How to Wash Thermal Pack?

[hoyden]

Can it be put in washer and dryer, or does it need to be taken to a cleaners, or dry cleaned?

thanks!

 

[Wallowa]

Dawn...

Arctic Pak material is almost identical to some car covers...here is a "how to clean" ...I have had such a cover for decades and it looks and feels just like the thermal liner in my Hawk..these directions are common sense stuff...mild detergent, cold water, air dry...I would first call FWC and ask them about cleaning the Arctic Pak

Phil

Cleaning
All of our covers are easy to wash. For a light hand wash, install the cover and spray the it with a water hose. Dilute a mild liquid detergent, like Woolite, in cold or warm water and lightly cleanse your cover with a sponge. Feel free to clean the inside of the cover by installing the cover inside-out on your vehicle.

For a deeper clean, such as to remove tree sap or bird droppings, use a large commercial washer and set it to a "delicate" cycle to avoid causing any rips or tears in the fabric. Using an at-home washer is not big enough to clean your cover properly. When washing your cover, we recommend using a delicate soap such as Woolite. Do not wash your cover in hot water, as this will cause shrinking. Finally, to preserve your cover’s water resistance, we recommend running your cover through multiple rinse cycles.

Once your cover is washed, DO NOT place the cover in an automatic dryer, as this may cause the fabric to shrink or melt. If possible, we suggest air drying your cover at all times.

 

[veryactivelife]

I would wash it with tepid water in the bathtub. Recomend using a technical gear and apparel wash like Nikwax Tech Wash or Atsko Sport Wash. The reason being that regular soaps and detergents contain additives like surfactants and wetting agents whose purpose is to attract moisture to the material. These are near impossible to completely rinse out, leaving behind an invisible residue that will be a magnet for moisture likely compounding any condensation issues. There will be some that will disagree, calling it marketing hype by the companies, but I have over 30 years of experience working in the outdoor industry and it’s a well tested theory.

Cheers
Dean

ps: Spot or superficial cleaning can be done with the pack in place using 303 and a sponge or microfiber towel. That’s what I do periodically. It also helps pick up dust off the pack.

 

[hoyden]

What's the "bathtub" thing you mention?

(sadly, my house does not have a tub )

Thanks both of you!

 

[Bjammin]

I wouldn't recommend 303 for spot cleaning because the thermal pack is made of Olefin, not PVC like the pop-up material. Ideally, you want all of the cleaning product you use to be rinsed away so that the breathable nature of the Olefin is preserved.

 

[veryactivelife]

What's the "bathtub" thing you mention?

(sadly, my house does not have a tub )

Thanks both of you!

Any large tub or trash can would work.