How to Wash & Reproof Your Waterproof Jacket | GORE-TEX | Mountain Equipment, by Mountain Equipment on YouTube. 1 min.
- Video length
- 1 min
- Time to do it
- 1 hour, plus drying time
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Empty every pocket, close the main zip, pit zips and hook-and-loop cuffs, and loosen the hood drawcords. Brush off loose mud, grit and salt with a soft brush.
Wash the jacket on its own. Use a technical cleaner such as Nikwax Tech Wash or Grangers Performance Wash, never ordinary detergent, which leaves residues that break down the water repellent finish.
Run a rinse cycle on the empty machine first if you have recently used fabric softener. Traces of softener will strip the durable water repellent coating from the fabric.
Choose a 30C gentle or synthetic cycle with a low spin speed and add an extra rinse if your machine offers one. High heat and hard spinning can damage the membrane and taped seams.
For a very dirty jacket, work a little diluted technical wash into the collar, cuffs and hem with a soft cloth before the main cycle.
Tumble dry the jacket on a low or warm setting for about 20 minutes, or press it with a cool iron through a towel. This heat reactivates the water repellent finish.
Sprinkle water on the shoulders to check the beading. If the fabric wets out, spray reproofer evenly onto the damp jacket, or use a wash-in proofer in the machine, then tumble dry again.
Hang the jacket to air fully in a ventilated room before you pack it away. Store it loosely on a hanger rather than crammed into a stuff sack.
Tips and common mistakes
Wash your shell every 10 to 15 days of use, since dirt and body oils attract water and make the jacket wet out faster.
Never use bleach, fabric softener or biological detergent on a waterproof jacket.
Spray proofer outdoors or in a well ventilated room and wipe up overspray from floors, which can become slippery.
Test your iron on an inside seam first, and always use a towel between the iron and the fabric.
Questions
How often should I wash a waterproof jacket?
Roughly every 10 to 15 days of active use, or whenever it looks dirty or starts to wet out. Regular washing keeps the membrane breathing and the repellent finish working.
Can I use normal washing powder?
No. Standard detergents leave residues that attract water and damage the DWR coating. Use a dedicated technical cleaner instead.
Can I put a GORE-TEX jacket in the tumble dryer?
Yes, a low or warm tumble dry is safe and helps reactivate the water repellent finish. Avoid high heat, which can damage taped seams.
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.
