Nikwax TX.Direct - does it work?
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Yes I've read this many times about Paramo gear. Hit and miss performance.
I have some of their Velez trousers which failed on the recent trip, after having worked great in other trips...but this was the first time they had been exposed to such monumental rain. I Tech Washed a TX.Direct treated these just before the trip. I contacted Paramo and they want to take a look.
I was also using a Velez Smock which I bought second hand, and had not treated it before the trip as the previous owner said they'd recently done so, and it very much smelt Nikwaxy. It performed perfectly, keeping me completely dry!
So a sample size of complete insignificance, but it leaves me thinking it's something I'm doing that's not right. It'll be interesting to hear what Paramo have to say about the trousers as they did mention on the phone it was possible I had over-treated them...(I really don't see how that would work negatively with Nikwax stuff).
I'll report back.
Can you expand on your exact steps which you described above in terms of how much Tech Wash you use, then how much TX.Direct Wash In, both garments in together or solo, how many times you wash them with each treatment etc.?
Very hard water, which at least runs visually clear but probably has Thames Water CEO's excretions in it.Our water is soft too, but the water board in their wisdom now chlorinate our potable water supplies
On t'other hand, we no longer have whisky coloured water coming through when it pours hard up on the Lanark moors. They've gotten very good at filtering out the peat.
I am a stickler for the instructions on such things, but clearly something is going awry.
Performance has been excellent, it’s remained waterproof in several hours of constant rain. But I’m not too sure what I’m expecting of the TechWash stuff? Even from new, the outer wets through, but no water penetrates. That’s what I meant by magic. This guy here shows it in his video around 5.30 mins.
I’ve used the wash system twice, in the washing machine, to remove smells from poor drying, but also to try and remove the dirty looking sheening the outer gets at friction areas like cuffs and neck. Nikwax washing stuff doesn’t shift it at all.
I suppose with waterproofing we expect beading and maybe this is wrong thinking with such a thin and flexible outer fabric? It certainly shows in the video how my Halcon behaves, and I can’t grumble about performance except that nothing it does has been improved by the treatment as far as I can tell.
The leather stuff I’ve really allowed to soak in and dry on boots and gloves, and it hasn’t worked except briefly.
I don't know if it's my taste buds changing or an increase in chlorine but over the past 6 months or so, I can taste the chlorine in my tap water where previously I never noticed it.Our water is soft too, but the water board in their wisdom now chlorinate our potable water supplies
On t'other hand, we no longer have whisky coloured water coming through when it pours hard up on the Lanark moors. They've gotten very good at filtering out the peat.
When I go to West Wales where it's much more rural, the water tastes soo good I don't taste any chemical flavours at all.
I just followed the instructions, I think I washed them one coat at a time, but that wasn't intentional. Two weeks ago I washed and reproofed a second hand Paramo that was wetting out and it now beads, and then I decided to do my new Paramo which probably didn't need it but couldn't help myself. Just followed the instructions again.
I did thoroughly clean the detergent tray and did a drum clean. I have heard that any detergent, even a small amount can really hamper the performance of Nikwax dwr.
It can actually prevent any hydrophobic substance from working (hydrophobicity = beading), almost all non-pure-soap detergents contain surfactants (substances that lower surface tension of water) that is there to help wetting. So it helps wetting even at very small residues on the washed garment.
One should have two washing machines one for underwear and one for outerwear, no surfactants should be allowed in the outerwear one.
It got so noticeable to me that I bought and my husband fitted an undersink water filter system.
It is simplicity itself, and it gave us back plain as unadulterated as possible drinking water.
Under twenty quid for the whole thing, and that includes the tap and the thing to cut through the stainless steel sink beside the other taps.
Undersink Drinking Water Tap Filter Kit System Including Faucet and Accessories | eBay
You are purchasing a high quality under sink filter system which includes a high quality carbon filter, which removes chlorine, organic contaminants, odours and toxins from your water, providing high quality tasting drinking water on tap.
www.ebay.co.uk
I've been meaning to look into something like this.It got so noticeable to me that I bought and my husband fitted an undersink water filter system.
