Road Cycling - Castelli Washing Instructions

I can't seem to find how to wash them. All the tags say 'follow washing instructions' which I can't find on any of the tags or on the tags on the bibs themselves. 150$ bibs I don't want to do something stupid and waste them. Throw them in the washer with some Tide then dry on low temp? That sound good, the tide isn't the Tide Free so will that make a difference? I saw on castelli's website not to use dyed/perfumed detergent, is Tide one of those? Thanks
PS They are the Progetto/Y2 bib shorts

My Castelli's say to hand wash, no bleach, line dry, and no iron. The tag is behind the scorpion at the neck on the reverse side.

I wash my gear (jerseys, gloves, headwrap, bibs, etc) in lingerie bags. That way they can go in with my regular wash and not get destroyed. I use warm water, unscented Tide, and NEVER use fabric softener on bike stuff or other wicking (cool max, etc) clothing. I have a front loader which is gentler on the stuff...and I do put the entire bag and contents in the dry on low for 7 minutes before hanging it on the bar...

I've got 2 pair and have been washing them in All Free/Clear for the last 2 years with no ill effects that I can see. I hang them up to dry. (No Dryer!)

Machine washing with on a gentle cycle, cold water, with a minimum of detergent (just enough to generate a few suds) is as gentle, if not gentler, than hand washing. No bleach, period.

Dunno... I toss my cycling gear in the regular wash. Warm water, lots of soap and I've never had a problem with wear and tear.

The only time I hand wash is if there's not enough stuff for a full load yet my bike stuff is stinky.

Gentle cycle, or in a lingere bag.
non scented detergent.

Why no fabric softener ? is there something that I don't
know about? causes chamois to rot? breaks down
synthetic fibres?

Marty

Fabric softener diminishes wicking fabric's ability to wick.

I hand wash my Castelli bibs. Anything I paid that much for is getting the best treatment I can provide.

I use Sport-Wash. There is a comprehensive article on their site regarding the use of detergents and the resultant sports performance clothing degradation.

http://www.atsko.com/T5.html


Washing Performance Fabrics with ordinary laundry detergents destroys the very properties that you are trying to restore. Detergent residue is the chemical scum deposited on the fabric with every washing. In about 10 washings it reaches 2 % of the weight of the fabric. It consists of Perfume, Ultra-Violet Brightening Dyes, Salts, Surfactants, Processing Aids, Washing Machine Lubricants, and a variety of Oils, Fats, and Polymers to glue it all to the fabric. This stiffens the fabric by binding the fibers together. Now Fabric Softener is added to reduce stiffness adding more residue.


The product costs more than supermarket detergents, but leaves not perfume smell, and nothing that could interfere with the fabrics design properties. I recently purchased a pair of Boure tights and noticed that the washing instructions included a warning regarding UV protection additives in detergents. When I investigated further I came across the tech papers and information at the Atsko.com site and have been using their Sport-Wash since.

Does anyone use that oxyclean detergent? I have a big tub of that, would that be better to use? No dyes/perfumes/additives that I know of really. Seems clean and pure.

Based on what is said at the Atsco site, it seems just running the garments through a short wash cycle with no soap or fabric softners might be sufficient without getting a new (and presumably expensive) detergent.