KEEP IT CLEAN
2004 Buyer's Guide: Jacket Care
禄 WASH YOUR JACKET. You have to—dirt attracts water, which can defeat your coat’s DWR finish. To do away with minor grime, machine-wash the piece in warm water without using detergent.
禄 If a jacket is really dirty, you can MACHINE-WASH it with mild powder detergent or nondetergent Nikwax Tech Wash. Fasten all tabs—loose Velcro in a washer can abrade your shell like sandpaper—and close all zippers. RINSE IT TWICE to eliminate all suds residue.
禄 NEVER USE BLEACH or fabric softeners, and NEVER DRY-CLEAN a waterproof shell. The solvents are cruel to water-resistant formulas.
禄 DRY YOUR JACKET on the “low” setting in a conventional dryer, or steam-iron it on “warm” or “synthetic.” Either process will distribute the DWR treatment over the garment’s entire surface.
RESTORE IT
禄 Constant washings and wearings will break down and rub off DWR finishes. Then it’s time to APPLY AN AFTERMARKET DWR such as ReviveX (a spray-on from the makers of Gore-Tex), Tectron Fabric Protector spray-on, or Nikwax TX-Direct Spray.
禄 WASH-IN DWR APPLICATIONS work well, too, although they’ll coat your jacket inside and out—and that in turn can inhibit the wicking capability of a storm shell’s liner.
禄 Should you tear open your sleeve on a branch, DON’T TRY TO FIX IT YOURSELF. Many manufacturers will replace the whole panel, in a matter of weeks—and cheaply. (Marmot, for example, charges $20.)