Motor Oil and Soft Shell material?

Got an oil-based undercoating for my truck and managed to get some of it on my swanky softshell pants this morning. Anyone got a solution for getting it out of the material? I'm concerned some Nikwax might not cut it.

Andrew Maver wrote:Got an oil-based undercoating for my truck and managed to get some of it on my swanky softshell pants this morning. Anyone got a solution for getting it out of the material? I'm concerned some Nikwax might not cut it.

You could try Joe Clean. It's normally used to remove oil and grease from your hands and it works well. Realistically though, considering your stain has been in there for awhile now you're probably not getting it out.

I'll give it a shot. A bummer to hear it's probably never coming out. Do you think it'll compromise the performance of my pants or will it just end up as an unsightly, water-repellent blotch?

Run some water over it and find out

I wouldnt use any special cleaners .... It might strip the DWR off other parts

Just wash it normally and reproof it with a flurocarbon based DWR (not nikwax)

They last longer even if they kill kute beahs

Oh and youll need about 20-30 min in the dryer in low to reactivate flurocarbon DWR

;)

Andrew Maver wrote:Do you think it'll compromise the performance of my pants or will it just end up as an unsightly, water-repellent blotch?

No idea. I would ask the manufacturer. I suspect the pants would still be waterproof even with the oil on them. Just keep in mind the waterproofing agent is only temporary anyway. All waterproofing agents wear out eventually, and it often doesent take long before you notice a drop in performance. I have pants that used to be totally waterproof and now they soak water like a sponge. It's just the way of the world. The technology just isint there yet.

20 kN wrote: No idea. I would ask the manufacturer. I suspect the pants would still be waterproof even with the oil on them. Just keep in mind the waterproofing agent is only temporary anyway. All waterproofing agents wear out eventually, and it often doesent take long before you notice a drop in performance. I have pants that used to be totally waterproof and now they soak water like a sponge. It's just the way of the world. The technology just isint there yet.

the technology was "more there" a few years ago

fortunately for all the polar bears, but unfortunately for outdoors folks ... the banning of C8 flurocarbons significantly decreased the lifespan of common DWR treatments

the C6 flurocarbon isnt as good nor are the nikwax (flurocabonless) treatments

basically your outdoor gear will need more reproofing than gear that used C8 DWR

;)

This is why I only wear hardshell pants when I change my oil.

what kind of undercoating is it?

Depending on what it is, there are different ways to get certain things out (some you dont)