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* Spray-on (on wet fabric) is better than wash-in
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* Grangers Xtreme worked better than Nixwax (Question if any difference between Grangers Performance series which is similar to Nixwax)
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* Drying with iron (over cloth) is done by Evelina and working well (enough temperature is needed for treatment to take effect)
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- Removing greass (current plan):
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* Wash with standard washing deteragent.
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* Carefully, clean the remnants of deteragent in clear watter and wash again in sport-wash.
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* Nixwax Tech Wash - will clean dirty clothes (very important as dirt completely
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kills DWR) and slightly repair watter repelency (very slightly on new or recently
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treated items and with heat drying).
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* DWR sprays (Nixwax TX Direct) - are intended to really recover watter repelency.
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They should applied to already clean garments. There are two application variants.
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- Wash In: i.e. second washing with Nixwax TX Direct after cleaning it with
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Nixwax Tech Wash. This has advantage that all parts of the fabric are fully
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covered. Howver, some people complain that it could make some problems for the
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inner layer (don't know as I have only tried with Nixwas and it is crap anyway).
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- Spray On: The grament is well sprayed after washing (while it is still wet).
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In this case, the focus may be given to really problematic parts (like shoulders).
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I prefer this variant at the moment.
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* There are also several types of DWR sprays
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- Based on C6 fluorocarbon (PFC). This ones are bad for ecology and not readily available any more.
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However, worked beter than first eco-friendly versions (and may be are still better anyway)
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Require heat activation to have effect: tumble drying or ironing trough the cloth.
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- Eco-friendly combinations which seems slightly differ between producers. Grangers uses APT which
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is a blend of synthetic fluorocarbon-free polymers. Such combinations do not require heat activation.
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=> So far I have only tested Nixwax: It is garbage, but gets a bit better if you use heat anyway (but
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may be it was just helping remaining original DWR in the fabric)
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* Acteryx recommends to use Spray-On. It should be applied directly after washing on wet clothes. After, application
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the heat drying is recommended (however, Nixwax claims it is not needed). On other hand, it said that heat may destroy
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watter-proof zips and care should be taken. Acterix recommends tumble drying on low settings (see their docs for details),
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I have tried to use electric heater with fan and it seems fine.
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- Tumble dryer low settings is under 40C for 40 to 50 minutes (Arcteryx)
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* Trousers with new Gortex tech should not be left wet at all. Imediate drying is required.
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* Softshell, etc. can be also treated with DWR but it will hold much less. I tried wash-in and it was fine.
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Hi, I'm a product development chemist at Nikwax and hopefully I can help. I'm not just talking from a biased point
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of view either having owned a Paramo jacket for over 10 years (far longer than I've been at Nikwax!).
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The two technologies that we at Nikwax and Grangers use are somewhat different. Nikwax do not use the fluorocarbons
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used in Grangers products (xtreme, but not performance series which are similiar to nixwax). Fluorocarbons require
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heating to activate (not a problem with your Paramo garment) and have a dubious environmental and health record
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(ask yourself why 3M completely withdrew ScotchGard from the market!).
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Performance wise, Nikwax technology, as well as being optimised for Paramo garments, offers a longer lasting DWR
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than a fluorocarbon product. The fluorocarbon product may give a better appearance with the beading, but the effects
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are largely superficial. Our lab trials show this.
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If you've found that your Paramo is wetting out sooner than expected with Nikwax treatments, it may be in need of a
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little more TLC than a soap based cleaner (like Tech Wash) can offer. Soap based cleaners are great at removing dirt,
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but not so effective at getting rid of grease. Unfortunately, grease builds up over time from perspiration and the like.
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Therefore your Paramo sounds like it needs a good detergent wash (and if it's not been done in while a dry clean).
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After that, wash it in Tech Wash again (to remove the detergent) and then reproof with TX-Direct. Bang!
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Fluorocarbon-trouncing performance!
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Nikwax TX-Direct Wash In can work better with tumble drying, but it is very dependent on fabric. There tends to be very little
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difference with Paramo garments. My tried and trusted 10 year old Paramo jacket has been reproofed every 6 months with TX-Direct
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(and it's predecessor TX-10i) and I've not had access to a tumble dryer.
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Several persons though complain, - I've also found that Paramo (and other) waterproofs wet out much more quickly if not tumble dried.
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- Do we need "Granger's Xtreme Repel Spray" requiring thumble drying? (fluorocarbon-based process)
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Or we are fine with Nixwax technology. How to clean dirt from my GoreTex?
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Arcteryx proposes to wash with deteregent and, then, clean wash with TechWash.
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Is it OK? Which detergent? Any other option? Chemical cleaning (distilled solvent
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rinse and a stray-repellan)? Anyway can we just buy liquid soap instead (Soap Flakes)?
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http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/596688.html (Spray 'n Wash?)
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https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/rainwear-dwr.html