Care & cleaning

We care about ensuring our products last as long as possible – for your sake and for the environment. Here's what you can do to extend the lifespan of your favorite ROTAUF pieces.

Care instructions for Insulation Series

The insulation jackets are lined with wool from Graubünden mountain sheep. To preserve the insulating properties of the sheep's wool, the jacket should be washed as little as possible. If the jacket does need to be washed, this can easily be done in your washing machine at 30°C using a wool cycle.

➥ Important: The detergent must not contain bleach. Do not use fabric softener. Do not tumble dry.

Recommended care products
- Wool detergent from Nikwax
- Waterproofing agent: Fibertec, Textile Guard Eco, 500ml

➥ The recommended products are available in the ROTAUF online shop.

Washing procedure

1. First, check whether unpleasant odors from your insulation jacket can be removed by airing it out, and whether stains or dirt can be removed by hand washing. If this is possible, a wash cycle is not necessary. The following steps are not necessary; the jacket can still be used.

2. Before washing, check whether your jacket's water-repellent properties are still sufficient. To do this, wet your jacket with a few drops of water. If the drops remain on the surface and can be easily shaken off, the water-repellent properties are still sufficient. If the fabric absorbs the water, the water-repellent properties are insufficient and re-impregnation is necessary (see step 4).

3. If the dirt and odors are stubborn, the jacket can be washed in the washing machine at 30°C using a wool wash cycle.

4. This step is optional and only needs to be performed if you noticed in step 2 that re-waterproofing is necessary. To re-waterproof, the jacket must be fresh from the washing machine, meaning it must still be damp. Then place the jacket on a clean surface and spray with the waterproofing agent. Caution: Do not overspray. Then, with a damp cloth, spread the milky liquid from the spray over the jacket and rub it in. Continue with step 5 once the entire jacket has been re-waterproofed.

➥ Important: No traces of waterproofing treatment should remain on the jacket. The sprayed-on solution must be rubbed in completely.

5. After washing, the jacket should not be shaken out and should be hung on a hanger or, even better, laid out on a clothes rack to dry.

➥ Important: Do not put in the tumble dryer!

6. Done ;)

Care instructions for Eco Performance Collection
Products from the ROTAUF Eco Performance collection should be washed regularly if used regularly. For daily use, we recommend at least once every two months, and for occasional use, approximately twice a year.

➥ Important: Do not use fabric softener when washing.

Recommended care products
- Detergent: Fibertec, Pro Wash Eco, 100ml
- Waterproofing agent: Fibertec, Textile Guard Eco, 500ml
➥ The recommended products are available in the ROTAUF online shop.

Washing procedure

1. Before washing, check that all pockets are empty, zippers and Velcro fasteners are closed, and drawstrings are loosened.

2. Use a care product recommended by us, or ask a sports shop of your choice for advice on environmentally friendly care products specifically designed for the care of waterproof clothing. When purchasing care products, make sure they are PFC-free – for your own and the environment's sake.

➥ Important: Do not use fabric softener. The garments should be washed using the sports or delicates program and at a maximum of 30°C.

3. For re-impregnation, we recommend the Fibertec Textile Guard Eco spray. For re-impregnation, the clothing must be fresh from the washing machine; that is, it must still be damp.
Place the clothing on a clean surface and spray liberally with the Fibertec spray. Then spread the milky liquid from the spray over the clothing with a damp cloth and rub in.

Continue with step 5 when all clothing has been re-impregnated.

➥ Important: No traces of the waterproofing agent should remain on the jacket; rub the sprayed liquid in completely.
➥ For your information: For one jacket you need about 1⁄3 to 1⁄2 of the whole bottle.

4. After washing or waterproofing, the clothes should be hung and dried on a hanger.

5. Once the clothes are dry, they are then tumble dried for about 20 minutes using a gentle cycle to intensify the waterproofing effect.

6. Done ;)

Important to know - the reason behind the reason

Washing: Frequent washing of waterproof clothing is so important for the following reason: To seal the seams of the clothing, adhesive strips—so-called tapes—are applied to the inside. However, the adhesive used in these tapes is sensitive to acid. And since human perspiration is relatively acidic, it will attack the adhesive in the tapes over time.

➥ To prevent this, regular washing is important.

Waterproofing: Regular waterproofing is important to ensure water repellent properties. This keeps your clothing and you dry for longer. It also ensures the material's breathability. Without adequate waterproofing, the outer fabric of your clothing will absorb water in the rain, deactivating its breathability and preventing body sweat from penetrating and evaporating.

➥ To prevent this, regular waterproofing is important – after every wash, but at least every three months.

Drying: A waterproofing treatment on clothing can be imagined as a multitude of fine hairs on the surface of the garment. When a drop of water hits the surface of the jacket, it rests on the hairs without touching the fabric itself. Through wear and washing of the clothing, these hairs become bent. However, these hairs are chemically designed to straighten up again when exposed to heat, thus bonding better with the fabric.

