Revivex Pro Cleaner

Gear Aid Revivex Pro Cleaner is a concentrated, water-based liquid wash for technical outdoor garments and gear: GORE-TEX, eVent and NeoShell shells, nylon rainwear, ski pants, soft shells, fleece and synthetic insulation. Household detergent leaves foaming agents, brighteners, dyes and fragrance sitting in the fibres. Pro Cleaner rinses out clean and takes the dirt and body oil with it, so a waterproof breathable jacket keeps breathing and its water repellency has a clean surface to work on. The 296 ml pouch cleans up to 20 jackets or 5 sleeping bags.

What it fixes

A rain jacket that feels clammy inside and has started soaking up water across the shoulders is often just dirty. Sweat, sunscreen and trail grime clog the face fabric and smother the water-repellent finish. A wash with Pro Cleaner clears it out, and it is the first job before a wet week in south-west Tasmania or the opening weekend of the ski season.

• Waterproof breathable shells in GORE-TEX, eVent and NeoShell
• Ski jackets and pants, rainwear, windwear, soft shells and fleece
• Synthetic base layers and technical sportswear
• Gloves and gaiters
• Synthetic sleeping bags and fleece liners
• Tents and packs, washed by hand

For a down jacket or down sleeping bag, Revivex Down Cleaner is the wash we point people to.

How to use it

Where your garment's care label gives its own washing steps, follow those. Otherwise:

In the machine

1. Use a front loader if you can. Do up every zip and close any hook-and-loop tabs, then work a little cleaner into grubby spots such as cuffs and collars.
2. Pour the cleaner into the empty machine: about 15 ml (one capful) per jacket, or about 60 ml (four capfuls) for a sleeping bag.
3. Put the gear in and run a delicate cycle in warm water.

Revivex Pro Cleaner is low-sudsing, so it suits a high-efficiency machine; because those use less water, cut the dose by about a third.

By hand

1. Fill a sink, or a bath for big items, with enough warm water to cover the gear: about 5.7 L per garment, or 57 to 76 L for a sleeping bag. Stir in the same dose as above.
2. Let it soak for 5 minutes, then knead every part gently to work the dirt out.
3. Rinse until the water runs clear.

Tents and packs always get the hand wash, because a machine can damage tent fabric and pack construction.

Looking after it

Hang jackets and lay sleeping bags flat, and let everything air dry completely before you wear it or pack it away. Tents and packs air dry too.

Clean gear is the right starting point for re-proofing. Once your jacket is washed, a coat of Revivex Durable Water Repellent puts the water-beading finish back on the outside.

The formula is biodegradable and freeze-thaw stable, so a frosty winter in an unheated shed will not spoil the pouch.