Product Care Guide

It is important to ensure that once you buy your goods from Cape Union Mart, you continue to maintain and care for them.

Whether it is a down jacket, leather hiking boots, sleeping bag, tent, or otherwise, we’ll show you just how to care for your new purchase.

How to wash a Down Jacket How to wash all Outdoor Footwear How to wash Rainwear and Fleece How to wash Sheep Wool and Suede How to wash a Tent How to mend a Tent How to mend a Flysheet How to mend a Sleeping Bag or Puffer Jacket How to wash a backpack How to seal leaks in your Tent

Outdoor Apparel

How to wash a Down Jacket

You will need:
  1. Storm Down Cleaner
  2. Storm Down Proofer
  3. 2 Tennis Balls
  4. Tumble Dryer
  5. Front Loader Washing Machine or Top loaders without the centre agitator.

Step 1: Set the washing machine to Delicate and use cold water on a long soak cycle. You can also choose to handwash instead.

Step 2: Pour a cap of Storm Down Cleaner into the detergent compartment and a cap of Storm Down Proofer in the fabric softener compartment. Start the cycle. Wash the jacket alone, to prevent the material from catching on another garment.

Step 3: To dry, place the down jacket in a tumble dryer and add the 2 tennis balls. The tennis balls will assist with evenly dispersing the down feathers to avoid clumping.

Step 4: Tumble dry for 15 – 20 mins at a time. It will take some time to fully dry. Take out and smooth out on a flat surface to ensure there are no clumps. Ensure that the down jacket is fully dry inside and outside.

How to wash all Outdoor Footwear

You will need:
  1. Storm Footwear Cleaner
  2. Storm Footwear Proofer
  3. Damp cloth
  4. Storm Sponge or soft brush

Step 1: Remove the laces and insoles and apply the Storm Footwear cleaner with a damp cloth or Storm sponge. Use the rough side of the Storm Sponge or a soft brush to scrub stubborn stains. Remove excess soap with a clean damp cloth.

Step 2: Remove the insoles after every use, even if not wet. Insoles hold moisture, and the upper material will deteriorate if left wet in the hiking boot. Remove the insole and allow it to dry overnight.

Note: Storm Footwear Cleaner is suitable for all outdoor footwear including Full Grain Leather, Suede, Nubuck and Fabric uppers.

Use Storm Proofer whenever you notice the outer material has become saturated. Water ruins leather and synthetic uppers. Waterproof hiking boots are protected with a DWR coating.

How to wash Rainwear and Fleece

You will need:
  1. Storm Cleaner
  2. Front Loader Washing Machine or Top loaders without the centre agitator.

Step 1: Set the Front Loader Washing Machine to Cold Wash.

Step 2: Wash and dry with like colours but do not use fabric softener or bleach in the cycle.

Step 3: Allow to drip dry. Do not tumble dry, iron, or dry clean. Do not wring the garment before drip drying.

Note: Please refer to the wash label as some rainwear requires a handwash only.

How to wash Sheep Wool and Suede

You will need:
  1. Wool detergent
  2. Bucket of cold water.

Step 1: Dip the slipper or boots completely in the cold-water bucket.

Step 2: Take a spoon of wool detergent and add to the water. Soak the footwear in it for five minutes and then clean it with a sponge.

Step 3: Once again rinse it completely in cold water.

Outdoor Equipment

How to wash a tent

You will need:
  1. Tent/Gear Cleaner
  2. Dish soap
  3. Cloth and Sponge
  4. Bathtub or larger container

Step 1: Get rid of any sand or dried dirt with a dust brush. For a tent, it may help to have it set up so that you can clean the inside and outside easily.

Step 2: Spot clean dirty areas with the sponge and dish soap.

Step 3: Unzip the doors of the tent or the opening of the sleeping bag and turn it inside out.

Step 4: Soak the tent or sleeping bag in lukewarm water in a tub or large container with the Tent/Gear Cleaner. Follow the directions on the bottle to see how much you should use for one application.

Step 5: Be sure to rinse properly and dry out completely in a well-ventilated area before folding and storing.

How to mend a tent

You will need:
  1. Gear Patches
  2. Cloth
  3. Scissors

Step 1: Clean the area around the tear thoroughly and allow it to dry.

Step 2: Cut a piece of the gear patch to cover the hole ensuring it covers around the hole by at least 3cm. Round off the corner to create a circle patch.

Step 3: Lay the tent on a flat surface, remove the backing of the gear patch and apply it to the torn area. Again, ensuring accurate spread on all sides of the hole. You can also apply a patch to the inside of the tent if the tear is in a high-tension area.

Step 4: Let the patch cure for 24 hours before packing the tent away

How to mend a flysheet

You will need:
  1. Mesh patch
  2. Scissors

Step 1: Lay the torn section on a flat surface.

Step 2: Centre the mesh patch over the tear and remove the backing to apply to the affected surface.

Step 3: Ensure the alignment is correct and press the mesh patch into place.

Step 4: Allow the mesh patch to cure for 24 hours before packing away. 

How to mend a sleeping bag or puffer jacket

You will need:
  1. Gear patches
  2. Cloth
  3. Scissors

Step 1: Clean the area around the tear thoroughly and allow it to dry.

Step 2: Cut a piece of the gear patch to cover the hole ensuring it covers around the hole by at least 3cm. Round off the corner to create a circle patch.

Step 3: Lay the item on a flat surface, remove the backing of the gear patch, and apply it to the torn area. Again, ensuring accurate spread on all sides of the hole. You can also apply a patch to the inside of the item if the tear is in a high-tension area.

Step 4: Let the patch cure for 24 hours before packing the tent away.

How to wash a backpack

You will need:
  1. Storm Gear Wash
  2. Storm Proofer
  3. Sponge
  4. Soft brush

Step 1: Empty the backpack and brush off visible dirt.

Step 2: Read the care instructions label. If there isn’t a label, test the fabric in a less visible spot with detergent first to avoid fading or damage.

Step 3: Spot treat stains

Step 4: Gently wash the backpack in lukewarm water with the Storm Sponge.

Step 5: Rinse the backpack and air dry.

Step 6: After the backpack is completely dry, apply a Storm Proofer to enhance the DWR rating.

How to seal leaks in your tent

You will need:
  1. Seam sealer
  2. Storm Cleaner
  3. Cloth

Step 1: Lay your tent on a dry and flat surface.

Step 2: Examine the seals and identify where the seam tape is worn out.

Step 3: Remove the loose seam tape and gently clean the area with a cloth and Storm Cleaner.

Step 4: Ensure the tent is fully dry before applying the seam seal tape to the affected area.

Step 5: Allow seam seal tape to cure for 24 hours before packing the tent away.

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Repair Centre

Don’t want to fix it yourself? Have your K-Way jacket, tent, backpack, outdoor footwear or sleeping bag professionally serviced at our Repair Centre. Visit your nearest Cape Union Mart store to book your repairs and for more information on this service.

Please note all repairs are carried out at the K-Way factory in the Western Cape.

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