How to Wash & Reproof a Waterproof Jacket & Trousers

You’ve invested in a quality waterproof jacket or waterproof trousers. They will keep you dry, warm and generally element-proof, though not forever. There are plenty of things you can do to prolong your gears lifetime. A huge factor in this is washing. Just washing your waterproof jacket and trousers with the rest of your clothes can potentially damage and weaken the fabric and you may find yourself getting soaked through on your adventures. Not fun. Not pleasant. Something the prepared adventurer needn’t suffer. To prevent this, we’ve created two short, convenient and informative guides; walking you through how to wash waterproof jackets & trousers properly, how to reproof, or ‘re-waterproof’, your waterproof jacket & trousers, and just how to get the most out if your waterproofs.

The first step in caring for and maintaining your waterproofs is understanding how to wash them correctly. When it comes to washing, follow the care and maintenance labels so you don’t cause any unnecessary harm. Beware you may also be at risk of voiding any guarantees if you do not follow the label's warnings. Here’s our step-by-step guide on how to wash waterproof jackets and trousers:

1. Remove any excess mud or debris. Depending on how muddy your hike was, removing any excess dirt or muck will accelerate the wash and help the washing machine produce better results at the end stage. Take a soft-bristled brush or microfibre cloth, dip it in warm water, remove excess water and then gently rub the fabric where the muck or mud has clung to. Do this until the dirt is fully loosened.
2. Fasten or zip up the jacket and trousers, all of the pockets, fasten the sleeves and zip up the main zip to the top. As well as ensuring all of the outer fabric will be more easily accessible during ‘tumbling’, this will reduce the chance of damage during wash as the zip can flail around potentially causing a snag on the fabric. This is also a good point to check the pockets for any valuables or anything that could disintegrate in the wash, thus filling your pockets with debris.
3. Read the instruction label. This should state what temperature you should be washing the jacket at. Too hot could risk warping the fabric, and breaching the waterproof membrane. The label should also explain what detergents should not be used, though with waterproof fabrics it’s likely you should not be using any detergents.
4. Add in a pure soap or a detergent designed for waterproof clothing. Avoid using any detergents as these can clog the breathability of waterproof clothing. We recommend using our wash-in cleaner Wash-In Cleaner.
5. Wash the jacket on a gentle wash. We’d also recommend that you set a cooler wash to avoid lowering the lifetime of the jacket.
6. Tumble dry the waterproof jacket. Do this at a low temperature. This will reactivate the DWR(Durable Water Repellent). Check regularly so as not to overheat, remember a lined jacket will take longer to dry.

Notes: Only wash one or two waterproof items at a time. We’d recommend you also avoid adding any other clothing or towels to the wash.

Read on for a guide on how to re-proof your waterproof jacket and trousers

Is your waterproof jacket less effective at keeping you dry than it was when you first bought it? Is water seeping through the knees on your trousers? This is both normal and expected, and isn’t a sign of a poor quality jacket. Regular wear and tear and the occasional splash of dirt can all impact the performance of your waterproof clothing. Fear not. When this happens, you have the option of re-waterproofing your waterproofs, to help keep them in good, serviceable condition, and gaining some longevity.

So, here’s how to re-proof your waterproof jackets and trousers. These two additional steps fold into the instructions above:

1. Add a wash-in proofer along with adding in your detergent or wash-in cleaner. When using a wash-in proofer, your waterproof jacket will come out of the washing machine more water-resistant.
2. Tumble dry. Do this at a low temperature. This will reactivate the DWR(Durable Water Repellent). Check regularly so as not to overheat, remember a lined jacket will take longer to dry.

That’s how you wash a waterproof jacket and how to re-proof a waterproof jacket. Following these steps will keep your jackets looking new for longer as well as give your jackets a new lease on life. If you find that you’ve managed to get the maximum use out of your gear and, even after washing, the wear and tear has reached it’s limit, why not take a look at our waterproof jackets and waterproof trousers.