A Gore-Tex jacket is a waterproof, windproof, and durable item made by Gore to protect adventure seekers like snowboarders, skiers, mountain climbers, etc., from the elements. It can also serve as protection during the rainy season.
This jacket has a water-repellant lining that is too small for the rain to pass through but big enough for breathing.
Preserving the water-repellant technology and maintaining the structure of your Gore-Tex jacket is the priority when washing. Luckily, there is an effortless wash procedure for your jacket without causing damage.
5 Steps to Wash your Gore-Tex Jacket
The proper washing technique will ensure that the durable water repellent lasts for a lengthened period.
Step 1: Prepare the Gore-Tex Jacket
First, check the care label attached to the jacket for special instructions, such as the water temperature and wash cycle.
Empty the pockets of the Gore-Tex jacket to avoid items getting loose and damaging the cloth and the washer.
If you have multiple jackets to wash, separate them by color and type. Don’t wash other clothes with your Gore-Tex jacket to avoid unintentionally damaging the durable water repellent.
Step 2: Remove the Stains
Sometimes, the jacket might have a few stains, which you cannot justify placing in the washer for a wash session.
Remove these stains before they dry and set in the fabric. When the jacket stains dry, they become hard to clean, which can make you exert an excessive force that can damage the waterproof layer.
The fabric of the jacket makes spot cleaning wet stains effortless.
Procedure:
- Place your Gore-Tex jacket on a flat surface for better visibility.
- Sprinkle the stained area with warm water. The water will dampen the stained area, especially if it’s becoming dry.
- Pour a little amount of a suitable Gore-Tex washing liquid on the stained area and work it into the fabric with your finger.
- Leave the treatment to soak for three to five minutes.
- Gently scrub the stained area with a soft brush; be careful not to extend the stain’s perimeter.
- Rinse the treated area with warm water.
- Repeat the process for other stains.
- After removing the stains, air-dry the Gore-Tex jacket.
Step 3: Wash the Gore-Tex Jacket
Washing your Gore-Tex jacket might seem intimidating because of the structure and the durable water repellent, but it is effortless to wash. When you follow the correct procedure and instructions, your jacket will come out of the washer fresh, clean, and still good.
Procedure:
- Empty the pockets of the Gore-Tex jacket and close the zippers, velcro, scraps, and buttons.
- Check for stains on the jacket and spot clean them.
- Use a front-loader washing machine because it does not have the agitation mechanism found in top-loaders. You can use a top-loader if it doesn’t have a center agitation mechanism.
- Select the permanent press wash cycle because of its slow spin speed and short wash period. Check the jacket’s care label for clarity.
- Choose the warm water setting.
- Use a cleaning agent suitable for Gore-Tex jackets. Don’t use bleach, fabric softeners, or powdered detergent; these items can damage the durable water repellent of the Gore-Tex jacket.
- Pour the correct amount of cleaning agent into the washer. Refer to the cleaner’s label for the recommended dosage.
- Place the Gore-Tex jacket into the washer alone. If it has attachments like a belt, put it in a mesh laundry bag or a pillowcase tied at the mouth and place it in the washer.
- Start the wash cycle. If necessary, rinse the jacket to ensure there is no soap left.
- Remove the Gore-Tex jacket from the washer immediately after washing and take it to dry.
Step 4: Dry the Gore-Tex Jacket
Drying your Gore-Tex jacket is a crucial step during the washing process because it reactivates the durable water repellent.
Don’t forget that it is a jacket and you should maintain the structure. What good is waterproof wear if the washer destroys its shape?
After removing the Gore-Tex jacket from the washer, dry it immediately. Leaving the Gore-Tex jacket wet and squeezed in a corner increases the chances of the durable water repellent destabilizing.
Air-Drying:
Hang the Gore-Tex jacket on a clothesline outside, but it should not be under direct sunlight. You can also hang the jacket indoors on a drying rack, but it should be in a well-ventilated room, preferably with a fan or dehumidifier.
Allow the jacket to air-dry for 20 to 30 minutes to preserve and protect its structure.
Tumble Drying:
After 20 or 30 minutes of the Gore-Tex jacket air-drying, you should move it to the dryer. You can also start the drying process from the dryer, but it can damage the jacket’s structure.
Tumble drying the Gore-Tex jacket on medium heat with a gentle cycle will reactivate the durable water-repellent that might weaken during the wash. Tumble dry the jacket whenever you notice the water repellency needs a boost.
Tumble dry the jacket for 20 minutes and then hang it to prevent the formation of wrinkles.
Step 5: Iron the Gore-Tex Jacket
Ironing the Gore-tex jacket will remove any wrinkles or creases that may form during the washing and drying. It can also similarly reactivate the durable water-repellent as tumble drying.
Essentially, heat can reactivate the water repellency of the jacket.
Procedure:
- Unzip your dry Gore-Tex jacket and place it on a sturdy ironing table.
- Cover the jacket with a clean white cotton cloth; it will serve as a barrier between the Gore-Tex jacket and the direct heat of the iron.
- Empty the water in the iron to ensure you iron the jacket without steam.
- Put the iron on medium heat.
- Use gentle circular motions to iron the jacket; don’t exert pressure.
- You don’t have to iron the interior of the jacket.
- The heat from the iron will reactivate the durable water repellent.
Reproof the Gore-Tex Jacket
The thin layer covering the jacket made from durable water repellent (DWR) stops water from passing through the fabric. When water falls on the Gore-Tex jacket, it forms a bead and rolls away, creating the water repellant.
However, due to frequent use, washing, and time, the DWR can start failing, allowing the water to pass through the fabric.
The heat from tumble drying and ironing can reactivate the DWR, but that is only when it weakens from washing and wearing.
You can replenish the waterproof treatment on your Gore-Tex jacket with two methods.
Method 1: Spraying
- First, wash the Gore-Tex jacket, following the procedure stated above.
- After washing the jacket, hang it on a sturdy hanger in a suitable location.
- Grab a waterproof treatment in spray form.
- Hold the can about 10 to 15 inches away from the jacket and spray all over, especially the collar, elbow, cuff, and armpit area.
- Leave the jacket to air-dry for 30 minutes to an hour after spraying to allow the treatment to work.
- Transfer the jacket to the dryer and tumble dry on medium heat for 20 minutes.
Method 2: Soaking
- First, wash the Gore-Tex jacket, following the procedure stated above.
- Fill a sizable bowl or bathtub with warm water.
- Pour a suitable water repellent treatment into the water.
- Agitate the water with your hands till it forms a homogeneous solution.
- Submerge the Gore-Tex jacket into the solution and allow it to soak for 10 to 20 minutes. Check the treatment label for correct instructions.
- Don’t rinse the jacket after soaking.
- Air-dry for 30 minutes to an hour.
- Transfer the jacket to the dryer and tumble dry on medium heat for 20 minutes.