Can Grangers 2 in 1 Solution Make Old and Used Clothing Look New Again?
Many hikers have outerwear in their closets that they don’t use. What if there was a way to make those older, no longer used items look new again, and restore their original properties? We decided to see if this is possible by testing Grangers Wash and Repel 2 in 1 solution.
We’re all living in a time when costs seem to be going in only one direction, and that’s up. It would be remiss of us to not look at ways to reduce the amount of money we spend on our hobbies and activities, and in this case, it’s obviously hiking.
Natasha and I prefer to buy nearly new and used clothing for our hiking adventures. One of the main reasons we do this is to prevent it from contributing to the ongoing landfill problem.
The clothing, shoes, and boots we’ve purchased frequently look like they’ve seen better days. And often, the clothing’s unique properties, such as their water resistance, has diminished. Yes, if you didn’t know, the waterproofing on pretty much all clothing does actually degrade over time.
It’s quite easy to spot; when you’re wearing a supposedly waterproof piece of clothing in the rain, look to see if there are darker areas. This indicates that the water has soaked into the material, and the waterproofing properties need a boost.
I wouldn’t worry if you’re constantly seeing his on your outerwear of choice, as most inner linings will also help to prevent water penetration. However, if you can feel it coming through all the layers, it’s time to invest in some waterproofing solution!
A waterproof fabric comprises tiny one-way valves, and these can become clogged up over time. Reproofing clothing is a lot simpler than you imagine, and companies such as Granger’s make it very simple. Most clothing manufacturers suggest reproofing items used regularly every six months, and I am sure some of you reading this feature didn’t know that!
Our hiking clothing has been put through the mill over the past five months. Our favourite items have joined us on more than three-quarters of a million hiking steps and up nigh on 50,000 feet of climbs. After all this, they’re deserving of a break and a treat.
When it comes to waterproofing, some of the most recognisable names in the industry are Nikwax, Grangers and Fabsil. Natasha and I adore history, so we decided upon Grangers products.
If you’re wondering why we chose Grangers, it is based on their fantastic story. If you weren’t aware, Grangers is a British brand and is credited with making the world’s first waterproofing solution for the outdoors market. Not only this, their products helped Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary to reach the peak of Everest. Grangers are without doubt the pioneers in their field.
Grangers motto is ‘Think Different, Live Different and Explore More’, which fits perfectly with our lifestyle and it also helps that the company is wholly committed to caring for the environment.
A few weeks ago, we popped onto the Amazon website and ordered a litre bottle of Grangers Wash and Repel 2 in 1 solution and whilst on the site; we added their footwear care kit.
The Grangers 2 in 1 solution is designed to clean and reproof outdoor gear in one wash cycle. If you are starting to get a little worried that waterproofing fabrics could be overly-technical, please don’t. It’s a straightforward process, and all you need to do is pop your clothes in a clean washing machine with two caps of the solution for the first jacket and one more cap for each additional item.
You then wash the clothing on a full cycle and then dry it. Grangers suggest using heat from a tumble dryer or ironing the clothing afterwards to activate the waterproofing fully. I should also mention that the solution is said to be suitable for use with all fabrics.
We used three pairs of Norrona Svalbard Flex1 Softshell Pants in our test. Norrona is our go-to trouser brand for nigh-on all of our hikes. Until someone convinces us otherwise, we think they’re the best hiking trousers you can buy.
We don’t have a tumble dry option with our washing machine and were hesitant about ironing something damp. Fortunately, we have one of those covered drying machines that you can hang clothing inside and used that instead.
After 40 minutes, they were bone dry. We inspected them carefully and visually; they looked great, pretty much brand new. We then took a pair and put one leg under the tap, and turned the water on.
It was a huge relief to see the water rolling off and beading, not soaking into the fabric. It was mission accomplished; we’d successfully breathed new life into our goto hiking trousers, and with a good, following wind, they’ll be perfect for at least the next six months!
Now that it was clear that Grangers do know their stuff, we were eager to try their footwear kit, and you can read about the results from our testing soon.
