Caring for Outdoor Clothing & Hiking Gear

Summer is the time for amazing hikes and runs through our local mountains and adventurous backpacking journeys in the Sierras. Fortunately, today’s hiking apparel offers durability, moisture wicking, and water protection, giving you the edge you need to beat the elements. Hiking clothes are an essential part of the adventure which makes proper care even more important.

Our experts assembled their best tips for keeping your hiking clothes in their best condition and extending their lifespan on the trail.

Materials in Hiking Clothes

Most outdoor hiking clothes use one or a blend of four fabrics:

• Nylon
• Polyester
• Spandex
• Wool

These materials provide durability and insulation, don’t add weight, dry quickly, and resist water with excellent wicking properties. You’ll notice that most of these materials are synthetic except for wool. That’s because wool is the best natural fabric for hiking since it performs similarly to synthetic fabrics and a good choice for winter (though it can be used in fleece jackets for cool summer night hikes). Wool is especially prized due to its ability to retain its insulation properties even if it gets wet.

While these fabrics will wick away moisture they can still trap sweat and body odor. Bewarem thiough throwing everything in a washing machine with loads of detergent can ruin your gear — and it may not get rid of the odor! Hiking gear is an investment, and one wrong move when cleaning your outdoor apparel can render your most trusted article deformed, discolored, or outright wrecked. Here’s where Flair Cleaners can help!

How to Care for Your Summer Hiking Clothes

To keep your summer hiking gear clean and fresh, follow the steps below immediately after your hike or excursion:

1. 1. Remove all your gear and separate the items that should be washed immediately vs. those that can wait.
   2. Base layers and undergarments should be washed immediately.
   3. Read the care instructions on your clothing carefully, as not all fabrics can withstand the same wash cycle. If the label is missing, consult with Flair or use our Wash & Fold Service. Otherwise you risk melting, shrinking and otherwise deforming garments. Any item containing wool is best cleaned by professionals.
   4. After washing, let your hiking clothing air dry flat on a rack that allows the air to circulate completely around the fabric. Never stretch or wring these fabrics; you can also lay the clothing flat on a clean, absorbent towel and roll the towel tightly to remove some moisture from the clothing.

For Unbeatable Results, Dry Clean Summer Hiking Clothes

For everything that can’t be washed at home – or to ensure proper washing, we recommend treatment at a professional dry cleaner. After all, you shouldn’t have to worry about your outdoor adventure gear performing well on the trail.  Trust your hiking gear to Flair Cleaners. With FREE Pickup & Delivery and same day service when dropped of by 9:00 am, we’re the busy SoCal nature-lover’s best friend. We’ll have you back on the trail in a snap. Why wait? Find your local Flair Cleaners today.