Product Care
Following our product care instructions will help make sure that your gear has a long, interesting life.

Having trouble deciphering the hieroglyphics on the tag of your garment? We’ve got you covered. Our product care symbol guide will explain everything – and help you keep your gear in great shape.
Washing instructions are printed on a white tag inside our garments. Following our garment instructions will help make sure that your gear has a long, interesting life. In general, washing your gear in cold or warm water with mild powder laundry soap (non-toxic, biodegradable types preferred) and drying it on the line are the best ways to clean Patagonia® products.
For a guide to the Federal Trade Commission's product care symbols that you may see used on our clothing care tags, download this information as a PDF file, click here.
By washing your gear only when it’s absolutely necessary, you’ll not only conserve water, but also minimize wear and tear on your garments. Even your most-used outerwear should only need an occasional full wash. If it’s caked with dirt (and we hope it will be), consider using a rag or sponge to spot-clean rather than putting it through a machine cycle. And consider your washing machine: studies show synthetic jackets laundered in top-load washing machines shed more than seven times as many microfibers as the same jacket in front-load washers.
Line dry your clothing whenever possible. Turn bright or dark items inside out to reduce fading, including jeans. Hang shirts from the bottom, and pants and skirts from the waistband so the clothespin marks are in a less conspicuous spot. Line drying saves energy and reduces environmental impact. If you are using a dryer, tumble dry on low heat, especially for down insulated garments. See below for more information on caring for Down Insulation.
Putting your synthetic clothing into a filter bag, such as the Guppy Friend Wash Bag before washing by hand or machine can significantly reduce the flow of microfibers into your drain. The easy-to-use Guppy Friend is available at patagonia.com and our stores throughout the United States and Europe. Another option is a permanent washing machine filter (requires some plumbing expertise). For both of these filter options, make sure you clean out your filter bags after a few washes when you can visually see that fibers have collected. Wipe the fibers out with your finger and put the fibers in your trash bin.
Adding fabric softener or dryer sheets to your laundering process can increase softness but it achieves the improved hand feel by depositing waxy agents on the surface of the fabric. This waxy residue left behind on your clothes can:
- Impair moisture wicking/ quick drying
- Inhibit odor control
- Reduce longevity of spandex content
Most waterproof/breathable shells on the market are originally treated with a Durable Water-Repellant finish (DWR), which keeps the outer fabric from becoming saturated so that the breathable barrier can do its job. This coating needs to be replenished once per season, or more often if the piece gets a lot of use or washing. If water is no longer beading up on your shell, it’s time to put on another finish. Our favorites are Storm products, though there are many good products on the market. Whatever you choose, be sure to use a spray-on for two-layer garments (with a hanging mesh liner) or a wash-in for three-layer garments (with an interior fabric protecting the barrier). If the situation does not change, please send us the garment and we’ll take a look (see Returns and Exchanges).
To get grease out of a technical jacket, dampen the stain and rub in dishwashing detergent. Then wash the jacket in warm water with plenty of mild powder laundry soap. If the stain persists, sponge it with a safe cleaning fluid (Renuzit® or Carbona®) or mineral spirits; you can find both at your local grocery store.
To get gum or sap out of a garment, first freeze the sap with some ice, then use a dull butter knife to scrape off as much as you can. Next, soak the garment in a water/white-vinegar solution, and throw it into the laundry with warm water and detergent.
For help with other stains, please feel free to Contact Us.
Like most synthetics, our shells, fleece and Capilene® fabrics will melt or burn if exposed to flame or direct heat. They are not flame resistant; do not use them near ANY direct source of heat or flame.
We’ve spent years developing and field testing Patagonia Wetsuits to assure a good balance of performance and durability. But no wetsuit lasts forever. If you need to wash your wetsuit we recommend washing your wetsuit by hand in a wetsuit specific cleaner. We use and suggest Pau Pilau Biological Wetsuit Cleaner. Dr. Bronner liquid soaps are good too.
If you need to return your suit for repair please download the Wetsuit Repair Form or fill out the Wetsuit Warranty Form.
Over time the Aluminum bars on your Patagonia Aluminum Bar fishing boots will wear down from use. Please refer to our Aluminum bar replacement guide to assist you and quickly get you back to what you love most, fishing!
More Patagonia Product Care Tips
To remove grease, first try washing the garment by hand with a good liquid dishwashing detergent, rather than machine washing it with a powdered laundry detergent. If the grease persists, rub the stain with a cotton ball or cotton cloth dampened with a few drops of denatured or isopropyl alcohol (found in the paint section of most home stores) to break up the grease, then wash as directed by the garment care tag.
Air-dry a cashmere garment by laying it flat on a dry towel and stretching it to the correct size and shape before drying.
You can remove stains from cashmere by spot-washing with a natural stain remover like vinegar or lemon juice. (Test in an inconspicuous place first).
