How to Reactivate Water Repellence on Apparel
1. Wash your garment properly
- Wash your apparel according to the care instructions provided on the label.
- Use a technical fabric cleaner (like Nikwax or Grangers) to remove dirt and oils that clog the fabric’s pores.
- Avoid regular detergents and fabric softeners—they can damage the water-repellent coating.
2. Apply heat to reactivate DWR (Durable Water Repellent)
- Dry the garment either by air drying or using a gentle cycle in the dryer.
- If the care label allows it for that specific garment, You can also reactivate the DWR by placing the dry item in the dryer for 20 minutes on low to medium heat. This heat helps restore the water-repellent finish.
- Alternatively, use an iron: Set it to a low temperature (warm, no steam), place a hand towel between the garment and the iron, and gently press to activate the treatment.
- Heat helps restore the factory-applied DWR finish by reactivating its water-shedding properties.
Please note: After a certain period, the original DWR treatment may no longer be reactivatable. In that case, we recommend applying a new DWR treatment from a specialty brand to the outer layer of your garment.
3. Use a reproofing spray if needed
- If water no longer beads on the surface after washing and drying, apply a DWR spray (like https://grangers.co.uk/products/performance-repel-plus or https://nikwax.com/de-de/products/waterproofing/clothing/tx-direct-spray-on/) to the outer fabric.
- Spray evenly, let it dry, and optionally apply heat again to seal the treatment