How to Reproof a Rain Jacket

A rain jacket that soaks through at the shoulders and feels clammy inside has almost certainly not failed. Its durable water repellent finish has worn off, and restoring it takes about an hour of mostly waiting.

1. 1

   Understand what actually went wrong

   The membrane blocks liquid water and passes vapour. For that to work, the outer face fabric must stay dry. When the DWR wears off, the face fabric absorbs water — wets out — and vapour can no longer escape. You get wet from your own sweat and conclude the jacket leaks. It does not.

2. 2

   Wash it first, properly

   Dirt, body oils, and detergent residue all defeat DWR. Wash the jacket alone on a gentle cycle with a technical cleaner made for waterproof garments. Never use regular detergent or fabric softener — both leave residue that attracts water. Zip all zippers and close the pit zips first.

3. 3

   Reproof with wash-in or spray-on

   Wash-in treatment goes in the machine and coats the whole garment including the inside, which slightly reduces breathability. Spray-on coats only the outer face, which preserves breathability and takes more care to apply evenly. For 2.5-layer and 3-layer jackets, spray-on is generally the better choice.

4. 4

   Reactivate with heat

   Most DWR treatments need heat to bond. Tumble dry on low for 20 minutes, or press with a warm iron on low with a cloth between iron and jacket. Skipping this step is the most common reason a reproofing job appears not to have worked.

5. 5

   Test it and know when to stop

   Sprinkle water on the shoulders. Beading means it worked. If water still soaks in after two treatment attempts, the face fabric or membrane is genuinely worn and it is time to replace the jacket — usually after many seasons of hard use.

   Waterproof ratings explainedWhy maintenance beats specifications

   Read Guide →

Reproofing at a Glance