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endura apparel cleaner and re-proofer

endura apparel reproofer

i had an appointment yesterday. not a particularly common occurrence, i will admit, but i mention it only to make me seem far more corporate than is truthfully the case. it will surprise you even less to know that i arranged this appointment to take place at debbie's in bruichladdich, for two specific reasons (over and above that of the appointment itself). firstly, it provided the opportunity for a morning bike ride and secondly, but every bit as important, there would be froth-supping midway through that bike ride.

so far, so good.

however, the appointment (as it shall heretofore be referred) was originally scheduled for tuesday, before being switched to wednesday at the request of the appointmentee. it was, however, rather remiss of me not to check the weather forecast prior to agreeing this change of plan, for though wednesday morning dawned bright and dry, if not actually sunny, the wind speed increased to just the wrong side of 40mph, causing not only cancellation of the morning ferry, but the first sailing of the summer timetable to colonsay and oban.

the stretch of road between uiskentuie farm and debbie's is one of the most exposed on the island, so it's just as well i was one step ahead of such meteorological iniquity, choosing to ride the specialized crux. thus, instead of being blown unwillingly into the path of oncoming or following traffic, i was able to ride on the wide expanse of grass bordering the main road. was i to have been blown off my bicycle (a not altogether unlikely scenario), i would simply have bounced.

seen from my point of view, this was a character-building ride, though others were considerably less kind in their implications. however, as i'd like to impress upon the reading public, there was a smidgeon of method in my madness. aside from strengthening winds, the forecast promised a modicum of precipitation, which, for once, was a most welcome occurrence, having recently re-proofed my endura softshell with the livingston's new apparel cleaner and re-proofer. never one to shy from excess, i used both products on the same softshell; perhaps unnecessary, but you can never be too careful, in my opinion.

both products arrive in tall, black plastic bottles, the re-proofer alone featuring a spray nozzle at the top. the instructions for the cleaner and re-proofer direct the user (that would be me), to empty two capfuls for the first garment and one capful per additional garment. just to check the veracity of the directions and the product, i washed a lime-green endura softshell jacket which has been in my possession for quite probably around ten years if not longer, an endura thermal windjacket and an elderly richard sachs cyclocross team jacket (just to test the versatility of the products). and, as if it were insufficient to simply wash them in the cleaner/reproofer, on retrieving them from the washing machine, i subsequently sprayed them with the re-proofing aerosol.

both products are devoid of fluorocarbons and are designed to restore the durable water repellency applied during the manufacture of such garmentage. the re-proofer does not require heat activation to work at its best, while the cleaner/reproofer instructions advise a quick blast with a hairdryer (if tumble-drying is not recommended), a task undertaken while mrs washingmachinepost was otherwise occupied.

as with the majority of waterproofing adventures, little ever seems to go quite to plan. both these products arrived several weeks ago, shortly after which cleaning and proofing took place. though perhaps hard to believe, since that time, there has been an almost complete absence of suitable precipitation in which to check the effectiveness of the products. i should emphasise that endura do not require both products to be used simultaneously on the same garment, but i figured if i reviewed each one separately, it would simply drag out proceedings to an untenable degree and wouldn't necessarily make for interesting reading over two separate reviews.

endura apparel reproofer

suffice it to say that, on the basis of wearing the lime-green softshell in galeforce winds and more than just a smattering of remarkably cold, horizontal rain, the jacket's personality has been restored to its former glory. despite the rain, there was that welcome baubling of water droplets on the fabric's surface. never again will it feel slighted when hung on the back of a chair at debbie's, nor feel the need to hide at the back of the sunday morning peloton. when bright and sunny turns to wet and windy, i will ride on with durable water repellency confidence, endura helmet clad head held high.

there is little to disguise the fact that any brand of dwr-coated apparel will eventually lose its brand new, pristine efficiency in the face of adversity. products such as these from endura would seem to prove an economic means of extending the life of such garmentage and their environmental credentials are to be praised, particularly as, perhaps obviously, they will work with any brand of clothing.

a 275ml bottle of re-proofer retails for a most amenable £8.99. the cleaner and re-proofer costs £8.99 for a 300ml bottle.

endura apparel cleaner and re-proofer

thursday 4 april 2019

twmp ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................