How to clean and protect your outerwear

Note:

All of the outerwear pants and jackets that we sell, and all water repellent finishes, work at their best if the garments are kept clean. Each garment should be washed once or twice a season to keep them working properly and lasting longer, and Nikwax is the best stuff for the job.

The Nikwax two-stage treatment is the cleaning and re-proofing sequence which will restore the original performance of manufacturer’s clothing, footwear or equipment. Cleaning your outerwear with Nikwax re-proofs and maintains breathability.  Using Nikwax TX Direct adds and renews water repellecy and revives breathability.  Warning: Conventional detergents can seriously damage water-repellency, breathability and wicking properties.

Waterproof Test
A good test on any type of waterproof gear is to see if water beads on the surface to form fine droplets. If droplets bead, this is a sign the gear is waterproofed and is repelling water. If gear doesn’t bead but ‘wets out’, you will see darker patches where water is being absorbed through the surface. This is a sign the gear is not performing and requires the Nikwax waterproofing treatment.

Nikwax Tech Wash removes contaminants, dirt and everyday grime that masks the water-repellent coatings on waterproof items. Nikwax Tech Wash is non-detergent so it won't damage the waterproof membrain in the outerwear.

Nikwax TX Direct is to re-apply the durable water repellant (or DWR) coating to the outside of the garment. If the jacket or pants are only a year or so old you might not need to use the TX Direct too, but if you are going to use it you need to wash whatever you're going to waterproof first.  This is the stuff if your pants are no longer waterproof but can't afford new ones.

Nikwax Down Wash does the same thing as the Tech Wash but it's gentler so that it doesn't ruin the puff of your favorite puffy jacket.

Nikwax Leather applies just to the outer surface of the leather that you want to waterproof. This stuff needs at least overnight to settle into the leather before use.