How to Wash and Re-Waterproof Your Rain Gear

How to Wash and Re-Waterproof Your Rain Gear

There is nothing worse than realizing your rain jacket is no longer waterproof right in the middle of a downpour. Taking care of your waterproof technical gear is the best way to ensure your hiking adventures stay dry and comfortable. To help you get the most out of your gear, the outdoor experts at Frogg Toggs have put together the ultimate guide to washing, weatherproofing, and prepping your raingear for whatever the trail throws at you next.

Why Dirty Rain Gear Loses Its Breathability

Without proper breathability, spending long hours outdoors in rain gear quickly becomes uncomfortable and heavy, and dirt is the primary culprit. This is because technical rain jackets rely on a membrane filled with billions of microscopic pores. These pores are large enough to let escaping body heat and sweat vapor pass through, but small enough to block external rainwater. When you are exploring the outdoors, your body sheds sweat, body oils, sunscreen, and trail dust. Over time, these microscopic particles clog the jacket’s pores, and your gear loses its breathability.

Also, when the outer fabric absorbs dirt, it loses its Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating, causing the jacket’s surface to saturate or "wet out." Once the outer fabric is soaked with water, a physical barrier forms, completely sealing off the pores. Your sweat has nowhere to escape, leaving you wet on the inside even if the jacket keeps the heavy rain out.

The Right Detergents: Avoiding Softeners and Bleach

When washing rain gear, standard laundry products will ruin its ability to keep you dry. To keep your gear working well, follow these simple steps on what to avoid and what to use instead:

What to Avoid:

  • Fabric Softeners, Dyes, and Fragrances: These leave behind a waxy film that clogs the fabric's tiny breathing pores. This film actually attracts water, causing your jacket to soak through rather than letting the rain bead off.

  • Chlorine Bleach: This harsh chemical breaks down the inner waterproof layers and permanently strips away the jacket's water-repellent coating.

  • Powder Detergents: Powder soaps often fail to dissolve completely, leaving a gritty residue that blocks the fabric's pores.

What to Use Instead:

  • Specialized Tech Washes: Specialized technical washes are formulated to clean waterproof outerwear without stripping protective coatings or leaving residue that attracts water.

  • Pure, Additive-Free Liquid Soap: If you don't have a tech wash, use a mild liquid detergent that explicitly states it contains "zero dyes, zero fragrances, and zero brighteners" (such as a clear baby detergent or a sensitive-skin formula).

Machine Wash vs. Hand Wash: Instructions for Different Fabrics

Different outdoor fabrics require specific care to maintain their waterproofing. Here is exactly how to handle each common fabric type:

1. High-Performance Hardshells (Gore-Tex, eVent)

These fabrics use an internal membrane to block rain while letting sweat escape.

  • Wash: Machine wash in a front-loader on a warm, gentle cycle using a specialized tech wash.

  • Dry: Tumble dry on warm for 20 minutes. Heat is required to reactivate the outer water-repellent (DWR) coating.

2. Coated Synthetics (Polyurethane / PU-Coated Nylon)

These budget-friendly materials use a thin, rubbery waterproof layer painted onto the inside of the fabric.

  • Wash: Hand wash or use an ultra-gentle machine cycle with cold water and mild liquid soap. Do not scrub aggressively.

  • Dry: Air dry only. Tumble drying will melt, crack, or peel the inner coating.

3. Softshells (Stretchy, Water-Resistant Fabrics)

These flexible jackets prioritize breathability and rely entirely on a surface DWR coating for weather protection.

  • Wash: Machine wash on a cold, gentle cycle. Never use fabric softeners, as they destroy water resistance.

  • Dry: Tumble dry on low to medium heat to restore the water-repellent finish.

Restoring the DWR (Durable Water Repellent) Coating

If water no longer beads up on your jacket and instead soaks into the fabric, your Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating has worn off. While washing your jacket and putting it in the dryer for 20 minutes on medium heat can often reactivate a fading factory coating, eventually, the treatment must be entirely replenished.