It is simplicity itself, and it gave us back plain as unadulterated as possible drinking water.
Under twenty quid for the whole thing, and that includes the tap and the thing to cut through the stainless steel sink beside the other taps.
Undersink Drinking Water Tap Filter Kit System Including Faucet and Accessories | eBay
You are purchasing a high quality under sink filter system which includes a high quality carbon filter, which removes chlorine, organic contaminants, odours and toxins from your water, providing high quality tasting drinking water on tap.www.ebay.co.uk
Unfortunately I don't have room for a second washing machine otherwise I would get oneIt can actually prevent any hydrophobic substance from working (hydrophobicity = beading), almost all non-pure-soap detergents contain surfactants (substances that lower surface tension of water) that is there to help wetting. So it helps wetting even at very small residues on the washed garment.
One should have two washing machines one for underwear and one for outerwear, no surfactants should be allowed in the outerwear one.
Honestly, this was so simple a set up to fix. Changing the filters is very straightforward too. I can taste when it's time to change even though I do mark the calendar.
For us it was, and is, worth it. I'm going to fit another in the upstairs bathroom when we renovate.
I'm sure there are other systems, but this works reliably without fuss, without bother, no jugs, no hassle. Very practical.
I miss my twin tub. An old fashioned twin tub really washed clothes, and you could spin stuff until nearly bone dry too. If I had room, even though I have an automatic, I'd have a twin tub too.
Here's water beading off my Paramo that I washed and proofed 2 weeks ago. Obviously this is just a quick swill under the kitchen tap, not a prolonged drenching.
Has anyone tried a portable washing machine? There's a Costway portable washing machine on Amazon that is small enough to stick in my workshop and only bring in the house when I need to wash outdoor garments.
Here's water beading off my Paramo that I washed and proofed 2 weeks ago. Obviously this is just a quick swill under the kitchen tap, not a prolonged drenching.
That's what I'm seeking! Great beading.
Interestingly, Paramo's post-wash test is to see if it beads when still wet from the wash (which I'd have thought would mean the outer was already saturated).
Wash Care Instructions - Paramo
paramo-clothing.com
Dan? What’s the garment? I don’t know much about anything other than the Halcon and the outer is made of very thin stuff. I get an initial beading like that but you can kind of tell that’s not how the material works. I have remained dry always but I’m not sure where the water is stopped, or how.Here's water beading off my Paramo that I washed and proofed 2 weeks ago. Obviously this is just a quick swill under the kitchen tap, not a prolonged drenching.
The effect shows well in the vid I posted.
I have a bunch of Paramo gear and when I need to re-proof it, I do that by hand, only. I might wash in the machine, I might even use real detergent if I need to clean oily dirt, but I rinse very thoroughly, then use a bucket to re-proof. I get beading off on the standard weight outer fabric, but it will wet eventually. The thin lighter outer tends to wet out sooner. I have never been wet while wearing any of it.
Dirt really knocks back the effectiveness, as I saw on a buddy's coat that he complained would not bead water even after washes and re-proofing He was a pipe smoker and got tar all over the coat from the smoke. I knew this because I had had several tools from his workshop and they were all coated in khaki residue. Techwash did nothing. I hand washed with lots of detergent and got what looked like a crude oil slick out of the garment. When that eventually stopped, I machine washed, then washed again without any soap, then hand rinse checked, then hand reproofed. It beaded water once again.
Dirt really knocks back the effectiveness, as I saw on a buddy's coat that he complained would not bead water even after washes and re-proofing He was a pipe smoker and got tar all over the coat from the smoke. I knew this because I had had several tools from his workshop and they were all coated in khaki residue. Techwash did nothing. I hand washed with lots of detergent and got what looked like a crude oil slick out of the garment. When that eventually stopped, I machine washed, then washed again without any soap, then hand rinse checked, then hand reproofed. It beaded water once again.
Not in their wisdom. They have a Statutory obligation provide wholesome water.Our water is soft too, but the water board in their wisdom now chlorinate our potable water supplies
On t'other hand, we no longer have whisky coloured water coming through when it pours hard up on the Lanark moors. They've gotten very good at filtering out the peat.
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