Initial Report Atsko Permanent Water-Guard and Sport-Wash
Initial Report October 21, 2005

Tester information

Tester: Rosaleen Sullivan

Age: 55 years

Gender: Female

Height: 5’ 9’’ / 1.75 m

Weight: 180 lb / 82 kg

E-mail: rosaleen43 (at) msn (dot) com  

Product information

Manufacturer: Atsko, Inc.

URL:  http://www.atsko.com/

Year of Manufacture: 2005

Product Specifications:  Permanent Water-Guard (aerosol spray can) 10 fl oz (296 ml) for synthetics, Sport-Wash 18 fl oz (532 ml)
Product Information (furnished by Atsko Atsko Sport Wash residue- free laundry detergent rinses completely.  It leaves nothing behind to reduce fabric performance, and also removes the residue from other laundry products. Lost features like water repellency, wicking of perspiration, low friction, insulation, breathability, and stretch are restored and maintained for the life of your garment. Atsko Permanent Water-Guard (Item #1357) is for Polyester, Nylon, Polypropylene, Acrylic, Lycra, Acetate, etc., the man made fibers.		These products create DWR by applying nano scale linear molecules with fluorine atoms that can be oriented by heating for maximum exposure to water causing high beading and shedding of water and soil.  The application is so thin (ideally one molecule tall) that it does not affect breathability of the dry fabric.  In the rain, of course, a DWR has a huge impact on breathability.  A garment that beads away water can still breathe while a soaked outer shell is a 100% barrier to the transmission of vapor.

Product Descriptions  Atsko Sport-Wash is a colorless, odorless liquid detergent that is purported to remove dirt, odors, and possible residues, including optical brighteners and perfumes, from clothing and sports gear.  It is available in several sizes:  I received the 18 fl oz (532 ml) bottle.  Atsko Permanent Water-Guard is available in formulations for natural and synthetic fabrics.  As a tester, I received item #1357, the Water-Guard intended for synthetic materials, packaged in an aerosol container, net weight 10 fl oz (296 ml).   The Water-Guard instructions specify that items must be washed clean of residues, recommended specifically to be washed in Sport-Wash, and heat-treated to activate the polymer finish after the Water-guard dries.

Experiences thus far I have washed several items in the Sport-Wash.  Nothing was super dirty.  I wish that had this product as I was coming off my Smokies (Great Smokey Mountains National Park on the Tennessee/North Carolina, USA, borders) hike in August.  My eyes watered from my own stench!  Washing my clothes and gear with the odor removing wash would have been a great test.  I will endeavor to “stink up” some clothing or gear to see for myself how well the Sport-Wash removes odors.  My newly washed down sleeping bag and pants, and my polyester filled bag are nice and fluffy.  The clothing and sleeping bag all look and smell clean.  Again, they weren't super filthy, as my clothes so often are at the end of a warm weather hike.  I'm thinking that my WPB jacket that has had leakage problems since I first bought it MIGHT be about to not leak.  I washed it in the Sport-Wash and tossed it into a hot dryer for a few minutes after allowing it to line-dry.  I haven’t been able to ascertain if it had a bit of seepage when held under a shower, or if I got sloppy and let a bit get on the inside as I took it off.  If it looks wet inside after a walk in some rain, I will try spraying it with Atsko Water-Guard.  I will be much happier with treating the jacket than replacing it, if the Atsko procedures work on it.  I was also happy with the appearance and feel of some fleece clothing that I washed in the Sport-Wash.

The larger thrill for me seems to be the waterproofing product.  The Water-Guard had a sample of Sport-Wash packed inside its cap.  It might be good marketing to pass out free samples, but this time it seems to underscore the importance of using the Water-Guard on clean, residue-free items.  Following directions, I sprayed a freshly laundered synthetic-fill sleeping bag and a pair of down pants with the Water-Guard until their surfaces were coated and appeared wet.  Once line dried, the items were each heated in an automatic clothes dryer.  To check water repellency, I scrunched them to make folds, poured on some water, and left them for about 15 minutes.  Upon my return, I poured off the water and towel-dried the two items.  The bag was dry to the touch with no sign of wetness.  The box/sewn through down pants had only a slight bit of water seepage to the inside along the stitching lines.  I was amazed!

The spots that I treated on a fleece jacket and homemade (uncoated polyester or nylon, maybe) tarp were dry, once they were toweled off.  This was so promising that I repeated the test with 8 oz (~240 ml) of water poured on the sleeping bag and left for an hour.  I was able to return nearly all of the water to the measuring cup.  Some spilled, or I might have gotten all of the water back.  Again, the sleeping bag surface was dry to the touch once toweled off.  I admit to being amazed!  I’m now looking to purchase more Water-Guard so that I can fully treat fleece clothing and the home made poncho/tarp as part of this test series.  The items were treated on a “short-sleeve warm” (for fall), sunny day on my backyard deck, close to sea-level.

Test Plan I plan to use the treated items during a series of day hikes in eastern Massachusetts as well as longer trips, washing as needed upon my return.   In November, we have two national holidays that will allow me three-day weekends, my traditional favorite time for backpacking trips.  For the first one, it seems I will have a chance to hike in the Delaware Water Gap area (Pennsylvania/New Jersey borders).  For the second weekend, I anticipate hiking one of the many long distance trails in New England.  Weather and gas price predictions will influence further trail choices in the coming months.  In most of eastern Massachusetts, we are on a coastal plain with rolling hills and some rocky areas.  In fall to early winter, we can anticipate temperatures to vary widely, with some summer-like days following days with snow squalls. I should be able to get testing time in over a variety of conditions in the testing period.  As the Atsko products are considered “consumables,” this series will have only two reports, this Initial Report and a Long Term Report.  I have started looking for more of the waterproofing aerosol with only bad luck.  We testers received a friendly letter from Dan Gutting, Atsko’s Vice-President, inviting to call him with questions.  So, I did.  I have found the Water-Guard for natural fabrics on-line, but haven’t located the synthetic version even on the Atsko web-site.  Mr. Gutting assured me that one could order the latter by calling their toll free number and that the Water-Guard #1357 will soon be included on the web site.  I’m figuring on buying more, very soon, as I want to see how well my fleece garments and my homemade poncho/tarp perform when properly treated with Water-Guard.

Things to Look for or Test

Do the products clean/waterproof as claimed? (So far, so good!  Still need some “grungy”/odoriferous items.)
Ease of use? (Very easy!)
Convenience? (Yes!)
Durability of waterproofing? (Time and further washing will tell.)
Drying time of waterproofing? (Fast on a dry, sunny day)
Odors from use? (None, so far)
Color or textural changes? (None, so far)
Apparent weight change from application of product? (None noticed)

Likes

Detergent leaves gear and clothing clean and fresh/down and filled items fluffed. Waterproofing did not diminish the loft of down or synthetic-filled items. Waterproofing seems to do an outstanding job.

 Dislikes

None at this time.

Thanks for reading my report,

Rosaleen Sullivan

Tester Background/Style

I’ve been backpacking off and on for about 20 years. I’m still in the process of “lightening up.” Normal gear includes a hammock, down bag and jacket, hiking poles, and an alcohol or fuel tablet stove, retooling gear for each trip. I also make some gear, and often nudge myself out of a design daydream on the trail. Most trips last 3 days, but I have backpacked 10 days straight. While most of my journeys are within New England, I’ve hiked the length of the Smokeys National Park, the Grand Canyon, and other trails far from home.