Care Instructions
In general, we wash our clothes far too often. Washing wears down and fades our clothing. Avoid washing if the garment is not too dirty – instead, air it out frequently.
How to care for garments with Chevalite
Follow the garment’s washing instructions found on the label inside the garment.
- Close all buttons, zippers, buckles, and Velcro straps.
- To reduce wear on the garment’s waterproof membrane, wash it inside out.
- Wash with a small amount of liquid detergent.
- Do not use fabric softener, as it can negatively affect the garment’s water resistance.
- Rinse the garment twice and spin as little as possible to avoid wrinkles.
- Hang dry or tumble dry at low speed if the garment allows it – check the care label.
- Reactivate the garment’s water resistance with heat. Use an iron without steam and carefully press with a towel or cloth between the iron and the garment. Some garments allow the impregnation to be reactivated in a tumble dryer or drying cabinet – follow the recommended temperature on the care label.
- The water resistance will gradually wash away. The garment will need re-impregnation. Choose an environmentally friendly PFC-free impregnation. Impregnation that is washed in or sprayed on can be purchased at well-stocked sports and outdoor stores.
How to care for garments with Gore-Tex
- Follow the garment’s washing instructions found on the label inside the garment.
- Avoid washing the garment together with heavily soiled clothing to prevent the microscopic pores of the Gore-Tex membrane from clogging.
- Close all buttons, zippers, buckles, and Velcro straps.
- Wash with a small amount of liquid detergent.
- Do not use powder detergent, fabric softener, stain removers, or bleach, as they can negatively affect the garment’s water resistance.
- Rinse the garment twice and spin as little as possible to avoid wrinkles.
- Hang dry or tumble dry at low speed if the garment allows it – check the care label.
- Reactivate the garment’s water resistance with heat. Use an iron without steam and carefully press with a towel or cloth between the iron and the garment. Some garments allow the impregnation to be reactivated in a tumble dryer or drying cabinet – follow the recommended temperature on the care label.
- The water resistance will gradually wash away. The garment will need re-impregnation. Choose an environmentally friendly PFC-free impregnation. Impregnation that is washed in or sprayed on can be purchased at well-stocked sports and outdoor stores.
How to care for Infinium / Softshell garments
Follow the garment’s washing instructions found on the label inside the garment.
- Close all buttons, zippers, buckles, and Velcro straps.
- Do not use fabric softener, as it may reduce the garment’s performance.
- Preferably hang dry – these garments dry quickly.
- Reactivate the garment’s water resistance with heat. Use an iron, tumble dryer, or drying cabinet according to the recommended temperature on the care label.
- The water resistance will gradually wash away. The garment will need re-impregnation. Choose an environmentally friendly PFC-free impregnation. Impregnation can be purchased at well-stocked sports and outdoor stores.
How to care for PU garments
Follow the garment’s washing instructions found on the label inside the garment.
- PU garments are windproof and waterproof and do not need impregnation to maintain their water resistance.
- If your PU garment gets dirty, wipe it off with a damp cloth.
- If it needs washing, machine wash at 40 degrees and spin briefly.
- Turn the garment inside out after washing to speed up drying.
- Hang dry at room temperature. PU material can be damaged and dry out if exposed to heat from drying cabinets or tumble dryers.
How to care for Fleece garments
Follow the garment’s washing instructions found on the label inside the garment.
- To protect your fleece garment and minimize microfiber leakage, it is recommended to use a washing bag that captures microfibers. Dispose of the microfibers in the trash rather than rinsing them down the drain.
- Close all zippers and buckles to prevent fabric damage.
- Do not use fabric softener, as it reduces the quick-drying and moisture-wicking properties.
- Preferably hang dry. Tumble drying is unnecessary, as the fabric dries quickly on its own.
How to care for your Shirts
Follow the garment’s washing instructions found on the label inside the garment.
- Wash colors separately. Do not mix light and dark shirts.
- Unbutton all buttons and turn the shirt inside out.
- Set the washing machine to a low spin cycle and do not overfill the machine.
