ABC OF FUNCTIONAL TEXTILES

As functional fibers dry fast, it is normally not necessary to put them into the dryer. Air dry is the mildest way which does not only protect the environment but also excludes mechanical exposure of the textiles.

Antibacterial equipment and additives Löffler does not use antibacterial equipment or additives because the functional principle of Transtex with the fiber polypropylene does not create a bacterial microclimate.

Always use COLD water when treating blood stains.

Breathability is the term for moisture transport within a fabric from the inside to the outside = water vapor permeability. Breathable clothing protects the body from overheating or cooling off. Water vapor permeability is measurable and is described with two different values (RET value and MVTR value).

A house-hold remedy against chewing gum or resins is to simply deep-freeze the piece of clothing. Afterwards the hardened chewing gum or resins can be scraped or broken off. We do not recommend the use of adhesive dissolvers or nail polish removers. (no guarantee for success – use at your own risk)

Such cream can contain ingredients which are harmful to the Elastane share of the sportswear.

Oil and grease stains should be cleaned professionally. Do not try it yourself and follow the care label.

Do not apply them directly on the fabrics! They can harm dyes which mostly contain alcoholic substances. Laminates and coatings can also come off.

Do not use fabric softeners for functional clothes; this can bond the fibers and membranes.

With the right care the textiles keep their functionality for a long time, and dirt, sweat, and grease do not have a negative effect on the function. The life cycle of the clothes also depends on the right care. It is better to wash them often with small amounts of detergent than less often with a lot of detergent.

Don’t ever iron Fleece material. Already at low temperatures the fleece fibers are flattened and the material loses its cuddly and insulating forms.

Gore products can and should be washed. Even after repeated washing, the function of the Gore-Tex® membrane remains absolutely intact. Be sure to follow the instructions on the care label. Rinse adequately in order to avoid detergent residues on the clothes (no hand wash and no fabric softener). Ironing without steam or drying at low temperature (follow the care label) can restore water repellency.

A household remedy is to use tooth-paste without bleaching ingredients. Just rub toothpaste on the stain, let soak and then machine wash. (no guarantee for success – use at your own risk)

Fabrics containing polypropylene or laminates are heat-sensitive. Always follow the care label.

Always use a small amount of detergent for hand wash. Hand wash only removes dirt and sweat superficially and is thus only a rough- and-ready solution when on the go.

For functional clothing ironing is not really necessary. Ironing of water-repellent jackets and pants can restore water repellency. The temperature should not exceed 110°C. (1 dot or level 1)

1. Layer on the skin – functional underwear keeping the body dry and warm 2. Layer for insulation – warming layer 3. Layer for weather protection – breathable, wind- and moisture-repellent clothing

Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate -> indicates the value of breathability. In the lab, the volume of water is measured as to how much evaporates through one m² of fabric within 24 hours. The higher the MVTR value the higher the breathability.

Close press buttons before washing in order to prevent mechanical damage.

A household remedy is the sun. Lay the washed piece of clothing in the sun and small stains will disappear. (no guarantee for success – use at your own risk)

Pilling is the development of bobbles of fiber on a textile article with normal use or wear. This can easily be removed with a fabric shaver.

The highly functional climate fiber, polypropylene, stands out for its excellent capillary action. It can transport moisture but cannot absorb or store moisture itself.

Resistance Evaporation Transmission -> indicates the value of breathability and describes the resistance of the textile fabric to water vapor. The smaller the RET value, the higher the breathability.

Sweat affects materials in the long run. Do not leave wet clothes in their condition but try to dry or wash them immediately. In order to neutralize odor you can use vinegar.

Decorative stitching on the saddle can wear away the fabric of bike pants.

In order to keep a uniform look, always wash the whole set.

There are two different Transtex constructions. The one-layer principle made of 100% PP and the two-layer principle made of a combination of PP and e.g. cotton or modal. The highly functional climate fiber polypropylene transports moisture away from the skin very fast and remains permanently dry. Do not use fabric softener in order to maintain its function.

UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) Factors which influence the UV transparency of textiles are the density of the material or the knitted fabric, the weight, the color, the fiber and also the moistness. Only looking at the fabric or touching it cannot tell you how much UV radiation gets through the fabric to the skin.

Vinegar has basically a softening effect and is thus a real alternative to fabric softeners. Just put some vinegar into the fabric softener tray. This can help neutralizing odors and is, at the same time, good for the washing machine.

Always close velcro fastener before washing in order to avoid damaging other materials.

Löffler recommends silicone-free sprays for restoring water repellency. Apply on the lightly pre-dried clothes after washing. Then machine dry or alternatively air-dry and iron afterwards in order to restore water repellency. Due to the thermic treatment, the waterproofing resins which make the fabric water-repellent are made soft and can penetrate into the fibers re-sealing them. Löffler does not recommend waterproofing with wash-in treatments because they affect also the inside of the fabric hindering moisture transport.

Do not leave clothes in wet condition as this can create unpleasant odor or discoloring.

Better wash often with small amounts of detergent than less often with a lot of detergent.

Löffler Wooltex® does not require special wool detergent.

The power of the moon can bleach yellowed clothes.

In order to keep the uniform look always wash the whole set.

Always close zippers before washing in order to avoid mechanical damage. Closing the zippers extends the durability of the zipper mechanism.

All materials Löffler uses are certified according to Ökotex. Ökotex stands for human ecological safety of textiles with the slogan “Confidence in textiles – tested for harmful substances”.