How do you wash your dark cloth?

[BrianShaw]

I wash my dark cloth like I wash my jeans. Rarely.

... or as I say... every Saturday when I take a bath. Ha ha ha.

[Drew Wiley]

My darkcloth is black Goretex, so I just suspend it above my darkroom sink and hose it off.

[redrockcoulee]

I was given a darkclothe that rode in the back of a van that was driven only on gravel roads. The photograher who gave it to me figured it had been loose in the back for a very long time as they have been digital since the Kodak DSLRs. I washed it in the washing machine I think or else in the bathtub but it needed it. It was grey on both sides and was not supposed to be and to top it off it was a large one so lots of dust.

[Roger Cole]

I did notice the age of the thread but:

...and what about washing the Calumet dark cloths, as with many they have lead weights in the corners.

I throw my Zone VI in the wash. It also has lead weights. But Lead don't rust. It just bangs around in the dryer.

I had a Zone VI. After I got a BTZS hood, which I like many times better, I tried to wash the Zone VI as it had some grass stains on the white side from using it as a sitting blanket. Thing almost came apart in the wash, shed black fabric goo all over an entire load of clothes. Fortunately another round in the washer took care of the clothes and it all came right out. The Zone VI, well it isn't as dark black, it has places where the cloth is nearly all the way through now, very threadbare where it had been in fine shape. It could be used in a pinch so I kept it.

But really I didn't realize how badly it sucked, in my view, until I got the BTZS. Spendy for what it is, but well worth it.

What ever they are I've had it for 20 years and washed it a few times and there is no sign of rust coming thru. I know a lot of people like the light weight cloths but I prefer my thick heavy ZONE VI. It makes great padding to wrap the camera in. Can be used as a wind break and on occasion I have even used it for a wrap to keep me warm.

Just goes to show - YMMV.

[Jim Noel]

I have a few. One of is more than 30 years old and I have never washed one. I occasionally hang them in the sun for a few hours to air out and that keeps them fresh.

[dsphotog]

Hand wash, line dry.

[chassis]

Mine is a dark bath towel. If it gets dirty it will go in the wash.

[gilestown]

I would just hand wash and drip dry.

My dark cloth is double sided black velvet which I sometimes double as a still life background. However now Im shooting more on location it traps the heat. Good for shooting in the cold... not so good in the heat.

[SergeiR]

Well since i made mine from moleskin fabric (yes, i am a) cheap, b) lazy c) like it) - i just throw mine in laundry with black t-shirts..

[Frank Petronio]

Not that this is the recommended procedure, but a gentle wash with a cup of lemon juice will salvage fishy-smelling rain gear and Polypro, at least until you sweat in them again.