How do you clean your gear?

[Doorag]

I have a red and white textile jacket that is basically gray on the front now and shiny white on the back. Is there a good way to clean out road grime or should I get an all-black jacket?

For leather as well. I'm looking at a nice leather jacket but it has white on the front as well. How could I keep it clean?

 

[wrightme43]

Clean? Clean?

RUBs (rich urban bikers) tie thier chaps to the front of thier RVs as they trailer their motorcycles to sturgis.

LOL LOL

Man I dont know, my gear gets trashed.

 

[Doorag]

Ok, so it should be trashed then. I'm definitel NOT an RUB - I'd never wear chaps.

 

[grommit]

I cleaned my leather jacket for the first time the other day as it was covered in fly bits. Used a damp (quite dry) sponge on the advice of the misses. Wiped it down, little buggers came right off. Let it dry in the garden, looks like new.

 

[enjoytheride68]

If there are bugs on it that did not get washed off from the last rain we rode through, we wipe them off with a wet cloth, just water. Then use a leather conditioner on them. There are several conditioners, go to your local or semi-local leather shop, they can set you up with a conditioner. Hope this helps. :thumbup:

 

[Doorag]

This isn't bugs, it's the black road grime that you get in the UK. Maybe this should be a UK-centric question since I never got anything like it in the US. Might be related to the number of diesel cars and trucks.

 

[minimad]

Ive found the best on leather is baby wipes (stop laughing)

Baby wipes contain a conditioner in them so not only do you clean the leather you also apply conditioner at the same time and keep the leather in good nick.

Was a tip i picked up for keeping my leather sofa in good condition.

 

[GConn]

This isn't bugs, it's the black road grime that you get in the UK. Maybe this should be a UK-centric question since I never got anything like it in the US. Might be related to the number of diesel cars and trucks.

Grime? It's time for WD40..... :Flip:

Seriously though, I only use a wet piece of cloth and a conditioner. I wouldn't know about grime. A great percentage of the cars are diesel where I live too but I never had any grime on my jacket.

 

[Doorag]

Ive found the best on leather is baby wipes (stop laughing)

Baby wipes contain a conditioner in them so not only do you clean the leather you also apply conditioner at the same time and keep the leather in good nick.

Was a tip i picked up for keeping my leather sofa in good condition.

I've got plenty of baby wipes around. That would be a good idea for leather - what about textile? Any tips?

 

[GConn]

I have a cordura textile and took it to the cleaner's for a wash according to the instructions on the jacket. BUT, I would be sure that after a wash or two, the textile will lose it's waterproof capability since the teflon cover is affected by washing.

 

[Cloggy]

This isn't bugs, it's the black road grime that you get in the UK. Maybe this should be a UK-centric question since I never got anything like it in the US. Might be related to the number of diesel cars and trucks.

David a friend of mine once told me that what he missed most whilst living in London (for aprox 3 years ) was green snot

I personally think it's a London-centric question.

 

[phxtravis]

I just used an automotive leather/vinyl cleaner on mine and it works good, does a pretty good job on the white text.

 

[pedwards89]

This is what I use, but my textile jacket is black so I don't know if it will 'Get your whites right'

NIKWAX :: Easier, Safer, Drier

 

[keira]

I tried wasking my textile int he washing machine at the end of last season. Took all the armor out of it and tookt he plunge. I don't know about your London-grime, but it got my NH-grime out okay. Jacket wasn't destroyed either, which is pretty important

 

[Hellgate]

For leathers I use Lexol products, cleaner and conditioner. Works GREAT!

Lexol Leather Care

I once had a set of racing leathers the smelled so bad my wife wouldn't let them in the house! I found a dry cleaners who could clean leathers and they came back perfect! It was expensive however, I think $100.00 or so???

 

[vinpub]

I have a textile jacket with white stripes on shoulder. They get really trashed with road dust and straps. I took out the padding, liner and washed it with mild soap in the sink and let it drip-dry in the shower.
I havent tested any loss of waterproof coating (in SoCal you dont have to .. ) I figured, at worst, I can get one of those scotchgurad sparys and spray the outer layer to protect it further if needed.
It came out looking quite good but was back to its old look in a month!

 

[bledubd]

This isn't bugs, it's the black road grime that you get in the UK. Maybe this should be a UK-centric question since I never got anything like it in the US. Might be related to the number of diesel cars and trucks.

Funny enough I am looking for the same solution. The other day I washed my high viz in warm water and washing power and u can't believe the grime that came off. I asked another rider yesterday I bumped into at the supermarket and he told me that he pops his into the washing machine and lets it drip dry.

my problem is that ontop of the synthetic material I have leather parts on the same gear. i will probably pop over to HG and ask the guys there how to do the cleaning.

 

[bledubd]

This is what I use, but my textile jacket is black so I don't know if it will 'Get your whites right'

NIKWAX :: Easier, Safer, Drier

I have found a shop near where I live and will give it a try.

 

[Fz6Sa]

I have a red and white textile jacket that is basically gray on the front now and shiny white on the back. Is there a good way to clean out road grime or should I get an all-black jacket?

For leather as well. I'm looking at a nice leather jacket but it has white on the front as well. How could I keep it clean?

All my gear is IXS, - and the recomend the following:

IXS - The Perfect Fit

If it works on IXS, I guess it will work on most brands ....

 

[Raid The Revenge]

For LEATHER I recommend:

For TEXTILES...uhhh....

Take the protectors out of 'em, put them on and SHOWER WITH THEM ON!! Really! Works great!!