by Between the sweat from your body and dirt from the trail. It’s only a matter of time before you’re going to need to wash your running vest. And with my whole running club running in the same Salomon running vests. I thought it would be a good idea to put together a guide on how to clean them safely. Ensuring they will stand up to years of use. Below is a guide to how to wash a Salomon running vest.
Key Takeaways
- Hand washing is recommended for cleaning Salomon running vests to remove sweat and bacteria.
- Use warm water and scentless detergent for hand washing, followed by gentle squeezing and rinsing.
- Machine washing is allowed but should be done on a delicate program with a garment bag and no fabric softeners.
- Always hang dry the vest to prevent damage.
- To maintain zipper functionality, lubricate with vegetable oil, but be cautious to avoid staining the bag.
How to Wash a Salomon Running Vest
Below are two options for washing your running vest based on the recommendations from the Salomon manual (link below). They recommend hand washing and hang drying so that is what we will cover first. That said, they do provide machine washing instructions (with a warning) and I will provide those also.
From the Manual:
“We’ll advice a regular cleaning for this bag to regularly remove the sweat from the running sessions. (Sweat = bacteria = oxidization = odors = rings = bleaching accelerator) Preferably hand washing with detergent.”
Salomon Manual
Hand Washing Salomon Running Vest
Hand washing is incredibly easy. Just follow the simple steps below:
- Make sure the vest and all pockets are empty
- Fill a sink or tub with warm water
- Add scentless detergent (I recommend something paraben free)
- Soak your vest in the water and gently squeeze your vest to allow the detergent to penetrate.
- Remove your vest from the sink then drain the soap water.
- Refill sink with just warm water.
- Soak and gently squeeze your vest to get all the detergent out.
- Repeat draining, filling, and soaking in just water.
- Hang the vest to dry.
To clean your vest, begin by ensuring all pockets are empty. Fill a sink or tub with warm water and add scentless, preferably paraben-free detergent. Submerge your vest, gently squeezing it to let the detergent soak in. Remove the vest, drain the soapy water, and refill the sink with warm water. Repeat the soaking and squeezing process to remove detergent residue. Finally, hang your vest to dry.
Machine Washing Your Running Vest
Again, the manual recommends hand washing your vest. But if you do use a washing machine, please place your vest in a delicate garment bag before washing. And always hang dry. Below are the directions provided by the manual.
From the Manual:
From the Manual: “Although not recommended, machine washing is permitted on delicate program (30°C) with soft spin cycle (max 600 turns per minute) while closing the straps beforehand and avoiding fabric softeners and rinsing with clear water. To dry the bag, we recommend natural drying and no tumble drying.”
Salomon Manual
Zipper Care
This is one that most people don’t think about. Sweat can oxidize your zipper, causing it to become stuck over time. But you can prevent this with washing and using vegetable oil to lube the zipper. The oil can stain your bag so be careful. Just put some on a cotton swab or hand towel and run it along the zipper.
From the manual:
“You can protect the metal parts from the zips while rubbing them softly with a cotton swab moistened with vegetable oil (olive oil for instance) and while sliding the zippers 2 or 3 times. Do not put too much oil not to stain the bag!”
Salomon Manual
Conclusion
Properly caring for your Salomon running vest is essential to ensure its longevity and functionality. Whether you choose to hand wash it with care, following the recommended steps, or opt for machine washing with precaution, maintaining the cleanliness of your vest is key to preventing odors and wear and tear. Don’t forget to pay attention to the zippers by lubricating them with vegetable oil to keep them in top shape. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your Salomon running vest remains a reliable companion on your athletic journeys for years to come.
