Care for Waterproof Shell Garments

Maintenance of your waterproof breathable jacket and trousers is paramount to its performance, protecting you and your investment.

During the manufacturing process a durable water-repellent finish is applied to the outer face of the fabric. This helps prevent the fabric from absorbing water by making it bead up and roll off. This prevents the fabric from 'wetting out'. Fabric that has 'wetted out' greatly reduces breathability and acts as a conduit drawing the heat from your body. This results in the build up of condensation in the jacket, possibly leaving you cold and wet inside. This DWR is not a permanent coating and will need to be replaced and maintained to ensure optimum performance. Generally the jacket or trousers will remain 'waterproof' because this achieved from the coating on the inside of the fabric such as "Gore Tex".

To do this you need to follow the next three steps.

1 Clean the waterproof.

Dirt attracts water and prevents the forming of the water droplets on the fabric. To clean the waterproof we recommend washing following the manufacturer guidelines. For this you need to use a pure liquid soap, such as Nikwax Tech Wash. Detergents will leave residues on the fabric that attract water - not good on a waterproof jacket. However, if the jacket is very dirty detergent will help with cleaning, but you would need to wash the jacket in pure soap afterwards.

2 Treat the waterproof.

Washing and general use will deteriorate the DWR on the jacket. This can be replaced by washing the jacket in a replacement treatment; such was Nikwax TX Direct Wash in. This will replenish the DWR finish and increase the breathability of the jacket. This does not always need to be replaced after every wash, look out for when the fabric starts to wet out.

3 Maintain the waterproof

Basically keep it clean and wash regularly, this will help maintain that important DWR finish.

Care for Fleeces and Insulated Layers

Generally synthetic fibres absorb little water which is why they are well suited to damp wet conditions and your fleece virtually dries over night. However within the structure of the fabric these garments can hold water. As with the outershell, if he garment is wet it will significantly lose its thermal properties. To help counteract this again we recommend the use of Nikwax products using the following steps.

1 Clean the garment. Again, dirt attracts water and reduces beading up of water on the fabric. Regularly wash the garment in Nikwax Tech Wash, avoiding detergents as these leave the water attracting residues. Equally do not use fabric softeners.

2 Treat the garment. To add water repellency was the garment with Nikwax Polar proof or similar. This will greatly reduce water absorbtion and help with the water-repellent finish.

3 Maintain - keep the product clean

Care for Down Filled Clothing

Down, a natural product with excellent warmth to weight ratio, resilient and will last for a long time if properly looked after.

Again, the three steps of looking after your down clothing are clean, treat and maintain.

1 Clean. Down will absorb water and body oils causing it to clump up and lose its loft. As ever dirt will reduce any the water-repellent finish of the outer fabrics. A pure liquid soap will be the ideal thing to wash the garment in and Nikwax make a product called Down Wash. Obviously following the care label in the garment. Detergents should never be used on down clothing as they can wash away the natural oil in the down. Care needs to be taken when drying the garment due to the clumping up of the down when wet. Ideally dry the garment in a tumble drier, following the care label, generally on a low setting. There are various ideas such as putting tennis balls in the drier to reduce the clumping - be careful. It would be worth taking the garment out every now and manually breaking down the clumping.

2 Treat. Nikwax Down proof would be an ideal product to increase the water repellency of the garment and will re proof the shell, the down, and the inner lining. If the product has a waterproof breathable shell outer then this would need to be treated with a product such as TX Direct spray on.

3. Maintain. Wash the garment in Nikwax Down Wash to keep the item clean.