How to clean and proof the proper way with Nikwax…

Ok, you've just taken the plunge and treated yourself to new jacket for yourself, a new winter rug for your horse and your riding boots are caked in mud and mould and leaking…

So, what do you do when it all needs cleaning? Well, you probably bung your jacket and rug (if you can get away with it) in the washing machine with a good heap of your favourite washing powder and give it a whirl!

Why do I need to clean and proof?
Garment Care
Looking after your Horse's Kit
Footwear Care
Nikwax Environmental Ethos

Unfortunately for you, that's the worst thing you can do as you'll potentially ruin an expensive piece of your regalia by washing it in the wrong stuff.

As for your boots, well you probably don't bother and leave them to clean themselves - sound familiar?!

Modern waterproof and breathable fabrics have properties that ensure you stay warm, dry and comfortable, but washing the dirt and grime out with regular washing detergents is just far too harsh. Washing powders and liquids contain elements that will not only strip any waterproofing qualities your kit may have, but they also leave residues which attract water and allows moisture to absorb into the fabric, reducing insulating qualities and ability to breathe. That's why some of your favourite clothing, footwear or equipment doesn't work as well as when you first bought it. Properly maintained garments and footwear enhance performance, ensure comfort and protect you from wet weather and heat loss. Thorough maintenance includes regular cleaning and periodic re-application of the right waterproofing product.

Whilst this is a guide to cleaning and waterproofing your garments, footwear and horse's kit, it is essential that you always read your care label first or give the customer care team at Nikwax® a call and they will point you in the right direction of the appropriate product to use. They can be contacted on 01892 76400 or visit www.nikwax.com

Why do I need to clean and proof?

A durable water-repellent coating (DWR) is applied by manufacturers to the outer material of clothing, footwear and equipment. This makes water droplets sit on the fabric surface when it's raining and not soak into the fabric. This is called 'beading'.

If the fabric surface is dirty, the dirt attracts and holds water - It 'wets out', reducing its insulating qualities and ability to breathe.

Modern waterproof and breathable fabrics (eg. Gore-Tex®, Ultrex®, Entrant®, SympaTex®, Triple Point® or eVENT®) allow sweat vapour to escape and keep water out.

However, when the surface material is saturated with water, sweat cannot escape due to reduced breathability impairing the performance of the waterproof membrane.

The DWR can be refreshed by cleaning and re-proofing with the appropriate Nikwax® product.

Proper maintenance = enhanced performance, aids comfort and prolongs the life of your gear

Garment Care

Choosing the right product for garment maintenance is easy. For cleaning any type of clothing from fleece tops, to insulated riding jackets use Nikwax® Tech Wash, a wash-in non-detergent cleaner. For cleaning all down filled garments, use Nikwax® Down Wash. Both can be used in a washing machine or by hand wash.

After cleaning, waterproof your garment with an appropriate Nikwax® proofer. Simply leave your garment in the washing machine and run another cycle to waterproof. An added bonus of using Nikwax® is that it is environmentally friendly, so you can be assured that you won't choke from any fumes, emit any CFC's or pollute our water system. Plus Nikwax® doesn't require heat to activate the water-repellency, simply leave it to air-dry.

Nikwax® offers a range of waterproofers depending on the fabric of the garment. For example for proofing a down filled jacket use, Nikwax® Down Proof, for a fleece use Nikwax® PolarProof, for breathable waterproofs use Nikwax® TX.Direct® or use Nikwax® Cotton proof if you have a cotton jacket - Remember always check your care label first!

Looking after your Horse's Kit

Caring for your horse's equipment regularly with Nikwax® cleaning and waterproofing products will extend their life, especially in wet weather. Just as you clean and proof your own garments, your horse rug will need regular cleaning and proofing to maintain breathability. Wash first with Nikwax® Rug Wash, a non-detergent soap cleaner. Rug Wash can be used in a washing machine (if your rug fits!) or by hand. After cleaning and whilst still wet, either run another cycle with Nikwax® Rug Proof or sponge on to add water repellency. By proofing your horse rug it will maintain insulation and keep your horse warm and dry. Simply leave to air dry or tumble dry on a low setting if the care label allows.

Or if it all seems too much like hard work and you'd rather somebody else did it, Nikwax® Rug Wash & Rug Proof are used by the best rug laundries to care for your horse's rugs. Just ask your local laundry about Nikwax®.

Do you ever find that your leather tack gets mouldy especially during the wet and damp months? Nikwax® offer product to keep leather tack gleaming during the wet and muddy weather. Nikwax® Leather Cleaner safely cleans, revitalises the look and feel of leather. It's easy to apply, simply wipe the surface of the leather item with a damp cloth or rinse under water to remove surface dirt. Use a soft brush if necessary. Then lay the item on a flat surface and spray evenly to outside of the item. Rub in well and then wipe with a clean damp cloth. Whilst the leather is still damp, apply Nikwax® Leather Restorer. Apply evenly to outside of the item, wait for 2 minutes and remove surplus product with a lint free cloth. Buff to a shine!

Footwear Care

Now, your boots - proper maintenance of footwear enhances performance, aids comfort and prolongs the life of your boots. Cleaning is important because accumulated dirt is harmful to footwear on several levels. Firstly dirt attracts and holds water causing the fabric or leather to 'wet out'. Secondly, accumulated dirt attracts bacteria that eat away leather and stitching. Thirdly, particles of dirt abrade the material fibres and finally caked on dirt removes natural oils from leather.

It's easy and only takes a few minutes to ensure you have warm and dry feet. Simply wet your boots under running water and clean of any surplus dirt and mud, use a soft brush if necessary. We then suggest you occasionally use Nikwax® Footwear Cleaning Gel. Clean all areas and work into surface area. Then rinse with cold water. Repeat the process with an appropriate
Nikwax® footwear waterproofer (such as Nikwax® Aqueous Wax for shiny leathers or Nubuck and Suede Proof for boots that are not shiny) whilst your boots are damp. Leave for a few of minutes and wipe away any surplus with a damp clean cloth. If you're cleaning the whole boot including the insides, we suggest you leave them to dry at room temperature. Again, the good thing about Nikwax® is that it's WaterBased, so Nikwax® goes where the water goes.

Nikwax Environmental Ethos

At Nikwax® we firmly believe in producing safe products and wherever possible will not use components that have health or environmental concerns.

Our commitment to WaterBased emulsions means that our cleaning and waterproofing range is environmentally safe. There are no chemical solvents or fluorocarbons. They are non-toxic, non-flammable and do not expel fumes, which means that Nikwax® products do not contribute to global warming or ozone depletion.

Nikwax® WaterBased products contain much higher concentrations of proofing agents (up to 35%), meaning less frequent applications, less waste and substantially less harm to the environment. We also seek to improve the recyclability of our packaging to reduce waste.

In addition, the use of Nikwax® products improves the performance and extends the life of outdoor clothing, footwear and equipment, thereby reducing the consumption of materials and energy that would be needed to replace these items. Fewer items in land-fills too!

Experience the Nikwax® philosophy yourself.

Nikwax®, the EASIER, SAFER way to stay warm and DRY outdoors.

For more information : and advice, please contact us,
Tel: 01892 786400
Fax: 01892 783748
Email: info@nikwax.com
Website: www.nikwax.com
Write to: Nikwax Ltd, Unit F, Durgates Industrial Estate, Wadhurst, East Sussex, TN5 6DF