Wash and Care

Following are general washing instructions and product care for your Icewear clothes. Please read the care label thoroughly before washing your garment, washing instructions may vary between similar garments. How often to wash clothes varies, too, so be sure to read the specific instructions for the garments you have.

Before washing any Icewear clothes, make sure the detergent compartment of your washing machine is clear of any detergent, bleach or softener. You might want to run your washing machine empty for one short, warm-water cycle to clear it of any residues.

How to care for wool garments

Due to its natural antibacterial and moisture-resistant qualities, wool rarely needs to be washed. In fact, washing it too often or with the wrong products will strip wool of its natural oil, which also strips it of its natural performance benefits.

To care for wool garments, follow these instructions.

Taking care of wool sweaters

Before you wash wool sweaters, try first to refresh them by hanging the sweaters in fresh air or in a humid room (like a bathroom after a shower). This minimizes washing, saves energy, and extends your wool sweater’s life.

Here are three ways to guarantee the longest life for your wool sweaters:

Wash less, air more: After each wear, let it air out to maintain its natural properties. Rotate your sweaters to let them rest between uses, too.
Spot-clean any stains: You can gently remove stains with a damp cloth instead of washing the entire sweater. This also helps preserve the wool fibers.
Store sweaters correctly: Store wool sweaters folded rather than hanging to avoid over stretching. Ensure they’re totally dry, then gently pack them in a sealed container to protect against moths and dirt.

Here’s how to wash wool sweaters when it is time:

Hand wash or machine wash: Always follow the care labels on each garment, even if you have multiple wool sweaters. If one is labeled for hand washing, wash it in 30°C (lukewarm) water with wool detergent, rinse gently, and squeeze-dry it to remove as much moisture as possible (warning: never wring). For machine-safe wool sweaters, use a gentle wool program at 30°C with wool detergent. Avoid overheating them or vigorous washing them.

Don’t have a wool washing program or special wool detergent? Default to whatever is labeled for “delicate” garments.
Drying and shaping: Lay the wet sweater flat on a towel to dry so that it retains its shape. Never hang wet wool or use a tumble dryer, because these can both distort a wool sweater.
Remove pilling: Pilling occurs due to friction against wool and should be removed with a fabric shaver or by hand. To reduce pilling overall, avoid overloading your washing machine and handle all wool sweaters with care.

Washing merino wool

Wool has natural antibacterial properties which help keep body odor in check, meaning a wash is rarely needed. When the time does come, though, handwash is the safest way to go. Machine wash can be used only if a handwash or wool wash program is available on the machine, at a low temperature (max 85°F / 30°C). Do not use fabric softeners or bleach. Air dry with the garment laying flat on a towel.

Washing wool blankets

Simply hang your wool blankets outdoors in the fresh air for a couple of hours every now and then. If the rare washing is required, use dry cleaning only.

How to care for cotton and fleece Icewear items

Cotton and fleece clothing and accessories by Icewear are your "wash and go" options. Just follow the instructions below.

Washing cotton / fleece

Wash with similar colors at 30°C / 85°F with the garment inside out. Hang to air dry.

How to care for rainwear and more

Rain gear is another class of outdoor and weather-ready clothing that rarely needs to be washed. In fact, if you wash it too often, it will need to be retreated to retain its DWR qualities.

For the most part, you can just brush your shell and rainwear off of any debris and head off to your next adventure.

Washing softshell / hardshell

Close all zippers, patches and flaps. Machine wash at low or moderate temperature (max 85°F / 30°C) on a gentle cycle. Use a liquid detergent designed for technical apparel (since the wrong detergent can ruin the water-repellent surface of the garment). Do not use washing powder, fabric softener, water softener or bleach. The more you wash the garments, the more it will affect their water-repellant performance. Do not dry on a radiator or hang too close to a fire.

Washing rain coats and pants

Before washing your rainwear, close all zippers. Machine wash at low or moderate temperature (max 85°F / 30°C) on a gentle cycle. Use a mild detergent. Hang to dry and do not tumble dry or iron. Cleaning the garment with a wet cloth can often substitute machine wash.

Renewing the DWR (Durable Water Repellence)

Good DWR on a garment will allow water to bead up and fall off the jacket. If your garment is not functioning this way, you might need to reproof it using Storm, Granger, Nikwax or a similar product. Using a dryer at a low temperature after the wash cycle will restore the ability to bead water.

Care instructions for winter coats and other insulated apparel

Washing light down jackets

Before washing your light down jacket make sure all zippers, patches and flaps are closed and turn product inside out. Use detergent specifically designed for down or technical outerwear to avoid damaging the water-resistant properties. Tumble drying at low temperature with dryer balls is the best way to fluff the down back into shape. You might need to restart your dryer a few times before the down is completely lump-free, dry and fluffy, but only use low heat.

Washing polyester-filled parkas and jackets

Please read each care label before washing since some parkas need to be dry cleaned and others can be washed in a machine. IF the parka can be machine washed, only use detergents that are specifically designed for technical apparel from reputable brands, such as Storm or Grangers. Make sure all zippers, patches and flaps are closed, and remove hood trims if possible. Check each garment’s care label for water temperature, and wash on a gentle cycle. Hang the garment to dry.

Washing wool insulated and wool blend filled products

When you acquire a wool-filled or wool-blend-insulated winter coat or other apparel, you get all the natural performance benefits of wool, from its antibacterial and water-repellant qualities to thermoregulation.

And, like other wool products, you have to care for these garments properly in order to keep those natural performance benefits intact.

To care for Icelandic wool blend products, treat them like wool sweaters: rarely wash them (only when absolutely necessary), and when you do, wash them in mild wool-safe soap and cold water. Always lay them flat to dry so that they retain their shape.

If unsure about washing, consider an experienced dry cleaner.