Rain gear is the one layer of clothing that keeps you dry when the weather turns ugly. It’s likely the most expensive piece of clothing in your pack and the one that demands the most attention.
If you want it to perform when you need it most, you need to know how to wash rain gear properly and maintain it throughout the season.
Why Learning How to Waterproof Rain Gear Matters
Those microscopic pores in your rain gear’s membrane allow moisture vapor to escape but block rain and snow from getting in. When dirt, body oils, blood, or insect repellent clog those pores, your gear stops breathing. And when it stops breathing, it stops performing.
Plan on washing your rain gear at the beginning of each season. If your jacket or pants get covered in blood after a successful hunt, caked with mud from a river crossing, or saturated with bug spray after getting torn up in Alaska, wash them as soon as you get home.
If you don’t know how to wash rain gear, now’s the time to learn.
How to Wash a Waterproof Jacket the Right Way
Before you toss your rain gear in the washing machine, take a few seconds to prep it.
Zip up all the zippers and close all the Velcro. This prevents zippers from breaking and keeps Velcro from picking up lint and debris that can reduce its grip.
A lot of people worry about damaging their expensive gear in the wash. The opposite is true. Quality rain gear is built to take abuse in the field, and it can handle your washing machine just fine.
Here’s how to wash rain gear:
- Use liquid detergent only (powder can clog the membrane).
- Set the water temperature to warm.
- Run a normal cycle.
- Follow any specific instructions on the manufacturer’s tag inside your garment.
When the cycle finishes, pull your gear out and check the outer fabric. If it’s still saturated after the spin cycle, the DWR (durable water repellent) coating has worn off in those areas.
How to Re-Waterproof a Rain Jacket
DWR is what makes water bead up and roll off your rain gear instead of soaking into the outer fabric. Over time, this coating wears away in high-contact areas: shoulders where your pack straps sit, around your waist where hip belts rub, the front of your legs, and the bottom hem where you’re busting through brush.
When the DWR fails, your rain gear won’t leak, but it will absorb water. That creates two problems:
- It won’t breathe as well.
- If you’re in below-freezing temperatures, your gear will freeze overnight. You’ll wake up to a stiff shell that you have to crack and bend just to put on.
Learning how to waterproof rain gear after the DWR wears off is straightforward. Spot treat the affected areas with an aftermarket DWR spray. Apply it to the shoulders, waist, thighs, and hem where wear is heaviest.
After spraying, put your rain gear in the dryer. This step is critical. The heat reactivates and sets the DWR treatment, whether you’ve just applied fresh spray or you’re resetting the factory coating. Run the dryer on high heat for about 30 minutes.
Maintain Zippers and Repair Damage
Zippers clogged with dirt and debris will eventually jump the track or fail completely. Check them regularly and clean out any buildup so they operate smoothly.
Inspect your rain gear for holes and tears after every trip. Brush, blowdown, and getting in and out of boats all take their toll. Small rips become big problems if you ignore them.
For field repairs, carry adhesives like Aquaseal or Seam Grip. At home, use Gore-Tex patch kits or Tenacious Tape for more permanent fixes. Catching damage early keeps your gear waterproof and prevents small tears from growing into major failures.
Final Thoughts on How to Wash Rain Gear
Your rain gear is an investment. Knowing how to wash rain gear, restore the DWR coating, and repair damage keeps that investment performing season after season.
Take care of your rain gear, and it’ll take care of you when the weather turns and you’re miles from the trailhead.
by John Barklow, a Special Operations Survival Instructor and consultant who has spent decades teaching military personnel and civilians survival techniques in extreme environments.
