How to Clean and Reproof Waterproof Jackets
The shell (waterproof) layer provides protection from wind and rain, whilst allowing moisture inside the jacket to escape, thus helping you stay comfortable.
All decent shells are waterproof and breathable. The waterproofing stops wind and rain from entering from the environment, and the breathability lets moisture escape from the inside of the jacket, thus keeping you dry and comfortable.
Waterproofing comes from the inside of the jacket - whether by PU coating or a membrane like Gore-Tex or eVENT - and is very durable, lasting many, many years unless punctured or torn - however this does not mean that waterproofs require no care!
Please note that this is intended as a guide. Always consult the manufacturer's washing instructions, found inside the jacket.
Why Should I Wash My Waterproof?
The DWR is a Durable Water Repellent which is applied to the face fabric (outside) of the jacket, and designed to stop the jacket becoming saturated, and therefore, heavy & wet (which then makes you colder and stops moisture escaping from the inside of the jacket)...you can see this on a new jacket by flicking some water at it. It 'beads' and can easily be shaken off. The DWR is not designed to last as long as the actual 'waterproof' part of the jacket, and on an old or dirty jacket you may notice that water doesn't 'bead' any longer, but simply soaks in....this affects the breathability!
Over time, dirt from the environment and oils from sweat will 'clog' the fabric, and the DWR will degrade. All these issues lead to a drop in breathability (not how waterproof the jacket is) which can make it feel like the jacket is leaking, when really it's not.
Luckily enough cleaning and reproofing a waterproof garment is very simple and will keep your jacket or trousers performing like new for many years.
Washing - Step-by-Step:
Hand Wash - Never use an ordinary household detergent. A specialised technical cleaner - such as Nikwax Tech Wash - should always be used. Use Gloves.
- Make sure all zippers, pockets and Velcro flaps are closed. (Remember to remove maps, money and chocolate bar wrappers!) Loosen any drawcords. Detach the hood if removable.
- For stubborn stains you can apply neat Nikwax directly to the area.
- Immerse garmet in a sink/bath with hand-hot water.
- Read the instructions on your Nikwax Tech Wash to find out how much to add depending on hardness of water, and shake the bottle well.
- Add the correct amount of liquid to the water. Gently agitate the water, leave for a few moments and agitate some more.
- Rinse in clean water 3 times, or until run-off is clear.
- Leave to air dry. You may wish to tumble dry on a cool setting for no more than 10-15 minutes to help rejuventate any exisiting DWR. (Always consult your individual garment's care tags first!)
| Machine Wash - Never use an ordinary household detergent. A specialised technical cleaner - such as Nikwax Tech Wash - should always be used.
- Make sure all zippers, pockets and Velcro flaps are closed. (Remember to remove maps, money and chocolate bar wrappers!) Loosen any drawcords. Detach the hood if removable.
- For stubborn stains you can apply neat Nikwax directly to the area.
- Ensure there are no traces of detergent in the machine by running a rinse cycle before you start.
- Read the instructions on your Nikwax Tech Wash to find out how much to add depending on hardness of water, and shake the bottle well.
- Wash the jacket on a slow, cool wash and rinse cycle - 30 degrees is usually recommended, and never more than 40 degrees - with a gentle spin. (Always consult your individual garments care tags first!)
- Leave to air dry. You may wish to tumble dry on a cool setting for no more than 10-15 minutes to help rejuventate any exisiting DWR. (Always consult your individual garment's care tags first!)
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Reproofing
One important thing to clarify is that 'reproofing' products restores DWR water-repellancy, and therefore breathability...not waterproofness! If your garment is punctured or the internal waterproof coating/membrane has failed these products will not magically fix it!
Also worth noting is that if you follow care instructions and wash on a regular basis (I usually do my jackets two to three times a year depending on wear) then you do not need to reproof each time you wash. You should in theory be able to wash the jacket approximately 3-6 times before reproofing is necessary. If you use/have used an ordinary household detergent you will need to do this each time you wash!
A good way of telling whether you garment needs reproofing is to wash and dry as detailed above, then spray some water at the jacket. If the water 'beads' and can be shaken off the DWR is fine. If the water soaks in then the DWR needs replacing.
Happily, reproofing a shell is as easy as washing one. All you need to know is whether your garment is a 2-layer, or 3-layer design.
- 2-Layer - There IS a mesh or synthetic drop lining inside the jacket.
- 3-Layer - There IS NO separate lining inside the jacket.
Always make sure the garment has been cleaned before starting the process. If using Nikwax (water-based technology) then there is no need to dry the jacket, simply wash as above then:
2-Layer Jackets/Trousers - Remove from machine or sink, hang outside or over a covered floor, and use Nikwax TX Direct Spray-On. (This prevents the jacket's lining from becoming non-absorbent.)
- Wait for two minutes and then wipe off any surplus with a damp cloth.
| 3-Layer Jackets/Trousers - When the washing cycle is finished, simply repeat the above process with Nikwax TX Direct Wash-In instead of Tech Wash (Consult bottle for amounts needed)
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Drying
Nikwax TX Direct is designed to work without any heat application necessary to 'activate' the treatment, however many experience best results with some gentle indirect heat, so if you can, tumble-dry on the lowest heat possible, for 10 or 15 minutes. (Consult your garment's care label to see if tumble-drying is allowed!) Then allow to dry naturally.
Pro-Tips
Store waterproof clothing on thick wooden or plastic hangers, do not fold for prolonged amounts of time. When packing waterproofs it is often best to simply stuff them into rucksacks as this helps to ensure no fabric weak points are created through folding in the same way each time!
Disclaimer
Always consult the manufacturer's instructions carefully. This is intended as a guide only, and Gear-Zone will not be liable should your jacket be damaged whilst washing at home. Pay special attention to heat setting in the machine or tumble-dryer as modern waterproofs are made of plastics!