Care Instructions
WASHING
Washing instructions are printed on a white tag inside each piece of clothing. Following these instructions will help make sure that your gear will last as long as possible. Careful washing and maintenance will ensure the highest performance from your Castelli products and extend their useful life span.
- Always read the care label before washing a piece of clothing.
- Close all zips and Velcro fasteners and turn the garment inside out.
- Hand or machine wash on a lukewarm permanent press cycle (max. 40°C / 104°F)
- Use a small amount of liquid detergent, not powder detergents or any products that contain fabric softeners, conditioners, stain removers or bleach as they will affect garment performance.
- Hang dry or dry flat. Do not tumble dry.
- Castelli Nano Flex products and softshell jackets and wind vests can be tumbled dry on low heat for about 20 minutes to rejuvenate the water repellent finish.
WATER REPELLENCY
WHAT TO DO WHEN A CASTELLI SOFTSHELL GARMENT STARTS TO ABSORB WATER
Castelli breathable softshell garments have been treated with a durable water-repellant (DWR) finish, which keeps the outer fabric from becoming saturated so that the breathable barrier can do its job. If the outer fabric starts to absorb water, the garment can lose up to 70% of its breathability as well as reducing water proofing.
The outer coating needs to be replenished periodically to keep it from picking up water and dirt. You can rejuvenate the DWR finish by putting the garment in the dryer at low heat for about 20 minutes, or by ironing under low heat being careful not to melt the synthetic fibers of your garment.
The DWR finish will wear off over time and you may want to re-treat your Castelli product’s water repellency by applying a commercially available water-repellent spray-on DWR treatment by following these instructions:
MAKE SURE THE GARMENT HAS BEEN CLEANED PROPERLY
Your Castelli softshell garment could be soaking up water just because it is dirty. First, try cleaning it. If it is fairly new or recently re-waterproofed, the DWR will be revitalized just from cleaning. But once the garment has been thoroughly worn, you will need to restore the water-resistant finish using a spray-on softshell treatment agent. Make sure to clean the garment first.
SPRAY-ON WATER-REPELLENT TREATMENT INSTRUCTIONS
- Make sure the garment has been cleaned properly and is dry.
- Lay the garment out flat and spray the entire outer shell with the water-repellent finish, holding the bottle 15 cm from the surface.
- Allow the water-repellent finish to soak in for 10-15 minutes.
- Wipe off excess water-repellent finish with a damp cloth. Check carefully to make sure no areas have been missed.
Remember, the garment will not become waterproof, but it will take longer for water to penetrate the outer fabric.
SOFTSHELL TREATMENT PRODUCTS:
Nikwax SoftShell Proof™
McNette
We recommend spray-on finishes rather than wash-in finishes as it will effect the moisture management.
WHAT TO DO WHEN A NANO FLEX PRODUCT LOSE ITS WATER REPELLENCY
The Castelli Nano Flex fabric repels water through both a DWR finish and thanks to millions of ultra-tiny nanofilaments that cause water droplets to bead up on the surface of the garment and run off instead of pooling on the fabric and soaking through. The Nano Flex treatment will last approximately 40-50 washes. (Of course, the garment must be washed correctly; if the detergent contains fabric softener the treatment will disappear immediately).
REACTIVATING THE NANO FLEX WATER REPELLENCY
There are two ways to re-treat your Castelli Nano Flex garment and restore the water-resistant finish.
- Apply a commercially available water-repellent spray-on softshell treatment agent. (See above for spray-on water-repellent treatment instructions.)
- If necessary to reactive the water repellency, you can also tumble dry on low heat for about 20 minutes. If unable to tumble dry, iron the dry garment on gentle setting (warm, no steam) by placing a towel or cloth between the garment and the iron. Do not iron over the heat-transfer Castelli and Nano Flex letters.
HOW TO WASH NANO FLEX PRODUCTS
To prolong the life of your Castelli Nano Flex garments, we recommend washing the products by hand or on a regular cycle in cool water, followed by line drying (we recommend washing most cycling apparel this way).
- Hand or machine wash on a lukewarm permanent press cycle (max. 40°C / 104°F).
- Use a small amount of liquid detergent, not powder detergents or any products that contain fabric softeners, conditioners, stain removers or bleach as they will affect garment performance.
- Do not use a fabric softener! This can destroy wicking and water-repellent treatments.
- Hang dry or dry flat. Do not tumble dry.
- If necessary to reactive the water repellency, you can also tumble dry on low heat for about 20 minutes. If unable to tumble dry, iron the dry garment on gentle setting (warm, no steam) by placing a towel or cloth between the garment and the iron. Do not iron over the heat-transfer Castelli and Nano Flex letters.
HOW TO CLEAN WINTER GLOVES WITH MEMBRANE FABRICS
Gloves with a wind membrane may be adversely affected by the usual care process for the fabric. Check the care label before proceeding, and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Always read the care label before washing your gloves.
- Close the Velcro wrist straps.
- Hand or machine wash on a lukewarm permanent press cycle (max. 40°C / 104°F)
- Use a small amount of liquid detergent, not powder detergents or any products that contain fabric softeners, conditioners, stain removers or bleach as they will affect garment performance.
- Do not use a fabric softener! This can destroy wicking and water-repellent treatments.
- Squeeze excess water from the gloves, starting at the fingertips and moving to the wrists; do not twist the gloves.
- Drip-dry the gloves with the fingers facing upward.