.➥ That's why it's important to tumble dry for 20 minutes after each wash.

Care instructions for Eco Merino

Wool is naturally odor-resistant, dirt-resistant, and can be worn much longer between washes than cotton or synthetic fibers. If washing is necessary, please wash with similar colors or separately. These instructions apply to all ROTAUF products made with merino wool.

➥ Important: The detergent must not contain bleach.

Recommended care products

- Wool detergent from Nikwax or commercially available wool detergent
- Use a fabric or mesh bag, e.g. the Guppy Friend wash bag, to further protect your Merino laundry from zippers, snap fasteners, etc.
- ROTAUF mothballs made from Engadin pine wood

Background information
- Wash:
Important: Do not use bleach, fabric softeners, or harsh stain removers! These leave a coating on the wool fibers that impairs breathability and moisture wicking. Regular laundry detergent strips the wool of its oils, making it hard and brittle.

- Storage:
We recommend storing your Merino wool laundry folded in a closet or drawer. We recommend placing a piece of pine wood or a lavender sachet with your laundry to prevent moths, carpet beetles, and other textiles from feasting on your favorite garments and leaving holes.

- What is pilling?
Pilling, or fuzz, is a natural process that can occur when shorter fibers work their way to the surface of the fabric. The best way to prevent pilling is to wash your garment after at least three wears.

- Useful information for when you're on the go: If you don't have access to machine washing, we recommend the following: Air it out in humid weather. The moist air flows through the garment and absorbs dirt and odors. If necessary, you can also wash your merino wool garment with a mild shampoo, but don't wring it out; it's better to dry it flat.

- Holes:
Heavy wear and tear, snagging on thorns, and jewelry can leave marks on your merino clothing. Friction from belt buckles, backpack straps, snap fasteners, etc., as well as pests like moths and carpet beetles, can cause small holes or abrasions. We recommend the Repair Pathc from ROTAUF. Available in our shop.

Washing procedure

1. Check the garment's care label. Your merino garments can only be washed at a maximum of 30°C using a wool wash program.

2. Check your washing drum for any broken spots or particles left over from previous washes.

3. Place your merino wool garment in a laundry bag and then add wool detergent to the washing machine drum. Important: Select a wool wash program and reduce the spin speed to a maximum of 60 rpm. Spin speeds that are too high will damage your merino garment; they put too much strain on the wool fibers and cause the garment to shrink.

4. When the wash cycle is finished, remove the laundry from the drum as quickly as possible and lay it flat on a clothes rack to dry. Do not tumble dry!

5. Done ;)

Care instructions for Eco Merino

Wool is naturally odor-resistant, dirt-resistant, and can be worn much longer between washes than cotton or synthetic fibers. If washing is necessary, please wash with similar colors or separately. These instructions apply to all ROTAUF products made with merino wool.

➥ Important: The detergent must not contain bleach.

Recommended care products

- Wool detergent from Nikwax or commercially available wool detergent
- Use a fabric or mesh bag, e.g. the Guppy Friend wash bag, to further protect your Merino laundry from zippers, snap fasteners, etc.
- ROTAUF mothballs made from Engadin pine wood

Background information
- Wash:
Important: Do not use bleach, fabric softeners, or harsh stain removers! These leave a coating on the wool fibers that impairs breathability and moisture wicking. Regular laundry detergent strips the wool of its oils, making it hard and brittle.

- Storage:
We recommend storing your Merino wool laundry folded in a closet or drawer. We recommend placing a piece of pine wood or a lavender sachet with your laundry to prevent moths, carpet beetles, and other textiles from feasting on your favorite garments and leaving holes.

- What is pilling?
Pilling, or fuzz, is a natural process that can occur when shorter fibers work their way to the surface of the fabric. The best way to prevent pilling is to wash your garment after at least three wears.

- Useful information for when you're on the go: If you don't have access to machine washing, we recommend the following: Air it out in humid weather. The moist air flows through the garment and absorbs dirt and odors. If necessary, you can also wash your merino wool garment with a mild shampoo, but don't wring it out; it's better to dry it flat.

- Holes:
Heavy wear and tear, snagging on thorns, and jewelry can leave marks on your merino clothing. Friction from belt buckles, backpack straps, snap fasteners, etc., as well as pests like moths and carpet beetles, can cause small holes or abrasions. We recommend the Repair Pathc from ROTAUF. Available in our shop.

Washing procedure

1. Check the garment's care label. Your merino garments can only be washed at a maximum of 30°C using a wool wash program.

2. Check your washing drum for any broken spots or particles left over from previous washes.

3. Place your merino wool garment in a laundry bag and then add wool detergent to the washing machine drum. Important: Select a wool wash program and reduce the spin speed to a maximum of 60 rpm. Spin speeds that are too high will damage your merino garment; they put too much strain on the wool fibers and cause the garment to shrink.

4. When the wash cycle is finished, remove the laundry from the drum as quickly as possible and lay it flat on a clothes rack to dry. Do not tumble dry!

5. Done ;)