- Do not use fabric softener.
- Hang the shirt on a hanger after washing, gently stretch the seams, collar, cuffs, and placket.
- Iron if necessary, preferably while the shirt is slightly damp, following the temperature instructions on the care label.
How to care for your Wool garments
Follow the garment’s washing instructions found on the label inside the garment.
- Wool has unique antibacterial properties, so airing your wool garments regularly reduces the need for frequent washing.
- It is important to use a detergent specifically designed for wool – pH-neutral, enzyme-free, and without bleach.
- Do not use fabric softener. It slows down the drying process and reduces the garment’s moisture-wicking properties.
- Hand wash if the garment is not machine washable. Gently lift the garment in and out of the water – do not rub or wring it. Squeeze out excess water.
- If machine washable, place the garment in a laundry bag and use the wool or hand wash program.
- Do not wash wool garments with clothes that have zippers, Velcro, or other surfaces that could damage the wool.
- Wool garments can often be lightly spun, but check the care label.
- Lay wool garments flat to dry at room temperature. Do not tumble dry, as they will shrink. Never hang them up, as they may lose their shape.
- Avoid drying in direct sunlight or near heat sources.
How to care for your Vintage fabric garments
Follow the garment’s washing instructions found on the label inside the garment.
- The look of our exclusive Vintage fabric changes over time and develops a natural, beautiful patina the more the garment is worn.
- Wash the garment as seldom as possible. Fewer washes contribute to a finer patina.
- Turn the garment inside out when washing to protect the surface and avoid streaks forming in the fabric’s folds.
- Close all buttons, zippers, buckles, and Velcro straps.
- Wash in a half-filled machine on a gentle wash cycle and spin briefly.
- Do not use fabric softener. It may affect the garment’s stretch properties.
- After washing, ironing at a low temperature is recommended to maintain the fabric’s function.
How to care for your Tweed garments
Follow the garment’s washing instructions found on the label inside the garment.
- Tweed garments cannot be machine washed; they must be dry-cleaned. Here are some tips to extend their lifespan, reduce wear, and minimize the need for dry cleaning.
- Stains – Treat stains immediately. Use lukewarm water and a little dish soap, then gently work on the stain with a sponge or cloth.
- Dust – To remove dust or surface dirt, brush the garment with a good quality clothes brush.
- Wrinkles – Air the garment outside in humid weather or hang it in the bathroom while taking a hot shower. The steam will smooth out the fabric.
- Odors – Airing the garment outdoors, preferably overnight, often helps remove bad smells.
- Fit – Hang the garment on a good-quality hanger to maintain its shape. For jackets, choose a wide hanger that fills out the garment properly. Trousers should be hung on a trouser hanger, ensuring the fabric is smooth and crease-free.
How to care for Leather
Follow the garment’s washing instructions found on the label inside the garment.
- Leather develops a beautiful patina over time. Clean it as needed and condition it with leather grease.
- Stains can be wiped off with a damp sponge or cloth. If deeper cleaning is needed, use saddle soap or gall soap.
- If your leather garment gets wet, let it air dry at room temperature. If necessary, recondition the leather with leather grease.
- Avoid storing or drying leather in direct sunlight, as it can dry out and fade.
How to care for your Shoes and Boots
- Never dry our boots quickly near a heater or open fire. High temperatures can damage the glue and dry out the leather, causing cracks.
- Instead, let the boots rest at room temperature. Stuff them loosely with newspaper to help absorb moisture.
- Boots with waterproof membranes also need treatment. The membrane is always inside the leather, and if the leather gets wet, its breathability will be reduced, and the boot will lose its insulating properties.
- Clean the boots before treating them. Full-grain leather can be wiped clean with a damp cloth.
- Treat them a few times per season with grease to nourish and soften the leather and prevent it from drying out.
- Apply wax treatment. Wax forms a protective layer on the leather’s surface, helping to repel moisture.
- The inside of the boots may also occasionally need cleaning to remove salt crystals, which can cause blisters, bad odors, and reduced breathability. A toothbrush works well for this.