GARMENT CARE:

  • Use of VELCRO® and hydration packs with sublimated garments

    Throughout the course of an OCR event, there is a high level of abrasion caused by the wearing of Hydration Packs (or VELCRO®) which can cause the balling (pilling) of fabrics. Pilling is a natural reaction to the effect that high levels of abrasion and friction can have on a man made fabric. It is not a defect or fault of the garment and will reduce once these excess fibres are gone. Garments which have pilled due to the use of hydration packs or velcro cannot be returned or replaced.

    The official OCR jerseys are a high quality garment with breathability and a 4 way stretch which makes it an elite performance jersey. These key features would not be possible in tightly woven fabrics that are less likely to pill.

    Cleaning Techniques

    1. Washing techniques – reduce the affects of pilling by turning your clothes inside-out before you wash them. The motion of the washing machine is often a reason for pilling on shirts.
    2. Drying techniques – Full loads of washing rubbing against each other also causes pilling to occur. Ideally you should hang your jerseys out to try or if you must use the dryer, ensure it is on the lowest heat and time cycle.
  • Sublimated garments

    Akuma advise washing garments as soon as possible following use. Do not allow stains to set. Do not leave garments that are wet or dirty in bags as smells and permanent stains will develop. The sooner muddy or stained garments are pre-treated and washed, the better the washing results will be.

    If washing does not remove the stain

    • Following washing, do not let garments dry as this can cause the stain to set.
    • Soak the garment in a pre-wash. In cases where staining is severe it may be necessary to apply a stain remover directly to the affected area before washing again.
    • Do not allow a garment to dry until the stain is removed. Once the stain is removed wash as per guidelines.

    Care guidelines

    • Pre-treat heavily soiled areas.
    • Apply undiluted laundry detergent.
    • Sensitive stains should firstly be rinsed in cold water, then washed with a non-chloride bleach product.
    • Pre-soak garments with heavy stains. Soak stained garments in a plastic bucket with the warmest water safe for the fabric and a good laundry detergent for 1-3 hours.
     

    Leisure garments

    Always look for the garment care label and follow the washing instructions. Washing machines, detergents and fabrics are manufactured to ensure that when washed at the specified temperature your garments will come out looking their best after each wash.

    • Before washing, close all zips, undo all buttons and flatten out collars and cuffs.
    • Check pockets and linings for loose or sharp objects.
    • Turn garments inside out to reduce abrasion so avoiding contamination from other garments.
    • Always read the label for individual garment instructions, such as washing temperature.
    • Garments of similar colours can be washed together where stated on the care label.
    • Do not overload the washing machine.
    • Always use the correct amount of detergent depending on how soiled the garments are.
    • Check garments regularly for stains and remove as soon as possible, it may be necessary to pre-soak.

    Drying

    Always check the care label to see whether a garment can be tumble dried. We recommend air drying with most Akuma garments. For best results pull garment into shape when damp.

    Ironing

    The iron symbols advise the optimum temperature at which to iron. The dots represent the recommended iron temperature; the more dots the hotter the iron.

    Ironing icons

    • Iron each garment on the recommended setting.
    • Do not iron directly onto garment embellishments.
    • Always iron garments on the reverse side..
    • When using a non-steam iron to iron dark garments avoid ‘iron shine’ by either ironing on the inside of the fabric or through a damp cloth.