How to Make Your Gear Last Longer | Nikwax - Gearshop Session, by Gearshop NZ on YouTube. 17 min 51 s.
- Video length
- 17 min 51 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes, plus drying time
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Read the care label and empty all pockets. Close zips, Velcro and flaps, and loosen hood drawcords so the fabric does not snag or trap water.
Brush off loose mud and grit with a soft brush. Wipe greasy marks on the collar and cuffs with a damp cloth and a drop of technical wash.
Wash with a specialist technical cleaner, not normal detergent. Regular detergent leaves residues that attract water and hide the water-repellent finish.
Run a synthetic cycle at 30°C with a low spin, using the dose on the bottle. No other clothes, no bleach and no fabric softener.
Rinse twice if your machine has that setting, so no cleaner is left in the fabric. Hand washing in a basin of lukewarm water works too.
Drip a little water on the shoulders and sleeves. If it beads and rolls off, the finish is fine. If the fabric darkens and soaks it up, it needs reproofing.
Apply a wash-in proofer for full coverage, or a spray-on proofer on high-wear areas like shoulders, hood and cuffs. Follow the bottle dose and keep the spray off your skin and eyes.
Tumble dry on low, or iron through a cloth, to reactivate the water-repellent finish. Gentle heat is what makes it work again.
Tips and common mistakes
Wash your jacket every 10 to 15 days of wear, since dirt and sweat break the finish down faster than rain does.
A jacket that wets out on the outside but stays dry inside often just needs a clean and some heat, not a new jacket.
Never use fabric softener, bleach or a hot wash, as these damage the membrane and the coating.
Questions
What is the difference between cleaning and waterproofing?
Cleaning lifts dirt and oils off the fabric so water can bead again. Waterproofing, or reproofing, puts back the durable water-repellent finish on the outside of the jacket.
Can I just use normal laundry detergent?
No. Standard detergent leaves residues that draw water in and mask the repellent finish. Use a technical wash made for waterproof clothing.
How often should I reproof my jacket?
Reproof when water stops beading, usually after a season of regular use or every few washes. Cleaning first means you use less proofer.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
