Care and Maintenance

Care & Maintenance of your Oilskin

Our traditional Oilskin products and garments are made from sturdy 100% cotton that is coated with an uniquely formulated oil and wax finish to give the Oilskin its distinctive weatherproof and breathable characteristics. As a specialised material, the Oilskin fabric needs special attention to maintain its weatherproofing qualities.

The following care instructions will help prolong the life of your Oilskin product.

CLEANING

  • Follow the washing/care instructions attached to the inside of the product.
  • Do not wash with detergent or hot water as this removes the oil and wax which are crucial to the Oilskin’s waterproofing qualities
  • When the item gets dirty, brush off dirt or sponge down with cold water
  • When item is extremely dirty, hand wash in cold water
    If the garment requires a complete clean, we recommend using our Wool/Oilskin Wash or pure soap.

REMOVING MOULD

  • Firstly brush off as much mould on the garment as you can find.
  • Sponge diluted vinegar onto the affected areas.
  • Hand wash in luke warm water using our Didgeridoonas Oilskin/Wool Wash or a pure soap. Do not soak your product.
  • Rinse off as much of the soap as you can and hang it out to dry. Keep out of direct sunlight.
  • Hose down any excess soap and air out your item thoroughly.
  • Once you’ve cleaned your oilskin the soap may have stripped most of the oil out of the coat so it will need reproofing.

Please note, always store your oilskin product in a dry well ventilated area. Do not place in a cupboard or plastic bag for long periods of time, otherwise it will become mouldy.

REPROOFING

  • With wear over time, the oil and wax on the Oilskin fabric will naturally dry out.
  • At The Golden Apple we offer two types of reproofing products for Oilskin care: Oilskin Reproofer and Leather Seal Wax. (see below)

STORAGE AND GENERAL CARE

  • Always store your Oilskin garment in a dry, well-ventilated area
  • Do not leave in wet, enclosed environments as this promotes the growth of mould.
  • The oil and wax proofing on your product can rub off on other surfaces. Be aware of this when using your product in close proximity with other surfaces.
  • Do not stitch through or repair the outside of the fabric unless absolutely necessary
  • If repairs need to be made, please make sure the area is reproofed after repairing to prevent leaking.

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