Others may have a different opinion, but here is my from experience. I stopped machine washing my ski jackets and pants. I also stopped using detergent, even the specialty stuff that claims it won't hurt the water repellency of outerwear. Machines always seem to add wear and tear, and I have noticed a performance loss even with one use of a detergent. At the end of a season, I simply fill a tub up with lukewarm water and let the item soak to get the worst out. Then I rinse in a clean tub of water and let air dry. That is it. Other than normal wear from skiing, my items look and perform as new. When I was machine washing, it seems like things were wearing out faster and would always start leaking.
My thinking on this is your outerwear should not ever be in direct contact with your body, therefore how dirty will it really get? It is insulated outerwear, not a football uniform! Your thermal layer, and any additional layers are going to absorb any sweat first. Trust me, mine do, and they get the full machine wash often (or they will end up smelling like a football uniform!) My outerwear stays relatively clean, so unless I spill food all over it, a warm water soak is all it needs.
