Stay dry – again

In this glorious age of Gore-Tex membranes, water-deflecting polymers and other waterproofing technologies, you’d think you could stay dry for many hours, even in the rain-addled Northwest.

Well, no.

Sure, at first, your new and expensive rain jacket will miraculously force water to form into perfectly spherical beads that roll right off your sleeves.

But over time the factory finish applied to most breathable waterproof or rain-resistant jackets – known as DWR, or durable water repellent treatments – can fail.

Rain starts to flatten out more often on your coat and, if you don’t have Gore-Tex or a similar waterproof fabric underneath your soft or hard-shell’s exterior layer of nylon or polyester, water will seep through to you.

RESOURCES Atsko www.atsko.com Gore-Tex www.gore-tex.com Granger’s www.grangersusa.com Nikwak www.nikwax.com Scotchgard www.scotchgard.com

And even if you do have a waterproof breathable membrane such as Gore-Tex underneath, its ability to breathe can be compromised, which means your sweat and body heat – instead of escaping as tiny drops of vapor – will get trapped inside.

Fortunately, you don’t have to buy a new jacket.

Aftermarket products from companies such as Nikwax, Granger’s and Scotchgard can help you revive water repellency and revitalize the performance of all kinds of gear. You can use these products at home and most of them cost less than $10 a bottle at outdoors stores.

DWR and the big Ds

But before you buy an entire line of products, it’s important to know the two main enemies – the big Ds – of DWR and other polymer-based, water-repellent coatings.

Detergent and dirt.

“Number 1 is a lot of people are afraid to clean their Gore-Tex, and that is the worst thing you can do,” said Mike Curtis, co-owner of Axis Outdoor in Everett, an importer and distributor of sporting goods products such as Granger’s. “Dirt attracts moisture and the outer fabric wets out. A lot of times just proper cleaning will remove the residue and uncover the DWR that’s still on the fabric.”

Meanwhile, detergents, especially commonly used liquid detergents, can leave enough residue to compromise waterproof coatings.

“Fabric softeners, fragrances, color brighteners, all of those are residue that are left on the fabric,” Curtis said of traditional laundry detergents. “Those all are made of molecules that happen to be water attractive.”

So what do you do?

Most backpacking and outdoors experts recommend using either a nondetergent soap such as Nikwax’s Tech Wash or Granger’s G-Wash Cleaner, followed by a tumble in the drier on medium heat or a few minutes of medium-heat ironing (if care instructions allow it). Heat, in most cases, will redistribute and bond the DWR to the fabric, making your jacket whole again.

If your jacket has been in heavy use for years and you fear the DWR has worn off in places, you can try a spray-on DWR-enhancing product such as Granger’s UV Waterproofing or Nikwax’s TX Direct. On your next outing, you should notice a difference. Beads of water should form more easily.

Sweet feet

Most of the same rules apply to footwear when waterproofing.

Both the Granger’s and Nikwax product lines – born out of rainy, gloomy England – include a variety of water-based cleaning and waterproofing products to protect various leathers, including full-grain smooth leather, nubuck and suede as well as boots with a combination of fabric and leather.

Sno-Seal, a beeswax-based waterproofing goo from South Carolina-based Atsko, is another popular product in the Northwest.

You simply spread the wax onto warm leather boots by hand, buff them with a soft brush or cloth for shine and then let them dry in a warm area so they can soak up the wax.

Choose carefully

While boots and raingear are the most popular items to rejuvenate, you can also treat other fabrics such as polar fleece, wool, cotton, polycotton, waxed cotton, canvas and down as well as other gear, including backpacks, tents, ski skins, synthetic ropes, gloves, sleeping bags and paper maps.

Granger’s Sheepskin Water &Stain Repellent promises to protect even your fashionable Uggs. Nikwax’s Visor Proof will help your ski goggles or motorcycle visors repel the elements.

It’s almost exciting, all the high-tech options available for gear proofing.

It’s good to keep in mind, however, that certain fabrics require specific products and treatments. Always be sure you have correctly identified what kind of fabric you are treating before choosing a product.

Ask an outdoors specialist about materials if you’re in doubt, and always read the care instruction tags on your clothing before buying or using a product. Because product instructions vary, it’s not a bad idea to read the labels while you’re in the store to make sure you have the right product.

Keep in mind, too, that some older or more sensitive items must be washed by hand, not in a machine, and others can be damaged in the dryer or with an iron.

No matter what you do to your gear, don’t let it sit covered in DEET, mud, sand and other outdoor debris after an excursion.

Jim Gyselman, a sales associate at REI’s Alderwood store, said maintenance treatments will last longer if you clean your gear after each use, either in a stream at the trailhead or with a hose after arriving home.

“Get all the gunk off,” Gyselman said. “You take care of your gear and it will take care of you.”

Reporter Sarah Jackson: 425-339-3037 or sjackson@heraldnet.com.