How to wash thermal underwear correctly so that it does not lose its properties

Thermal underwear is a relatively recent invention of mankind, but it has already won positive ratings from users due to its convenience and reliability. This is explained by the fact that such clothing removes excess moisture from the body, but at the same time retains heat. Thanks to this, thermal underwear is indispensable for athletes, tourists and simply for those who like to feel comfortable even in the most severe frost.

But washing thermal underwear raises many questions. How to carry it out correctly? Is it possible to wash thermal clothing in a washing machine or is it better to prefer the manual method? We will try to give answers to these questions in today's article.

How to wash thermal underwear

Before you read the information about proper washing of thermal underwear, you should find out what fabrics it is made from.

If you know what fabric the clothes are made from, it will be much easier for you to choose the washing method and intensity.

Modern manufacturers make thermal clothing from the following materials:

1. Cotton: This durable natural material is quite easy to care for, and cotton clothes can be washed in the washing machine, but on a delicate cycle.
2. Fibers made from natural wool: such products can become deformed and shrink, so they should only be washed by hand and using special products.
3. Fleece: a durable synthetic material that is most often used to make thermal underwear. You can wash it in a machine, but during rinsing you need to add special products that restore the water-repellent properties of fleece.

However, most manufacturers still prefer polypropylene. This material effectively removes moisture from the body and does not require complex care. The main thing to consider is the ban on washing at temperatures above 60 degrees and drying near heating appliances.

Figure 1. Proper washing will help preserve all the properties of clothing

There are several general rules for washing thermal underwear. Firstly, if the item has an internal fleece, it must be turned inside out before the procedure. Secondly, in the washing machine you need to turn off the spin function, and when washing by hand, do not twist the clothes, but let them drain naturally (Figure 1).

In addition, only gentle detergents should be used for washing, and the water temperature should not exceed 40 degrees.

Bleaching things

It is prohibited to use chlorine-containing products for thermal underwear, as they can damage the structure of the fabric. This will lead to loss of quality characteristics.

If it is necessary to restore white products that have turned gray from long-term use, then the most gentle ones are selected from the assortment offered by manufacturers. Then bleaching will not have a negative impact, preserving all the operational properties of thermal underwear aimed at preserving heat when worn.

You can use the new generation soft oxygen bleach BOS Plus. It is added to the container with detergents - 40 ml and the mode recommended for a particular type of laundry is set.

Efficiency appears already at a water temperature of 30 degrees, so deformation of the products can be avoided. It is easy to rinse without remaining in the pores of the fabric.

Oxygen bleach BOS Plus

In the washing machine

Most modern materials from which thermal underwear are made require washing in a washing machine. However, before starting the procedure, it is important to carefully study the label, which provides basic washing recommendations (Figure 2).

It often happens that the label indicates that the laundry can only be washed by hand. In this case, you should not take risks, since washing even in a gentle machine mode can completely ruin the clothes.

If the manufacturer allows machine washing, only liquid products should be used. They are much easier to wash out of the fabric and do not clog the pores of the fibers, so the clothes do not lose their thermal insulation properties.

It is also necessary to set the temperature to no more than 40 degrees for natural fabrics and 30 degrees for synthetics. The spin and drying modes are also turned off. There is no need to add bleach or other aggressive detergents to the washing powder.

Figure 2. When using the machine, you need to choose the most gentle mode

If the machine has the ability to select a mode, it is better to give preference to the delicate mode, which is usually used for silk and wool. In some washing machines it is impossible to turn off the spin mode, but you can adjust it. In this case, the minimum number of revolutions is set.

After washing, the laundry must first be laid out on a wire rack or any other horizontal surface to drain the water, and then hung to dry.

General rules and types of materials

Thermal underwear should be washed at a certain frequency. Everyday clothing that is not subject to heavy wear and tear is washed twice a week. Thermal underwear used by athletes or people who work physically is processed more often. For outerwear with a thermal function, washing once a month is sufficient.

It is not recommended to use standard washing powders for such products. If the thermal underwear contains wool, use delicate gels, special capsules or shampoo. If the material contains propylene threads, you should turn to products that have antistatic properties.

It is important to know! It is unacceptable to use substances with chlorine, which can destroy fabric fibers. Products that form a lot of foam are also not recommended - it is quite difficult to rinse them out of fabric.

Manually

Many people prefer to wash dirty thermal underwear by hand for fear of damaging it in the machine. In this case, one feature should be taken into account: you cannot use any washing powders, since their particles will clog the cells of the fabric and it will lose its properties (Figure 3).

Figure 3. It is better to give preference to hand washing rather than machine washing

Step-by-step washing of thermal underwear by hand looks like this:

1. Warm water is poured into a large basin, the temperature of which should not exceed 40 degrees.
2. Liquid detergent is dissolved in water in the required amount. Unlike powders, such products are quickly washed out with water and do not clog pores in the fabric.
3. Thermal underwear is immersed in the prepared soap solution, and then they begin to carefully lift and lower it, lightly squeezing it with their hands. It is not recommended to rub clothes vigorously.
4. When the washing is completed, the product is first rinsed under slightly warm and then completely cool water.

There is no need to wring out clothes after washing. It is simply hung over a bathtub or basin to allow excess liquid to drain, and then hung on a rope for final drying.

Useful tips

In addition to the general rules described, there are also many nuances that are worth paying attention to:

• washing with the wrong means can cause thermal underwear to shrink, sometimes even by several sizes,
• such products cannot be ironed,
• do not be afraid of frequent washing, because if the fabric becomes clogged with sweat and other products of natural body secretions, then the clothes will not be effective,
• but it is recommended to wash a thermal jacket and other outerwear as rarely as possible,
• We’ve already figured out how to wash thermal socks, you can try washing them in a machine, on a delicate cycle without spinning,
• When washing in an automatic machine, you can additionally use the rinse function; it will not cause harm, and the product will definitely get rid of any residual detergent.

