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How to Take Care of Your GORE-TEX Jacket
A GORE-TEX-jacket can sometimes seem more or less impossible to wear out with its windproof and waterproof shell fabric. However, nothing lasts forever, not even these durable garments, which is why we will offer you this thorough walk through on how to best care for your GORE-TEX garment. If not cared for in the right way, the GORE-TEX-membrane will deteriorate faster than you might think.
Photo: Evelina Lind
Text: Jon Carrington
Before get into the nitty gritty of how to take care of your garment, we wish to stress that there is a variety of garments with GORE-TEX membranes, some of which require slightly different care. In this guide, we have chosen to focus on outerwear, but as the following advice is general we strongly encourage you to, first and foremost, follow the guidelines stated on your each care label.
Washing GORE-TEX
- The most essential of all advice is to regularly wash your GORE-TEX garment. To avoid unnecessary wear, it is crucial to zip-up all zippers and button all pockets before washing your garment.
- To avoid damaging the functionality of your garment, avoid using powdered laundry detergent. Do not wash your GORE-TEX garment together with heavily soiled clothes either. Dirt particles might otherwise clog up the pores of the GORE-TEX membrane. However, this is not information officially given or verified by Gore-Tex. Do not use detergents containing bleach either, as these might damage your garment. Furthermore, follow the instructions on your garment's care label.
- During the laundry process and when wet, make sure to subject your GORE-TEX garment to little wear and tear as possible. This includes the spin cycle, which should be kept to its lowest speed. Drip-dry at a low heat, or better yet, room temperature.
- To avoid damaging the functionality of your garment, avoid using powdered laundry detergent. Do not wash your GORE-TEX garment together with heavily soiled clothes either. Dirt particles might otherwise clog up the pores of the GORE-TEX membrane. However, this is not information officially given or verified by Gore-Tex. Do not use detergents containing bleach either, as these might damage your garment. Furthermore, follow the instructions on your garment's care label.
- During the laundry process and when wet, make sure to subject your GORE-TEX garment to little wear and tear as possible. This includes the spin cycle, which should be kept to its lowest speed. Drip-dry at a low heat, or better yet, room temperature.
Drying GORE-TEX Garment
As stated at the end of previous paragraph, the best way to dry your GORE-TEX garment is to let it dry hanging with good support in low or room temperatures. If tumble drying, use a gentle cycle at medium temperature.Re-Waterproofing GORE-TEX
If you use your garment frequently or expose it to repeated mechanical wear, its water-repellent coating - also referred to as DWR (durable water repellent) - will eventually wear off. This means it will eventually need to be reapplied. Apply the spray coating in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and activate by tumble drying the item for around 20 minutes. Dedicated waterproofing sprays can easily be found in sportswear shops or outerwear specialists.
Restoring GORE-TEX
If you notice that the protective and functional qualities of your GORE-TEX garment have diminished, try tumble-drying for around twenty minutes, as this will reset the fabric's water-repellent properties. If the garment has been exposed to considerable mechanical wear, the surface coating might need to be bolstered using a dedicated spray.
If you do not have access to a tumble-dryer, an iron used on a low heat temperature and without steam may provide similar results. Always use a protective piece of cloth between the iron and your GORE-TEX fabric, such as a clean cotton or linen tea towel.
What is GORE-TEX
GORE-TEX is basically a wind and water repellent membrane that allows humidity to be transported away from the body, without blocking it. This membrane can be found on a wide variety of specialist and functional garments, as well as everyday clothes with high levels of wind and water protection. The membrane is constructed with a high number of small pores whose diameter is smaller than drops of water in its liquid state, but wider than particles of water in its evaporated state, like in perspiration. This gives Gore-Tex fabrics their unique water-repellent yet breathable properties.