If water no longer beads up on your shell, it’s time to put on another coat of DWR finish. We recommend replenishing the DWR once per season, or more often if the garment receives frequent use and washing. Our favorites are Storm products, though there are many good products on the market.
Whatever you choose, be sure to use a spray-on for 2-layer garments (with a hanging mesh liner) and a wash-in for 3-layer garments (with an interior fabric protecting the barrier).
Machine dry on no to low heat (may take a few cycles) with two to three clean tennis balls added to the dryer to restore fluff. DO NOT bleach, iron or use fabric softener.
Machine-wash GORE-TEX® garments in warm water (104º F/40º C) using a mild powdered or liquid detergent. Rinse well to remove all of the detergent. Don’t use a fabric softener. We recommend Granger’s Performance Wash.
Tumble dry on a warm setting. The dryer’s warmth helps renew the fabric’s durable water repellent (DWR) finish, which keeps the outer fabric from becoming saturated in wet conditions.
If water no longer beads up on the garment, it’s time to put on another coat of DWR finish. We recommend replenishing the DWR finish once per season, or more often if the garment receives frequent use and washing. Our favorites are Nikwax® products, though there are many good products on the market. Whatever you choose, be sure to use a spray-on for all garments made from GORE-TEX® fabric.
To remove grease from a garment, dampen the stain and rub in dishwashing detergent. Then wash the jacket in warm water with plenty of mild laundry detergent. If the stain persists, sponge it with a safe cleaning fluid (Renuzit® or Carbona®) or mineral spirits, which can be found at most markets or home improvement stores.
To get gum or sap off of a garment, first freeze the sap or gum with some ice, then use a dull butter knife to scrape off as much as you can. Next, soak the garment in a water/white-vinegar solution, and machine wash with warm water and detergent.
Luckily, grease comes out of fabrics quite easily. Simply washing your garment in warm, soapy water with a liquid dishwashing detergent will usually remove the stain. If that doesn’t work, try blotting the stain with isopropyl or denatured alcohol before washing in warm, soapy water.
Tumble dry on a warm setting. The dryer’s warmth helps renew the jacket’s durable water repellent (DWR) finish, which keeps the outer fabric from becoming saturated when you’re in wet conditions.
If water no longer beads up on your garment, it’s time to put on another coat of DWR finish. We recommend replenishing the DWR finish once per season, or more often if the garment receives frequent use and washing. Our favorites are Storm products, though there are many good products on the market. Whatever you choose, be sure to use a spray-on for two-layer garments (with a hanging mesh liner) or a wash-in for three-layer garments (with an interior fabric protecting the barrier).
To remove grease from an H2No® jacket, dampen the stain and rub in dishwashing liquid. Then wash the jacket in warm water with plenty of mild powder laundry detergent. If the stain persists, sponge it with a safe cleaning fluid (Renuzit® or Carbona®) or mineral spirits; you can find both at your local grocery store.
To get gum or sap out of a garment, first freeze the sap with some ice, then use a dull butter knife to scrape off as much as you can. Next, soak the garment in a water/white-vinegar solution, and machine wash with warm water and detergent.
Having trouble deciphering the hieroglyphics on the care tag of your garment? We’ve got you covered. For a guide to the product care symbols that you may see on our clothing care tags, click here.
Air-dry your lambswool garment by laying it flat on a dry towel and stretching it to the correct size and shape before drying.
You can clean up stains on lambswool by spot-washing with a natural stain remover like white vinegar or lemon juice (test in an inconspicuous place first).
Machine wash fabric blends in cold water and tumble dry on low temperature (or hang them out the window on the drive between Bishop and Tuolumne).
To remove stains from polyester mesh fabrics, try a few drops of dishwashing liquid directly on the stain and rub until the stain starts to lift. Rinse thoroughly with clean water.
To remove stains, try a few drops of dishwashing liquid directly on the stain and rub until the stain starts to lift. Rinse thoroughly with clean water.
To remove stains from polyester, try a few drops of dishwashing liquid directly on the stain and rub until the stain starts to lift. Rinse thoroughly with clean water.
If the stain does not come out, pour yourself another glass of red wine and forget about it.
To remove grease from the polyester fibers of Regulator® Insulation, first try a liquid detergent rather than a powdered one in your washing machine. If the grease persists, rub the stain with a cotton ball or cotton cloth dampened with a few drops of denatured alcohol (found in the paint section of most home stores) to break up the grease, then wash as normal.
Elements of the sun-protection strategy can range from yarn selection to fabric construction to the use of special finishes (especially for light colors). To launder fabrics with a UPF rating, simply wash in cold water and tumble dry low (or line dry to reduce environmental impact).
For a guide to the product care symbols that you may see used on our clothing care tags, download this information as a PDF file, click here.