this is the same as mine re high end gear systems and aero/carbon wheels.

    I don't want to get all vtech on you but I'm quite happy to wash my bordering on ridiculous collection of Rapha, Assos and Etxeondo kit in the machine at 30 using tesco non bio. You do not need fancy washing liquid. Simple as.
  • d_o_g
    d_o_g Posts: 286
    Simon Masterson wrote:
    D O G wrote:
    What is wrong with you people? How do you even have the capacity to consider this sort of stuff, let alone get to the point of spending cold hard cash on special detergent?

    Just bung it in the wash with everything else, can't say I've ever had a problem.

    Do you use a special lube rather than 3-in-1?

    I don't use special lube, no.

    I go in dry. 8)
  • simon_masterson
    simon_masterson Posts: 2,740
    That'll be ProGold, then. :lol:

    The fact is that a dedicated sports wash gives the antibacterial properties that regular non-bio does not, and Halo costs about the same anyway. Can't say it keeps me awake at night if I wash my kit with normal detergent, but I do like Halo. Tesco do a cheap sportswear detergent as well.

    Either way, no more ridiculous than using something more expensive than 3-in-1 to oil your chain. It's not as if anyone has yet suggested giving your shorts the Sky treatment with UV sterilisation...
    Retro(ish) TT 2017-
    Fixed TT 2015-2016
  • Sprool
    Sprool Posts: 1,022
    oh good grief, what has this forum come to?
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    Just a very small amount of normal non bio detergent - enough to break the surface tension. Seems to work for me.

    Just got an NSPCC Tour of Yorkshire jersey through the post. The label on that says "Professional dry clean recommended" :lol:
    Faster than a tent.......
  • overlord2
    overlord2 Posts: 339
    Just go for any anionic surfactant. Make sure you read the label because some contain bleaching agents and optical brightners which you dont want.

    Found some in a pound shop :lol:
  • darkhairedlord
    darkhairedlord Posts: 7,180
    Sprool wrote:
    oh good grief, what has this forum come to?

    It's like a time warp has sent us back to the 1970's and "houseparty"
    http://www.skooldays.com/blog/houseparty/

    Thinking of crochet for my next jersey...
  • drlodge
    drlodge Posts: 4,826
    What's with all the recommendations for non-bio? I use Tesco bio detergent: purple topped for colours, green top for whites.
    WyndyMilla Massive Attack | Rourke 953 | Condor Italia 531 Pro | Boardman CX Pro | DT Swiss RR440 Tubeless Wheels
    Find me on Strava
  • thegreatdivide
    thegreatdivide Posts: 5,807
    drlodge wrote:
    What's with all the recommendations for non-bio? I use Tesco bio detergent: purple topped for colours, green top for whites.

    Most sportswear manufacturers recommend that you use non bio. Biological washing isn’t good for lycra.

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