Can you wash textile motorcycle clothing?

As with any piece of clothing, it is necessary to regularly wash and maintain motorcycle clothing. Although the presence of waterproof membranes requires some extra caution, you can wash textile motorcycle clothing in a few simple steps. Thanks to the following tips, washing and maintaining your motorcycle jacket, –pants or –jeans and gloves is something you can do without any problems.

Washing motorcycle clothing in brief

• Check the washing instructions of the garment
• Remove the protectors to prevent damage
• Remove removable membranes and thermal linings and wash them separately if suitable
• Close all zippers, button and velcro closures and empty all your pockets
• Use suitable detergent and do not use fabric softener
• Avoid the use of a dryer or heater and let the clothing dry naturally (except for Gore-Tex motorcycle clothing)
• Opt for an extra water-repellent protective layer by impregnating your motorcycle clothing

Check the washing instructions

Before you start, it’s important that you read the manufacturer’s washing instructions. This way, you know in advance what you can and can’t do with the garment. Motorcycle boots and gloves are usually not suitable for the washing machine, it’s better to wash these by hand. If you don’t know how to interpret the symbols on the washing instructions, you can find this with a simple search for “washing instructions“. Below you can see the instructions I was able to find in my REV’IT! Flare 2 motorcycle jacket.

This motorcycle jacket can be washed in the washing machine at 30° with an anti-wrinkle program. What I should not do is bleach the jacket, put it in the dryer, iron it, or have it dry cleaned. Below the instructions, you can find the following tip.

Remove the protectors

This is important to prevent damage to the motorcycle clothing, if the protectors remain inside they can damage the fabric and the waterproof membrane during washing. We wash our clothes so they last longer, not to damage them faster. The protectors can also be damaged in this way.

Remove removable membranes and thermal linings

If the clothing is equipped with removable membranes or thermal linings, it is advisable to remove these from the motorcycle clothing and wash them separately. However, check if the membrane and the thermal lining do not have different washing instructions to avoid accidents.

Close all zippers, button and velcro fastenings

To prevent things from getting mixed up, it’s a good idea to check all types of closures in the motorcycle clothing. Open zippers can cause snags and velcro can stick together. Make sure pockets are empty before washing to prevent papers or other things from ending up in your washing machine.

Use suitable detergent and no fabric softener

You don’t wash motorcycle clothing with “ordinary” detergent. For this, you need a special detergent for motorcycle clothing, such as S100 detergent for motorcycle clothing. This restores the breathing properties of waterproof membranes in your motorcycle clothing, regardless of whether it is an integrated or separate item. Definitely do not use aggressive detergents or bleach to remove stubborn stains. This can damage wear-resistant materials and remove coatings. To remove stubborn stains, you can soak the stain in lukewarm water and scrub this with a soft brush. Do not use fabric softener, this can leave residue and negatively affect the function of breathable fabrics.

Avoid using a dryer

Hang the motorcycle clothing to dry on a coat hanger or a clothesline after washing, and let it dry naturally. Do not dry the motorcycle clothing in direct sunlight to prevent discoloration. Drying in a tumble dryer is not suitable for most motorcycle clothing. The high temperature can warp certain parts and adversely affect the fit. Also, do not wring out garments in an attempt to speed up drying. This action will damage integrated membranes.

The only type of motorcycle clothing that benefits from being put in a dryer is motorcycle clothing with a Gore-Tex membrane. In this case, drying helps to restore the breathable and waterproof properties after washing. To be sure, also read the washing instructions for Gore-Tex motorcycle clothing.

Protect with impregnation agent

When your motorcycle clothing is dry, you can choose to impregnate it. This treatment makes your clothes water repellent, so that water beads off. As a result, dirt also has less chance of sticking to the motorcycle clothing. For this we recommend the S100 waterproof spray. The waterproof spray does more than that, it applies a UV coating which causes your textile motorcycle clothing to discolour less quickly. A treated jacket will stay waterproof longer and it is a first protective layer until the water reaches the waterproof membrane in your garment. This way you stay dry even longer.

Use this spray in a well-ventilated area (preferably outside). If you do this indoors, it will affect your respiratory system. Speaking from experience, I can say that it can be dangerously slippery where the mist has landed and dried on the ground. It’s better to use it outside and be careful!

Carefree Washing

Now that you have a good idea of how to wash your favorite textile motorcycle gear, you can get started. The most important thing is to follow the washing instructions and think logically. This way, the wash and maintenance will be done in no time and you can hit the road with fresh motorcycle clothing and stay dry when it rains.

What to do with motorcycle gloves, boots and leather clothing?

Motorcycle gloves should be washed in lukewarm to warm water, for which you can use the special motorcycle clothing detergent. Let them dry naturally and do not put them on the heater, as this will cause the leather to quickly dry out and deform.

You can also clean motorcycle boots by hand, you can also clean them from the outside with S100 leather balm (if they are leather boots). You can freshen up the inside with the same cleaner we use to freshen up the lining of a helmet.

You will need to clean a leather motorcycle suit by hand. Use S100 leather cleaner to thoroughly clean the pores of the suit. Apply the product to the leather, let it work for three minutes, and then remove the dirt with a soft sponge. Wipe it clean with a dry microfiber cloth and you’re done. You can freshen up the lining of leather clothing with Muc-Off Foam Fresh.

You can impregnate all motor clothing after cleaning if you wish. Just don’t do it on the palm of your motorcycle gloves so you can maintain your grip on the handlebars.

Not sure about how to properly wash or clean your motorcycle clothing? Ask in a RAD store or contact our customer service and we will gladly provide you with the right advice.

Related links:

• Motorcycle clothing at RAD
• Motorcycle clothing maintenance
• Motorcycle jackets