Sooner or later, every outdoor enthusiast asks themselves: "How do I make a rain jacket waterproof again?" At the latest when the clothing underneath gets wet, a quick and above all sustainable solution is needed! We'll tell you how to make your jacket waterproof again and take you into the diverse world of waterproofing.
Expert tip: In this way, you can save costs in the long term and conserve valuable resources. After all, a rain jacket can be a valuable companion for a long time if cared for properly.
What is impregnation actually?
Before we look at how you can waterproof your clothing, it's worth taking a look at the question: "What is b?" In simple terms, this is how you maintain the waterproofness of your jacket.
With frequent use, the wind and moisture protection of hardshell jackets and pants deteriorates. To ensure lasting protection, you should waterproof your clothing regularly. This will make your rain jacket waterproof again and keep you dry.
How can I tell if the impregnation is still working?
You can tell whether the waterproofing is still working by the moisture protection. Normally, drops of water will roll off your hard shell jacket. Instead of penetrating, the water simply runs down the clothing. This keeps you pleasantly dry. But waterproofing doesn't just have a big impact on waterproofness.
Breathability also depends on this. If you start to sweat, water vapor is produced. In a good hard shell jacket, this can escape to the outside via the membrane and ensures a pleasant body climate. If the waterproofing of your rain jacket is inadequate, the water vapor will remain inside.
As a result, the jacket sticks to you after a while and you no longer feel comfortable. This is simply because the breathability of your clothing only works if the fabric remains dry. If the water no longer runs off, a film of water forms on the jacket.
This traps the water vapor inside the jacket. You should make your jacket waterproof again by now at the latest.
How can I waterproof a rain jacket?
As is so often the case in life, there is no single solution. There are various ways to waterproof your rain jacket. And we will now introduce you to these in more detail:
Impregnate rain jacket with waterproofing spray
Regardless of the model, waterproofing spray is suitable for all jackets. Whether it's a rain or winter jacket, you can use this method to make your jacket waterproof again easily and inexpensively:
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First, close all zippers and wash your jacket in the washing machine. This step is the ideal preparation for waterproofing and should not be skipped. Because the waterproofing spray for jackets can only do its job if your clothing is free of dirt, dust and grease.
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Before you hang your clothes up to dry, take a look at the label on the waterproofing spray: Is it used on damp or dry textiles?
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Now take your rain jacket outside. This is the best place to impregnate it. To avoid inhaling the spray, you should choose a place protected from the wind. Spread your jacket out on a table or hang it on a clothes hanger on the washing line. Spray it evenly from the outside with the waterproofing spray for jackets.
Make sure to hold the spray head relatively close to the clothing. Don't forget to treat high-wear areas such as seams, pockets and zippers. You should also not forget the back and the hood when waterproofing your rain jacket.
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After a few minutes, you can remove the excess spray impregnation with a clean cloth. This way you won't have any unsightly stains later.
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Now your jacket just needs to dry outdoors and it is ready for use again. Unless you have chosen a waterproofing spray for jackets that requires activation.
In this case, you must additionally treat the waterproofing of your rain jacket with heat in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Depending on the type, this can be done with a hairdryer, an iron or in the dryer. More details can be found on the label.
Waterproofing the rain jacket in the washing machine
In addition to spray impregnation, there is also the option of impregnating your rain jacket in the washing machine. This so-called wash impregnation saves you a lot of time and effort. The washing machine does the work for you.
However,make sure that the membrane of your textiles is suitable for this. With ALPIN LOACKER hardshell jackets you can safely refresh the waterproofing in the washing machine.
- Here too, you should wash your jacket first. Then put it back in the washing machine. Drying is not necessary for the time being.
- Pour the impregnating agent into the detergent compartment. If your machine has an impregnation program, select this. Otherwise, you can use the gentle wash cycle (30 degrees).
- After waterproofing in the washing machine, your jacket just needs to dry in the fresh air. It is then ready for the next rainy day.
Tips for sustainable impregnation
You should use harmless products to waterproof your rain jacket, not only with regard to your health, but also in terms of ecological aspects. These include PFC-free products.
They do not contain any perfluorinated or polyfluorinated chemicals and are therefore biodegradable. As a result, they are not harmful to the environment and are much more skin-friendly than impregnating agents containing PFCs.
You can easily recognize PFC-containing products by the fact that you can use them to waterproof your jacket without subsequently activating the heat.
Conclusion
Whether you decide to use a waterproofing spray or a wash impregnation depends on your preferences and the material of your textiles. Non-porous membranes should be treated with a waterproofing spray.
With microporous membranes, on the other hand, you can refresh the waterproofing using both methods. Would you like to find out more about the different membranes? Then our guide "What is a hardshell jacket?" is just the thing for you.
FAQ
What does impregnation mean?
Waterproofing means that you maintain the waterproofness of your jacket. The moisture protection of hard shell jackets and pants deteriorates with frequent use. To ensure lasting protection, it is important to waterproof your clothing regularly.
How can I tell whether the waterproofing on my rain jacket is still working?
You can recognize the functionality of the waterproofing by the moisture protection. If water droplets bead up on your hard shell jacket and do not penetrate, the waterproofing is intact. Good waterproofing also ensures that the jacket retains its breathability, as water vapor can escape to the outside.
If the waterproofing is inadequate, the water vapor remains inside and the jacket feels clammy and uncomfortable.
Find out more by reading our other articles.