Your Capestorm products are technically designed to endure many different types of environments. No matter how well we design and manufacture our products, it is up to you to follow the wash and care instructions provided with each product. Below you will find general wash and care information for various types of products and materials found in our products. Please note that you must read each products wash care label before washing it to ensure you do not damage it.
Don't dry clean, use bleach or use fabric softener
Wash like colours together
Tips
Don't use liquid detergents
Double rinse
Wash care label example
Wash at or below 30°C
Do not bleach
Do not iron
Do not dry clean
Do not tumble dry
Rainwear
Don't dry clean, use bleach or use fabric softener
Wash separate by hand in warm 40°C water using NikWax Tech Wash
Rinse well
Tumble dry on low heat and secure all zips and flaps
After washing treat DWR with Nikwax DWR spray
Wash tips
Close main zipper and velcro.
Open pocket zips and loosen all elastic tensioners
Drying tips
Remove excess moisture by pressing with a clean towel
Turn garment periodically inside out
Tumble dry up to 15 minutes on low heat
Down Jackets
Don't dry clean, use bleach, or use fabric softener
Wash separate by hand in warm 40°C water
Use only down specific soap
Rinse well
Tumble dry on low heat and secure all zips and closures
After washing treat DWR with Nikswax spray
Wash tips
Wash in a mesh washing bag or pillow case if you don't have a front loader, wash 1 item pre-wash
Use sock balls or dryer balls
Close main zipper and velcro.
Open pocket zips and loosen all elastic tensioners
Drying tips
Remove excess moisture by pressing with a clean towel
Turn garment periodically inside out throughout the dry cycle
Tumble dry up to 15 minutes on low heat
Fleece
Don't dry clean
Don't use bleach or use fabric softener
Wash in 30°C luke warm water
Don't tumble dry
Don't iron
Wash tips
Wash inside out to prevent piling forming on the outer surface
Close main zipper and velcro (if applicable).
Open pocket zips and loosen all elastic tensioners
Drying tips
Remove excess moisture by pressing with a clean towel
Equipment
Backpacks
After each trip wipe off dirt (inside and out) with a damp sponge using a mild soap such as NikWax Tech Wash
Empty all the pockets/compartments
Rinse the pack completely using lukewarm tap water
Clean all dirt off (inside and out) with a damp sponge using a mild soap such as NikWax Tech Wash
Rinse thoroughly with clean water
Make sure all dirt is rinsed out of buckles and zippers
Pat dry with a towel and allow the pack to dry away from heat source and not in direct sun
Wash tips
Use a soft bristled nylon brush to get tough and stubborn stains out.
NB Excessive scrubbing will damage the fabric!
Drying tips
Make sure there are no pools of water trapped in the bag
Leave all the pockets open
Hang it on your wash line or a tree branch in a breezy spot to ensure it drys quickly
Tents
Inspect your tent after use and brush off any dirt, or organic material
For tough dirt marks, use a damp sponge with a mild soap (like NikWax Tech Wash) to wipe away the dirt
Rinse with cool fresh water
Dry the tent out completely before storing
DON'T do the following
Wash in a washing machine or dry in a dryer
Don't use a hair dryer or heat gun to dry
Don't store your tent damp - it will go mouldy very quickly which will ruin it
Drying tips
Remove excess moisture by drying with a clean towel
Hang up the fly sheet from a high breezy spot to help it dry faster
Storage tips
For long term storage, store the tent loosely in a cotton sack or cardboard box in a cool dry place
This will ensure longevity of the fabric
Sleeping bags
Washing a sleeping bag by hand can take a few hours, so ensure you set some time aside.
How to Clean a Down Sleeping Bag: What you’ll need:
Nikwax down wash
Large basin/bath tub
2 x Clean tennis balls
Tumble dryer
Clean, soft bristle toothbrush
Step 1: Loosen all zippers and draw cords on your sleeping bag. Fill your bath/large basin with lukewarm water and add Nikwax down wash as per the specific instructions on the bottle, and ensure the Nikwax mixture is evenly dispersed throughout the tub. Carefully submerge your sleeping bag in the tub/basin.
Step 2: For an extremely dirty sleeping bag, first focus on dirt spots with a clean soft-bristle toothbrush (using gentle, circular movements to remove tough stains) and Nikwax down cleaner. Leave to soak for an hour, after which you can drain the water and replace the tub with fresh water. Remove excess soap by gently massaging it (take care not to wring or squeeze, this will damage the down). Repeat this step until all soap is gone and the water is clear.
Step 3: Drain all water from the basin/tub and gently massage the sleeping bag to remove excess water. Take care to support the bottom of your sleeping bag when removing it from the tub/basin as down is heavier when wet which can cause seams to stretch and tear unnecessarily if not supported adequately. Lay your down sleeping bag on a flat, smooth surface to air dry for a few minutes and take care to once again ‘massage’ the down to ensure it is evenly dispersed throughout the sleeping bag. Tumble dry on a low heat for no more than 15minutes at a time. Be sure to add two regular tennis balls to your dryer to assist with the even dispersing of the down. Take your sleeping bag out of the tumble dryer after 15 minutes and re-check that the down filling is evenly dispersed. Repeat until dry (this may take several hours, ensuring you’re occupied for almost a day) and leave your sleeping bag open during the night in a protected area to ensure it is 100% dry.
How to Clean a Synthetic Sleeping Bag: What you’ll need:
8-10kg front loader washing machine (DO NOT USE A TOP LOADER)
Tumble dryer
Tech wash such as Nikwax
Soft-bristle toothbrush
Step 1: Loosen all zippers and draw cords on your sleeping bag. Set your washing machine on a gentle cycle/ Be sure to double check the care label of your sleeping bag to determine whether it’s better to use cold or warm water. Follow the specific instructions Nikwax suggests in terms of quantity to be added to your wash cycle.
Step 2: Give your sleeping bag a second gentle rinse in the wash to ensure any excess soap is removed. Gently squeeze out any excess water with your hands, and take care to support the sleeping bag from below when removing it from the washing machine.
Step 3: Place your synthetic sleeping bag in the tumble dryer on a low heat setting for 15-30mins max. Ensure no clumping of fabric takes place after taking it out the dryer and giving it a good shake after each drying cycle. To ensure your bag is 100% dry, leave it open on a flat, smooth surface overnight to breathe.
Storage tips
Do not store your down sleeping bag compressed in it’s storage bag as this will damage the down fill over time and impact on your sleeping bag’s ability to insulate effectively.