Although the goal of laundry is to keep your clothing clean, washing a raincoat has an extra purpose outside of cleanliness. The better you wash your raincoat, the better it can shield you from the elements.
Is your raincoat less effective than it used to be at keeping you dry? The time has likely come to give it a good wash. As with any specialty garment, there are a few things to keep in mind on laundry day.
Keep reading to learn how to wash a raincoat the right way.
How to Wash a Raincoat
How Often Should You Wash a Raincoat?
The timing of your next raincoat wash depends on how often you wear it. If you wear your raincoat on a near-daily basis, aim to wash it once a month or every 20-30 wears. If you wear it for rigorous activities like hiking or running, try to wash it every 10-15 wears.
Washing Raincoats by Material
Most modern raincoats can be washed at home or at the laundromat, but remember to read the care label before getting started. This blog explains how to decipher garment labels!
If you know your raincoat is made from wax—often referred to as a Barbour wax jacket—unfortunately, it’ll be much harder to wash safely. Read this guide to learn how, or contact your local laundromat for professional help.
For a standard polyester or vinyl raincoat, follow these steps:
1) Pre-treat any stains with a damp cloth and dish soap or a clean sponge soaked in water and vinegar. For mud and dirt stains, wait until they’re completely dried off before gently scraping them away with a toothbrush.
2) Zip up the jacket completely and close any pockets.
3) For both machine washing and handwashing in a sink or bathtub, select a cool or lukewarm water temperature. Hot water can damage the material, so double-check your temperature.
4) Add a small dose of gentle laundry detergent or specialty “tech wash” detergent such as Nikwax, Grangers, or Hex Performance. Be careful not to add too much detergent!
5) Choose a gentle or permanent press cycle on your machine, or use a clean, soft sponge to gently scrub the coat during handwashing.
Finally, air dry or line dry your raincoat in the shade.
Washing a “Wetted Out” Raincoat
Modern raincoats are typically made with Durable Water Repellent (DWR), a chemical bond that repels away moisture. If you notice that water no longer forms beads and runs off your coat, you have two ways to reapply DWR:
1) For multi-layer raincoats, lay out your freshly washed garment on a flat surface – no need to let it dry. Take a direct TX spray like this one from Nikwax, and spray an even layer from about 6 inches away. Wait two minutes, then dab away excess liquid.
2) For single-layer raincoats, run your garment through a second gentle wash cycle with a direct TX wash-in like this one instead of laundry detergent.
After application, air dry as normal!
Need an extra clean washing machine to clean your raincoat? Instead of searching ‘laundry near me,’ stop by WaveMAX laundry Thornton or Westminster for professional-grade machines. For additional laundry support, click here to learn more about dry cleaning services.
