Product Care
The easiest way to reduce the environmental impact of a garment is to prolong its life and, although we create very durable products, it is important to care for them correctly. Two simple things you can do to take care of your Elevenate products – and the environment – are to wash them properly and repair them when they break.
Wash correctly
Different fabrics need different kinds of care. Washing your products correctly can both contribute to reducing their environmental impact and extending their life.
General advice
- Do not use softener when washing any functional garment, as it will inactivate the durable water repellent (DWR). If you use softener when washing your regular clothes, make sure you clean and rinse your washing machine before washing functional garments.
- Close all zippers and Velcro fasteners, as this will prevent them from tearing other garments.
- Use eco-labelled detergent to reduce environmental impact; choose one that is biodegradable to avoid releasing hazardous chemicals.
- Do not overdose detergent as it might stain the garments.
- Use a laundry bag for delicate fabrics, to prevent other garments damaging them.
- For garments that are DWR-treated, tumble dry or heat them in another way to reactivate the DWR, in accordance with the care label.
Skiwear with a waterproof membrane
Wash at 40°C on a gentle cycle. Use a liquid detergent, preferably OrganoTex BioCare Textile Wash. BioCare is a special detergent for waterproof fabrics that are DWR-treated; it leaves no chemical residues in the fabric and is easily biodegradable, almost entirely bio-based and highly concentrated. Once washed, line dry or tumble dry the product. When dry, tumble dry for another 20 minutes or iron (max temperature 150°C) to reactivate the water-repellent treatment.
Synthetic insulated jackets and 4-way stretch pants
Wash at 40°C on a gentle cycle. Use a liquid detergent, preferably OrganoTex BioCare Textile Wash. Line or tumble dry at a low temperature, according to the care label. Once washed, line dry or tumble dry the product. When dry, tumble dry for another 20 minutes more or iron (max temperature 150°C) to reactivate the water-repellent treatment.
Down jackets
Wash at 40°C on a gentle cycle. Use a down-specific liquid detergent or a liquid detergent. Tumble dry on a cool setting for 1–4 hours, checking the garment every 30 minutes. Carefully turn it inside-out and spread the down by hand. Do not use tennis balls because they may break the down. After drying, hang it in a cool place for a day and fluff up to ensure the down is completely dry. Be patient while your down garment is drying, and do not store it compressed so it retains its warming abilities.
Synthetic down jackets should be dried in the same way as regular down, but the time to dry will not be as long.
Synthetic mid layers - fleece
Wash at 40°C on a gentle cycle using liquid detergent. Line or tumble dry at a low temperature. When you wash a synthetic fleece garment, use a special bag that collects microfibres so you reduce the amount of microplastics released to the ocean.
Wool – merino wool, wool fleece, lambswool
Airing your wool garment after each use will reduce the need to wash it. When machine washing, do it on gentle cycle and low temperature, preferably on a wool program with wool-specific detergent. Do not use a softener, as this will interfere with the garment’s ability to manage your body temperature and moisture. Do not tumble dry. Dry your garment flat.
Cotton
Wash inside out at 40°C with similar colours. Line or tumble dry at a low temperature and reshape whilst damp. Iron on the inside if printed.