Restoring a Rain jacket

[srestrepo]

I have a goretex jacket that has simply been used to much and washed/cleaned too little. unfortunately my big orange jacket has lost its ability to shed rain. i tjust seems that it gets wet and stays that way, and since the goretex isn't able to "breathe" i just get soaked either way...

does anyone have any tips on cleaning my beloved jacket and making it the water forcefield it once was??? any recommendations would be helpful and appreciated.
thanks to all in advance,

C-bass

[Spokes]

Perhaps this article will help (scroll down for rain gear)

http://www.backcountry.com/store/newsletter/a178/Spring-cleaning-Dust-off-your-gear.html

[Snowleopard]

Maybe you have problems with the DWR (durable water repellent treatment, makes water bead up on the surface) -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durable_Water_Repellent If the DWR is not working, water forms a film on the surface of the jacket which blocks water vapor from passing thru the goretex; then you get wet from condensation.

To test this, put some water on the outside of the jacket and see if it beads up (good) or spreads out and wets the fabric (bad).

Clean it thoroughly -- dirt blocks the pores of the goretex. Laundry detergent or soap does the opposite of the DWR -- it lowers the surface tension so that it wets the fabric rather than beading up. So, once it is clean be absolutely sure ALL detergent is rinsed out.

Heat helps restore the DWR, so either put it into a dryer (don't melt it!!) or iron it. If the DWR is gone, there are spray on and soak in treatments to renew it.

If water seeps through the jacket, it's probably not waterproof anymore. Hopefully that's not the case.

[srestrepo]

i actually used this jacket this weekend on a hike up to Upper goose pond cabin... it just soaked through. and even taking it home and just using a mist bottle the fabric immediately becomes wet. i think that this is just a question of washing the grime out of the outside fabric and cleaning up the gore-tex pores...

the sad part is that i sprayed it with nikway spray on stuff for goretex before i went hiking this weekend. and it just got soaked. so i know i kneed to do something a bit more thorough than just spraying it again...

any recommendations on fabric cleaners or spray on fabric water repellents or any other suggestions would be helpful.. the jacket is only about 1.5 years old and it hasn't been heavily used, i didn't thru hike with it or anything.

thanks again

[Snowleopard]

Spokes' link is good. 1.5 years and not heavily used should still be good. Wash and restore the DWR. A brand name is Nikwax Techwash; I haven't tried it.
http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Nikwax-Tech-Wash/NIK0018M.html

[Ol Mole]

I am trying to revive the waterproofing of my Marmot rain jacket. I have used the tech wash and am ready to use the Nikwax TX Direct. When reading the instructions for the last time, I noticed it says

Wash-in waterproofing for wet weather clothing

Adds water-repellency and revives breathability to fabrics without wicking liners.

Does this mean that fabrics that have wicking liners should not use this product? I think my jacket has a wicking layer. Any help from experienced users will be greatly appreciated.
thanks,

[Snowleopard]

As I said before, Spokes link is good. It says, "Gore-Tex cautions against wash-in treatments and recommends the spray-on variety" Maybe the washin clogs the membrane?

Perhaps this article will help (scroll down for rain gear)

http://www.backcountry.com/store/newsletter/a178/Spring-cleaning-Dust-off-your-gear.html
And it links to this sprayon product: http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/MCN0014/McNett-ReviveX-Spray-On-Water-Repellant-for-Outerwear.html

[Doooglas]

Well. I threw my GT jacket and pants in the garbage and switched to Frogg Toggs.
I tried several of the " solutions" without success. I will say my shell served well for over 10 years

It was a Snowcreek by Moritz.

[srestrepo]

anyone ever throw a dirty gore tex jacket in the wash just to kinda get the sweat and grime off... What kind of soap if any did you use.

or whatever other things have you done to restore the dwr on the outer coating without spraying it...?

[LIhikers]

Check the product care section at goretex.com