Alright, let’s talk about washing motorcycle gear, you know, the stuff you wear when you’re riding them loud bikes. It ain’t rocket science, but you gotta do it right or you’ll mess up your good clothes, and that ain’t cheap!
First off, don’t just chuck everything in the washing machine like you do with your old socks. Especially if you got one of them old washing machines with that big thing sticking up in the middle. That thing will chew up your gear faster than a dog on a bone. You need one of them fancy new machines, the ones that open from the front, or maybe one that’s got that flat thing on the bottom instead of the stick. If you don’t have one of those, well, go down to the washateria, they got ’em there.
Now, when you’re washing, put it on the gentle cycle. You know, the one that don’t spin too fast. And if your machine has a pre-soak, use that too. It helps get the dirt out, the mud and bugs and all that stuff that gets stuck on you when you’re out riding.
- Helmets: Helmets are tricky. You can’t just throw them in the wash. Take out all the pads and stuff inside, and wash them separate. Wipe down the outside with a damp cloth, not too wet though. And let it all dry good before you put it back together.
- Jackets and Pants: These can go in the machine, gentle cycle like I said. But zip up all the zippers and close all the snaps and Velcro, otherwise they’ll catch on everything and maybe tear. Use some soap that’s made for this kind of stuff, not too strong. You don’t want to ruin that fancy waterproof stuff.
- Gloves: Gloves are like helmets, a bit tricky. Some you can wash, some you can’t. If they’re leather, don’t put them in the machine! Wipe them down with a damp cloth. If they’re cloth, you can wash them, but gentle, real gentle. And let them dry all the way before you wear them again, or they’ll stink somethin’ awful. You don’t want your hands smelling like a wet dog, do ya?
- Boots: Now boots, those are a whole other story. Don’t ever put boots in the washing machine. You’ll ruin ’em for sure. Wipe ’em down good with a wet rag, get all that mud and dirt off. If they’re really bad, you might need some special cleaner, stuff they sell at the motorcycle shop. And again, let ’em dry good. Stuff some newspaper inside to soak up the water.
Before you start washing, hose down your bike with water. Get yourself some soap that’s made for washing bikes, not too harsh, you don’t want to wreck the paint. Get all that mud and oil off before you really start cleaning. And don’t you go washin’ that bike when the engine’s hot! Hot metal and cold water don’t mix, you hear? You’ll crack somethin’ and then you’ll be cryin’.
And after you’re done washing everything, hang it up to dry. Don’t put it in the dryer, unless you want it to shrink up so small you can’t wear it no more. Let it air dry, in the shade, not in the hot sun. The sun can fade the colors and make the fabric weak.
So, that’s about it. Washing motorcycle gear ain’t so hard, just gotta be careful and do it right. Take care of your stuff, and it’ll take care of you when you’re out on the road. Now go on, get to washing!
One last thing, if you got some of that fancy GORE-TEX stuff, you know, the stuff that keeps the water out? You gotta be extra careful with that. Use special soap, and don’t use too much. And don’t use fabric softener, it’ll mess up the waterproofing. Read the label, it’ll tell you what to do.
Now git, and keep them clothes clean!
Tags：[Motorcycle Gear, Washing Motorcycle Gear, Motorcycle Helmet, Motorcycle Jacket, Motorcycle Gloves, Motorcycle Boots, Cleaning Motorcycle Gear, Motorcycle Maintenance]
