Rainwear: Durable Water Repellent (DWR) Care

[Zone-5]

Rainwear: Durable Water Repellent (DWR) Care



http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/ ... r-dwr.html

DWRs diminish in performance due to a number of factors—dirt, body oils, abrasion and repeated launderings.

Often they can be revived by a washing and a few minutes of tumbling in a clothes dryer set on low or medium heat.
With heavily used garments, DWRs eventually need to be reapplied by a spray-on or wash-in product.

Was good for me as a starting point to understand DWR gear maintenance.

[simonm]

I just did mine and my wife's jacket today - washed with appropriate detergent and then used a spray on DWR treatment.

[highercountry]

I just did mine and my wife's jacket today - washed with appropriate detergent and then used a spray on DWR treatment.

I'm very interested in this subject as I have several old and newer jackets, both Goretex and eVent, and a pair of rain pants I'd like to rejuvenate.

Which product did you use and on what type of material?

Does water bead on the treated surface and can you tell if the jackets still breath effectively? Were they heavily worn beforehand?

I'm a little skeptical of some of the claims from the likes of Grangers and Nikwax. I'd love to hear of other's experience with this process and these products, short and long-term.

[Strider]

I also have a couple I would like to revive. One eVent and one Reflex. Any recommendations on product?

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[wayno]

vaseline...

[simonm]

Well firstly I am completely biased as I have just started selling the products I used, and second this is the first time I have used these products, mainly to test their efficacy. The jackets both were wetting out after very little use. My wife's jacket is a 10 year old Kathmandu Goretex jacket which has been worn regularly over the years but still appeared in good condition, and my jacket is a lightweight Mountain Hardwear jacket of unknown material and unknown age as I bought it second hand, but again appears in good condition.

So for what it's worth, to wash the jackets I used ATSKO Sportswash detergent. Once they were dry I hung the jackets on a coat hanger on the clothes line and sprayed them with ReviveX Durable Waterproofing. I was very liberal with the spray around the shoulder area, and gave the rest of the jacket a consistent coating. The jackets were then left to dry for the whole day outside, and are now hanging inside. The ReviveX bottle says to leave them to air dry for 48 hrs or use a dryer - which we don't have.

Once the 48hrs is up I will test the jackets hopefully in the rain, but at worst in the shower to see how it beads. How long the DWR actually lasts will be the other interesting test.

[hobbitle]

Looking forward to an update simonm.


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[highercountry]

If your product works and causes water to bead, if only for a matter of a few day's consecutive wear then count me in as a new customer.
My gear is only worn for cycling close to home and an annual 2-3 week tour.
Waterproofing is not a life or death concern for me, more so an issue of comfort. If things get really icy I book into a cabin or motel unless I'm really remote which isn't all that often.
Please keep us posted.

[Zone-5]

I'd like to know of a decent 'spray on' for other types not necessarily rain jackets but just normal jackets...

[wayno]

atsko sportwash is great stuff, removes unecessary chemical residue from membranes and leaves none of its own, standard detergents leave aromatic chemicals all over garments, they clog up the membranes killing the moisture permeability...

[simonm]

I should say I also washed my down jacket with the ATSKO Sportswash and it came up very nicely.

[GPSGuided]

Anyone calculated the maintenance cost of using these products?

[Zone-5]

Could you apply this DWR coating to non TEX type materials to make them water beading?

[simonm]

Could you apply this DWR coating to non TEX type materials to make them water beading?

The McNett site says it is suitable for all fabrics, but I am not sure of the effectiveness.

[wayno]

its the face fabric where the DWR is relevant. can be used on any nylon shell garment, polyester should work too. don't expect it to be very effective on natural fibres..
the instructions will say what range of fabrics it works on, nikwax for instance put out specific proofing products for different fabric types.

[Zone-5]

its the face fabric where the DWR is relevant. can be used on any nylon shell garment, polyester should work too. don't expect it to be very effective on natural fibres..
the instructions will say what range of fabrics it works on, nikwax for instance put out specific proofing products for different fabric types.

Cheers, then I'd better go and get a dedicated ####-TEX type jacket.

Meanwhile I've been relying on my mini umbrella which works rather well...

[simonm]

Well the results are in. In a very light shower there was noticeable beading of the water all over both jackets.

For a more significant test I ran both jackets under the shower to try and replicate heavier rain fall. My jacket completely wetted out almost immediately and soaked through to the inside.

My wife's jacket had the same result without soaking through.

I might try again but next time use heat to dry the jackets rather than air drying to see if that makes any difference.

I am not sure if my expectations are too high but I was expecting better results.

[Moondog55]

Simon despite the instructions saying air dry is sufficient I continue to use the tumble dryer to set the resins I use Nikwax but the technology us the same I believe
I have found that the spray-on sold to use on WPBs is slightly better than the wash-in treatment
Making sure they are really, really clean is the important bit I think

[simonm]

Simon despite the instructions saying air dry is sufficient I continue to use the tumble dryer to set the resins I use Nikwax but the technology us the same I believe
I have found that the spray-on sold to use on WPBs is slightly better than the wash-in treatment
Making sure they are really, really clean is the important bit I think

Yes mate I think you are right. I will use a dryer next time around. They were definitely clean, or at least seemed so after the wash with the Sportswash, they certainly looked different .

[Moondog55]

Anyone calculated the maintenance cost of using these products?

For me it's about $40- a year to clean and reproof most of my gear once in a seasons cycle, if I wash my Goretex it needs reproofing no matter what the label may say

[GPSGuided]

For me it's about $40- a year to clean and reproof most of my gear once in a seasons cycle, if I wash my Goretex it needs reproofing no matter what the label may say

Thanks. Sounds about right. Those things aren't cheap unless one chances upon a sale. Worth it if they work well.

[Zone-5]

So where and what brand is the spray on stuff...

[simonm]

So where and what brand is the spray on stuff...

I am using Revivex. My stock levels are low and more is on back-order, but it's a pretty common item in most outdoor stores.

http://www.tiergear.com.au/11/online-sh ... erproofing

[Zone-5]

Bummer! I just discovered a 1cm vertical rip on the front outside layer of my new $$$-TEX coat.

So much for waterproof now!

What is the best way to repair this back to being able to be waterproofed again; glue, stitch, patch, nothing...?

[Johnnie Walker]

Video about this on Backpacker.com: http://www.backpacker.com/view/videos/g ... -a-jacket/