Well-washed and properly dried thermal underwear will serve you for a long time, but for this you should follow the above recommendations.

Many housewives are annoyed after washing when they see that their colored linen has faded. How to wash correctly, Items made of viscose look very beautiful and bright, but due to improper care they become very fast, Natural fabrics are expensive, but cause certain difficulties when washing. To remove contaminants you will need, Properly washing and drying a down jacket is a whole science, because due to poorly selected

Washing frequency

In addition to the basic recommendations for washing, it would be a good idea to find out when thermal underwear should be washed, in other words, to decide on the frequency of the procedure.

The main value of thermal underwear is that its structure consists of pores and in many ways resembles human skin. If these cells are not clogged with dirt, they will cope with the task of thermoregulation much more effectively.

The porous structure of thermal underwear is both a plus and a minus. On the positive side, such clothing wicks away moisture well and retains body heat. On the other hand, the cells become dirty faster than ordinary clothes, and the fabric ceases to perform its main functions.

Many athletes and tourists prefer to determine the degree of soiling of their laundry by smell. This method will not work with thermal underwear, since synthetic fabric evaporates odors very quickly. Even very dirty laundry, which has been worn and actively moved for several days, will not have a characteristically stale smell.

Accordingly, the frequency of washing will depend on the intensity of use. It is better to wash sports thermal underwear after each workout, and everyday ones – twice a week.

Other types of products

There is more than one type of thermal underwear, the use of which meets certain conditions:

1. Warming underwear - aimed at the average level of activity in cold weather. It is used for heating and heat retention. This is a good addition to your winter wardrobe. Material: synthetic with added wool. This type of clothing includes thermal jackets and thermal overalls, the fillings of which are padding polyester, “holofiber” or down. The outer layer of thermal clothing can be natural or synthetic fabrics, for example, leatherette.
2. Functional thermal underwear - removes excess moisture from the surface of the skin. It is made mainly from synthetic threads. In such things a person always feels comfortable during physical activity.
3. Hybrid thermal underwear combines two qualities - it eliminates moisture and preserves heat. In addition to linen, this type of clothing includes membrane products. The purpose of the membrane is to protect from bad weather.

Selecting a detergent

The biggest problem is choosing the right product to use for washing thermal underwear. In this case, it is better to pay attention to the label. It indicates what material the product is made of. Using this information, choosing a detergent will not be difficult (Figure 4).

Figure 4. The choice of detergent is important for maintaining the properties of the fabric.

So, depending on the fabric of the thermal clothing, the following detergents are used:

1. Cotton: wash only by hand using laundry soap. In this case, it is important not to rub the fabric with soap, but to dissolve it in water and immerse the product in this liquid.
2. Cotton and wool: Even small amounts of wool fibers require a special detergent. In this case, regular baby soap or a special gel for wool products will do.
3. Polyester: the most durable and unpretentious fabric, for washing which you can use gel, soap and regular washing powder.
4. Fleece: also a very unpretentious fabric that can be washed with any available means. However, it should be borne in mind that after this the product should be treated with a special composition that restores water-repellent properties.

Whatever laundry detergent you choose, remember that all these fabrics are afraid of chlorine or any other bleaches, so you cannot use them to clean heavy stains.

Explanation of the label

To clean thermal underwear using safe means, including without using a machine, you need to carefully consider the symbols indicated on the label (Figure 5).

Figure 5. The label contains all the necessary information for caring for clothing

A schematically depicted container of water indicates that the clothes can only be washed by hand. If it is accompanied by a crossed out image of a washing machine, you should have no doubt at all that you will have to act without using technology.

The numbers indicated in or near the water container indicate the maximum water temperature suitable for washing.

A crossed out triangle means that it is prohibited to use bleach to wash the product. The iron shown schematically shows whether the product can be ironed or shipped. If the icon is crossed out, this is not recommended. If there is one dot on the iron symbol, then the product can be ironed, but the temperature should not exceed 110 degrees, and for ironing you need to use a damp cotton cloth.

A crossed out circle means that the product is not suitable for dry cleaning. A crossed out circle in a square indicates that clothes should not be wrung out or dried in a washing machine.

Drying correctly

It is important not only to wash things properly, but also to dry them. The most important rule is that thermal underwear should dry naturally (Figure 6).

Figure 6. Drying should only be natural

Also, when drying such clothes, you need to consider:

1. Do not use hair dryers or other heating devices to speed up the process. This will cause thermal underwear to lose its properties.
2. It is advisable that things are not exposed to direct sunlight.
3. A small draft will help speed up the process. It is important that air currents are not combined with exposure to direct sunlight. Accordingly, the ideal place for drying is a shaded glazed balcony or loggia.

You cannot dry thermal underwear in a machine. It is better to hang it on hangers and place it on a regular floor dryer to allow the fibers to dry naturally.

Features of care

Proper care and keeping thermal underwear clean is the key to its long-term operation. Fortunately, the recommendations for caring for such clothing are not at all complicated (Figure 7).

Figure 7. Proper care of clothing will help maintain its properties

First, you need to choose the right detergent based on the type of fabric. For example, if you wash wool with regular gel or powder, the size of the item can be halved.

Secondly, you don’t need to wash your clothes too often, as this can damage the structure of the membrane fabric. But infrequent washing is also harmful, because dust and dirt clog the cells of the material, and it loses its properties. Taking into account this recommendation, sports thermal underwear should be washed after each workout, and everyday underwear should be washed no more than twice a week.

In addition, we should not forget that steaming and even regular ironing are destructive to thermal underwear, so natural drying will be enough for it.

You can find recommendations for washing thermal underwear in the video.