To restore it yourself, clean your jacket first, then choose between two easy methods while the jacket is still wet:

  • DWR Spray-On (Recommended): Hang the wet jacket and spray a technical water-repellent treatment evenly across the outer fabric. Wipe away any excess drips with a damp cloth after a few minutes. Spray-ons are ideal because they target only the exterior layer, leaving the internal breathable linings completely untouched.

  • DWR Wash-In: Alternatively, you can run the clean jacket through a second gentle machine cycle using a dedicated wash-in waterproofing liquid.

Drying Your Rain Gear to Reactivate Water Resistance

Proper drying is the secret weapon for restoring your jacket's weatherproofing. While air-drying is safe for all outerwear, gentle heat is required to reactivate the factory-applied Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating.

 If your jacket's care label permits, place your clean jacket into the dryer on a gentle, medium-heat cycle for 20 to 30 minutes. The warmth causes the microscopic, water-repellent polymers on the outer fabric to stand upright again, allowing rain to bead up and roll off instantly. If you do not have a dryer, you can achieve the same effect by protecting the dry jacket with a towel or thick cloth and gently passing a warm, steam-free iron over the fabric.

Remember to always check the care label first. If your jacket uses a rubberized polyurethane coating rather than a high-performance membrane, avoid all heat entirely. Tumble drying or ironing a polyurethane-coated shell will melt, crack, or permanently ruin the waterproof layer.

Ready for an Upgrade? Conquer the Elements with the FTX Lite™ Series

Now that you know how to keep your gear performing at its best, make sure you're packing a jacket built to handle both the elements and the wash cycle. If your current outerwear is losing its edge, it is time to upgrade to the resilient Frogg Toggs FTX Lite™ collection.

Engineered for active outdoor enthusiasts, the FTX Lite™ series blends rugged durability with low-maintenance, featherweight comfort. Featuring our advanced breathable tech membranes, these tough jackets easily shed heavy downpours without trapping sweat, and they are designed to withstand regular washing without losing their protective edge. They pack down tight, are easy to care for, and are built to last through countless rugged treks.

Explore the FTX Lite™ Collection & Gear Up For Your Next Adventure

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put my rain gear in the washing machine?

Yes, most rain gear can be safely machine-washed. Always use a front-loading washing machine or a top-loader without a center agitator column, as the plastic column can catch and rip the waterproof seams. Select a gentle, cold, or warm water cycle with a low spin speed.

Can I wash my rain gear with regular detergent?

No. Regular household detergents contain colorants, fragrances, optical brighteners, and fabric softeners that leave behind a microscopic film. This residue clogs the fabric's breathing pores and actively attracts water, causing your jacket to soak through. Instead, use a specialized technical wash or a pure, additive-free liquid soap.

How often does rain gear need to be washed?

As a general rule, wash your rain gear after every 20 to 30 hours of heavy use, or whenever it looks visibly dirty, smells sweaty, or stops repelling water. Regular washing removes body oils, sweat, and trail dust that clog the breathable membrane and degrade the material.

Can I wash my rain gear with my other clothes?

It is best to wash your rain gear alone or with a few similar synthetic pieces. Avoid washing it with heavy items like jeans or fabrics that shed lint (like cotton towels and sweatshirts). Lint can easily get trapped in the jacket’s microscopic pores, reducing its breathability.

Is it better to handwash my rain gear?

Handwashing is not necessarily better, but it is safer for specific types of gear. Heavy-duty hardshells actually benefit from the thorough flushing action of a front-loading machine. However, if your jacket is ultralight, packable, or has a rubberized internal polyurethane coating, handwashing in a sink or bathtub is the safest way to prevent damage.

How do I make my rain gear waterproof again?

If water stops beading up and instead soaks into the fabric, you need to restore the Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating. First, wash the jacket. If the factory coating is just fading, tumbling it in the dryer on medium heat for 20 minutes will often reactivate it. If the coating is completely worn out, apply a technical spray-on water repellent evenly across the outside of the wet jacket, then tumble dry it on medium heat to lock the protection into the fibers.

 

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