Waterproof Product Aftercare
Montane waterproofs are built to shelter you from the harshest conditions. Even though they’ve been engineered from highly protective and trusted technology, wear and tear in the outdoors can take its toll and there comes a time when your favourite waterproof will need some TLC to restore it to its former glory.
Firstly, DWR (Durable Water Repellent) is essential to maintaining your waterproof’s optimum performance and not only allows your jacket to bead up and keep you dry, it will breathe better for longer in challenging conditions. Ultimately, taking the correct care of your waterproof will not only keep you comfortable and dry on the move, it also keeps it in action for longer, so you can enjoy many more years of adventures together!
So, how do you wash a waterproof and reapply DWR? We know for many this can seem like a challenge in itself! The good news is washing a waterproof is very simple and we’re on hand to help you follow the right steps. Importantly, we provide care labels on all our clothing and equipment and recommend you refer to these ahead of your first wash.
Step - by - Step Guide.
1. Check the care label
Montane clothing and equipment comes with instructions on the care labels. Take a look at these and follow this advice.
2. Release all drawcords
It’s now time to prepare your waterproof jacket for washing to prevent any damage. Release all the drawcords on the jacket.
3. Close all zips
Make sure to remove any items from your pockets and close all open zips on the jacket and any Velcro, including the centre front zipper and hand pockets. If the hand and/ or chest pockets have a mesh lining, close these too. If they have a waterproof lining (e.g. a Gore-tex® Pro Shell) leave the zips open.
4. Run a service wash cycle
Before your waterproof wash, we recommend running a service cycle (or rinse cycle) on the washing machine to remove any excess detergent or softeners that could damage your jacket.
5. Use a reputable technical product wash that is suitable for waterproofs
We recommend using a reputable technical product wash such as Grangers Performance Wash. Alternatively you could also use a non-biological liquid. Don’t use any softeners!
6. Place clothing in with a technical product wash that is suitable for waterproofs
We recommend washing your waterproof garments on their own, without any other items in the drum on this cycle.
7. Wash to care label instructions with an additional rinse cycle
Waterproofs are washed on a low heat (around 30-40 degrees) on a gentle cycle. Following the wash, run an additional rinse cycle to remove any excess detergent from the garment. This is important to stop your jacket from developing any foamy armpits post-wash!
8. Spray with DWR re-proofer if your jacket is no longer beading
Have you noticed your jacket is no longer performing how it used to? Whilst the jacket is still damp, use a reputable technical spray, such as Grangers Performance Repel only to the outer side of the garment. You can apply more to higher-wear areas, such as the shoulders of a jacket, where a backpack would sit and rub. Contamination on a backpack can transfer onto your waterproof, so we recommend occasional washing of your backpack to help prevent this transfer. (Backpack should be washed in a shallow bath or sponge-wiped clean, not in a machine).
9. Tumble dry on a low heat until dry to reactivate the DWR
Line dry, then tumble dry for 20 minutes on low heat to reactivate the DWR (not all DWR re-proofers require heat, please check the instructions on the bottle).
My collar is wetting out, can it be replaced under warranty?
Over the years, we’ve had lots of waterproof jacket collar queries from the Montane community. The collars of jackets, and the inside of your jacket in general, are a common place for contamination, owing to it being a high-contact area next to the skin. Sweat and oils such as sunscreens can cause contamination here and stop it from working at its optimum. To help resolve this issue, we recommend washing your waterproof jacket when necessary, following the care instructions provided. If you still experience issues, please contact us for next steps.
Can I put my waterproof in the tumble drier?
We always recommend checking the DWR re-proofer instructions first. If this indicates you need to tumble dry your garment, this is an important next step to establish an effective treatment as part of waterproof aftercare. When tumble drying make sure this is on a low heat and done in intervals of 20 minutes.
Can I put my phone in the pocket, and will it stay dry?
We recommend putting electricals in a dry bag/waterproof pouch to keep them dry. Pockets are not guaranteed fully waterproof. Any pockets with a bonded construction as opposed to a stitched construction should only be used for lightweight objects like hats/gloves and not for phones, GPS, keys as these items may damage the bonding at the bottom of the pocket lining.
DWR – What is it and how does it affect your waterproof?
Description - DWR stands for Durable Water Repellence. It is a coating applied to the outside of the fabric on your waterproof which creates a barrier that water finds hard to penetrate.
Traditionally these DWRs have been made using chemicals. The compounds form a strong bond with the fabric and with each other so that instead of lying on the outside of the waterproof, rain will bead and run off the surface. This means that the fabric will remain breathable for longer to keep you comfortable when you are working hard in poor conditions.
All good?! - Sounds great, right? Well, yes, it is, up to a point. Although these chemical DWRs are very durable and contribute to the performance of your shell product, they also have some downsides. Because the chemical bonds are so strong, they take a very long time to break down in the environment, for instance after the garment has been washed and they enter the water system. They have also been shown to have negative health effects over time.
Action taken by Montane - With these factors in mind, Montane has taken the environmentally responsible and health-conscious decision to stop using these harmful chemical DWRs on their products from AW25 forward. Instead, a PFAS-Free (non-chemical) treatment will be applied to all shell garments. This treatment will act in the same way by helping the rain to bead and run off the fabric’s surface but without the detrimental effects of the chemical coatings.
How will this affect me and my waterproof? – Other than the potentially positive health and environmental benefits, it won’t have much impact on your usual routine. As the new chemical-free DWR doesn’t form such strong bonds to the fabric as its predecessor, you might notice that the coating doesn’t last as long so rain will stop beading up sooner. When the outer fabric starts to ‘wet out’ and the rain no longer runs off, you know it is time to re-apply the DWR. This can be done in the usual way with reputable outdoor wash and spray-on treatments.
Does that mean my shell won’t be as waterproof? – Don’t worry, this change doesn’t make a difference to the waterproofness of your shell. If the membrane on the inside is not damaged, your shell will still be fully waterproof. It is the membrane which makes the product waterproof. Caring for the outside of the product and re-applying the DWR will maintain its breathability and appearance.
If you have any further questions about DWR, please contact us and we will do our best to answer your query.
