How to Wash Your Waterproof Jacket and Pants
How to wash your waterproof jacket and pants.
Regularly washing and caring for your waterproof gear is essential for maintaining its performance.
After a few trips into the mountains, you may notice that your waterproof gear is not as effective as when you first bought it. Over time the DWR (durable water repellent) coating will wear off, causing the face fabric to ‘wet out’ or appear wet. This means that instead of beading and rolling off, water soaks into the surface layer of the fabric, preventing moisture from escaping and affecting weight and breathability. Sweat, dirt, and sun cream might also become impregnated into the fabrics.
As we make the move to fluorocarbon-free DWRs, it’s more important than ever that we regularly wash and reproof our waterproof jackets and pants to revitalise the DWR and prolong the life of our gear. Wash your shells after each trip, as well as whenever they become visibly dirty or you notice the DWR starting to become ineffective.
Our Service Centre team have created this simple guide to show you how to wash your waterproof gear at home. Prefer an expert wash service? Send your Rab waterproof kit back to us, and we will return it to peak condition to prolong its working life.
How to wash a waterproof jacket.
Washing tips for your waterproof jacket and pants.
Rinse your washing machine out before use. This clears any leftover detergent and softeners that might damage the fabrics and coatings. Clean the detergent drawer and then run one or two rinse cycles.
Make sure the pockets are empty. Close all zips, pockets, and hook-and-loop fastenings.
Use a non-biological liquid detergent, liquid pure soap, or a specifically formulated technical cleaner.
Place the wash solution in the detergent drawer and if you are reproofing at the same time (recommended) then add a technical proofer in the conditioner compartment.
Machine wash on a gentle, cool setting. Check the white care label, but most waterproof jackets or pants should be washed at around 30ºC.
After spinning at a low speed (400) hang the garment on a line to dry naturally.
If the care label allows, tumble dry your garment for 20-30 minutes on a low heat setting which will activate the proofer. If a tumble dryer is not available, iron on a medium heat ensuring you use a clean tea towel (or similar) as a barrier between the iron and garment.
If you are in the field and don’t have access to a washing machine, you can also hand wash your jacket. Keep the water cool, use a gentle detergent, rinse the jacket well, and give it plenty of time to dry, out of direct sunlight.