Washing Probans?

[Piglet]

I'm going to ask what might seem a stupid question...

What do you guys use to wash your Proban overalls? According to the label on mine I should use a soap free detergent, but I don't know where I'll find one of these.

Help please!!

[Shinners]

Hi Piglet ! Ok I washed mine with a small bit of Persil Non Bio and I would strongly advise a cool wash cos mine definately did shrink slightly.

Dont dont dont put them into the dryer, dry them outdoors

Hope this helps !

[Piglet]

Thanks - mine shrink everytime I put them in the wardrobe!

[Brushpusher]

Persil Colour was fine with my Probans, dried them in the tumble drier on cool, they haven't shrunk much.

[jase]

Originally posted by Piglet
Thanks - mine shrink everytime I put them in the wardrobe!

Ah, so you also have a pair of self shrinking overalls, I suggest not feeding them chocolates so often

[Piglet]

Originally posted by jasongore


Ah, so you also have a pair of self shrinking overalls, I suggest not feeding them chocolates so often

LOL!!! Do you think that's what it is?? Never thought about it like that....:-) !!


But seriously, what about this non-soap stuff and the Proban?

[EvilPumpkin]

Probans! (this is taken from the instructions I got with mine)

Laundering

There are two definite MUST NOTS:
You must not wash Proban-treated garments in traditional soap based powders eg. Lux, Velvet & Advance etc. These soap powders can form flammable deposits which may adversely affect the flame-retardant performance of the fabric.
You must not use Hydrochlorite-based household bleaches such as Domestos, White King (and all supermarket blends) as they can destroy the flame retardancy of the fabric.
You can wash Proban-treated garments in conventional washing machines. It is recommended that they be washed at 60 degrees Celsius for mixtures of coloured goods and 40 degrees Celsius for mixtures of whites and pale colours. Use the wash program for non-colour fast cotton articles. You may use the following washing powders:
Castle FAB Cold Power OMO Drive Radiant Dynamo Spree Surf

A short re-soak (up to 2 hours at room temperature) may be useful for articles which are heavily stained or soiled. It is suggested that garments be regularly washed to prevent a build-up of soiling. Garments can be tumble dried (preferably at a warm setting). Take care not to over-dry the garments ie. Continuing to leave them in the dryer when they are dry. Over-drying will not affect the flame-retardant properties of the garment but, as the base fabric is cotton, excessive shrinkage might occur

[Shinners]

To be honest, I asked other marshals that even bothered washing their probans and most had used Persil and they were fine. It think it overwashing that causes problems with proban.

[Dave Brand]

Mine have been washed half a dozen times using Acdo, with no apparent ill effect - the smell of Proban is still there, which I see as an indication that the treatment is still present.

I believe it is possible to have the Proban treatment re-done quite cheaply at some dry cleaners.

[Piglet]

Thanks for the advice guys - I'll give it a go!

[QuickBrownFox]

Is the Proban bit visible? By that I mean how is it possible to know whether it's still there or not? Is it one of those things we have to take on trust?
And, what's the longest anyone out there has kept the same pair of overalls?

[jase]

Proban is a chemical treatment applied to material, hence Dave Brands' comment about still smelling it. Normally it will last for quite a number of washes, if you use the soap-free type of detergents (always confused about that one!) 50-60 washes.

And the longest I have had the same pair of overalls is 3 years (or since the RAC issued them for the GP that year), but I expect some out there have had theirs even longer.

[pinki]

I've always washed mine in normal washing powder and then let them dry naturally. Remember this, if you are going to rely on your overalls flame retardancy then you had better wear a balaclava all the time as your face will burn long before your washed probans do.

[Piglet]

I take your point Pinki, but having stumped up the readies for Proban it seems a shame not to at least have a go at taking care of them. Otherwise I might as well have saved the bucks for more chocolate to feed my self-shrinking overalls!

[jgc]

Originally posted by QuickBrownFox
Is the Proban bit visible? By that I mean how is it possible to know whether it's still there or not? Is it one of those things we have to take on trust?
And, what's the longest anyone out there has kept the same pair of overalls?

Place yourself next to a burning vechicle and see if you become a crispy black shade

[Peter Scillitoe]

Mrs Diamond Geezer takes my Probans down to the local river, washes them in the river, then bashes them over stones on the bank, finally hanging them out to dry on nearby thornbush. Make mental note: next time must remember to take them off first. Not sure, however, whether she wears gloves.

[Bodysnatcher]

good one Peter...
but I live by the old Scottish proverb that I've just created
why bother washing, it'll be raining on you soon

[Piglet]

Place yourself next to a burning vechicle and see if you become a crispy black shade [/B][/QUOTE]

JGC - I don't really understand what you mean, perhaps you'd care to demonstrate...

[Dave Brand]

There's a simple way to check whether much-washed Probans still have their flame retardant properties. Just cut out a piece of material from somewhere where it won't show & hold a match to it.

[QuickBrownFox]

I don't want to worry anyone, but I've heard that Dale Winton is keeping tags on this thread - watch your doorstep for the Persil challenge!!!!!

[Chigley]

I believe some of the major dry cleaners can treat overalls with a proban wash, however, it isn't cheap.

[micaz43]

Quickbrownfox, ever smwlt your probans after a wet day on the bank?? THAT'S PROBAN!! so if they smell like that every time you wash them then there ok!! time to worry is when they don't!! personally i've always tried to hang them up to dry naturally as I don't particulaly fancy the smell lingering in my kicthen for days on end!!
One last thing Johnson Bros (aka skecthley) do the probanning again for you as one of our pit marshal from mallory works there but she did'nt let on how much, will ask for you all, answer in next 48 hours for anyone interested

[micaz43]

update on reprobaning overalls:-
According to Velma, Probans should normally have a 30 month life span, thats with washing them every week!!but if you are lucky enough to have a pair of overalls that old you can contact Giltbrook @
Hampden Street
Giltbrook
Nottingham 0115 9382231

She does not know how much but is assured they can help.
Good Luck