Best way to clean Waders

[Vern]

Being the Genus that I am, I left my waders in the back of my truck with the boots setting on top of them. Got to work this morning and had a frozen wader and boot sandwich. after they thawed I notice how dirty they are after 4yrs of use. I have always hosed them off after trips, but do I to wash them in soap and water. they are the old Orvis PRO Guides and i want them to last at least one more year.

[jeffnles1]

Wash Waders? I thought part of the fun of fly fishing was chasing your waders around the truck as they tried to get away.

Jeff

[hedge]

Wash waders? Isn't that what a car wash is for?

[flyred06]

Do not believe I have ever heard of that. Maybe a spray bottle of soapy water and a water hose would just about do it for me.

[billyspey]

washing machine ,

[Vern]

The reason I asked is because I do wash my other breathable rain gear in the washing machine with renewing soaps. This seems to improve the waterproofing and breathable. They make a special soap for Gore Tex. I just never heard of anyone washing Gore Tex waders, but it should help them last longer.

[Carolina Boy]

Never washed a pair of waders but I do use a product called rivivex about once every year or so. I would rinse em and try this stuff, makes water roll off like new again, just make sure you dry em good after you spray on, I use a hair dryer, takes longer but I am not into putting a $200+ pair of waders in the dryer...not the way I wash clothes!

http://www.simmsfishing.com/site/revivex.html

[D-Drake]

I, like most everyone else on this post haven't washed a pair of waders. You can put them in a washing machine without a problem. I would use one of the Nikwax products made for the Gore-Tex garments. A regular detergent soap with remove the DWR coating on the fabric. It will still be waterproof but the face fabric will absorb water staying wet longer and also cutting down on the breathability.
Washing the waders will help with breathability by unclogging the membrane pores.

A front loading washer will be easier on the waders than a machine with the central agitator.

After they have dried you can spray them with Revivex to help restore the DWR coating of the face fabric. We usually have a few bottles in stock here at the store.

Daniel

[Tedious]

CB, thanks for the Revivex note. The thread got me wondering so I asked Simms what they recommend. BTW, Jill Danner at Simms is very good about customer service. Here's the reply:

Thank you for contacting Simms Fishing Products. The best way to clean waders is in a bath tub, in cold water using powdered detergent. Let them air dry thoroughly. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Regards,

Jill Danner

Simms Fishing Products
PO Box 3645
Bozeman, MT 59772-3645

Tight Lines. TDS

[chad2102]

Each company/ wader will be different check for tags in them. I wear patagonia and they can be machine washed and tumble dryed with no problems as their tag states. They have been washed and dryed numerous times over the past three years. no problems. I had a pair of ll bean wait highs dryed them all the tape on the inside pealed off.