Your jacket’s outer fabric has a water-repellent finish that helps rain bead up and roll away.  Over time, dirt, body oils, regular wear and washing can reduce its effectiveness, causing the outer fabric to absorb water rather than shed it.

This does not necessarily mean that the waterproof lining has stopped working.  The jacket may simply need a thorough clean to restore the performance of the outer fabric.

Normal household detergents and fabric conditioners can leave a residue that attracts water and reduces water repellency, so we recommend using a cleaner designed for waterproof clothing. 

 Before washing

• Empty all pockets.
• Close all zips and press-studs.
• Fully relax all hood drawcords.
• Loosen any adjustable cuffs.
• Allow wet mud to dry, then gently brush off as much as possible using a soft clothes brush.
• Check the care label and do not exceed the stated wash temperature.
• Clean any ordinary detergent or fabric conditioner residue from the washing-machine drawer.

For regular cleaning and rejuvenation

1. Treat particularly dirty areas with a small amount of specialist cleaner for waterproof clothing. Gently work it into the fabric with a soft cloth or very soft brush. 
2. Wash the jacket using a specialist technical cleaner, following the quantity and washing instructions on the product.
3. Use a gentle or synthetic cycle at the temperature shown on the jacket’s care label.
4. Allow the jacket to drip dry or line dry naturally.

Cleaning alone may be enough to restore the water-repellent finish, particularly if the jacket is relatively new or has not had heavy use. Specialist cleaners such as Nikwax Tech Wash and Grangers Performance Wash are designed to clean waterproof clothing without leaving the residue associated with ordinary detergents. 

If water still spreads across and soaks into the outer fabric after cleaning, the water-repellent finish may need to be renewed.

1. Clean the jacket first using the regular-cleaning instructions above.
2. Do not allow the jacket to dry before applying a wash-in reproofer, unless the product instructions tell you otherwise.
3. Apply a reproofing product suitable for waterproof and breathable clothing, following the instructions and quantity shown on the bottle.
4. Air dry the jacket.  Only use a tumble dryer, iron or another source of heat if the jacket care label specifically permits it.  Both Nikwax TX.Direct Wash-In and Grangers Clothing Repel can work without heat activation, so applying heat is not essential. 

Using a combined wash-and-reproof product

Grangers Wash + Repel Clothing 2 in 1 cleans and restores water repellency in one wash.  Follow the instructions on the bottle and the jacket’s care label. 

Recommended products

For regular cleaning

• Nikwax Tech Wash
• Grangers Performance Wash

For restoring water repellency

• Nikwax TX.Direct Wash-In 
• Grangers Clothing Repel 
• Grangers Wash + Repel Clothing 2 in 1