Similar to the last post about washing your down pieces, there’s also a common misconception that you should never wash your Gore-tex jackets and pants.
Fact check: you should.
Appropriate washing actually prolongs the life of your Gore-Tex pieces while increasing their efficiency and given the financial and environmental cost involved in producing and procuring them—you wanna keep those babies in prime shape!
Here’s how you do it:
Check the manufacturer for specific information about your product.
Carefully examine for holes or other defects, and be sure to empty your pockets and remove any special trims, like detachable faux fur hoods, etc.
Take note of any holes and repair any that seem like they might tear further if put through the wash, using tenacious tape or another Gore-Tex compatible patch (note: you may eventually want to send the piece off for professional repair services from the manufacturer or a local shop, but this will do for washing).
Zip all the zipper shut and fasten any straps and flaps shut to prevent tear and snagging in the machine.
When you’re ready, put your pieces into the washing machine but don’t overcrowd it. Load the machine with your tech-wash of choice, and set it to permanent press, warm.
When the cycle completes, shake off any excess water then pop the pieces into the dryer on a warm setting. Once they are completely dry, let them run for 15-20 minutes on tumble to reactive the durable water repellant (DWR) coating on the outside. Note: if the garment doesn’t appear to be repelling water, you can also treat it with a DWR treatment to prolong its life. If you don’t have access to a dryer, you can also iron the garment on low with a towel between the iron and the piece but proceed cautiously so you don’t melt your jacket! Probably worth dropping a few quarters at the laundromat!
Voila! Your clean gear will be all the better for the TLC!
Things to consider:
Whatever you do, do not use bleach.
Spot clean any particularly dirty spots before loading the piece into the washer by applying tech wash with a toothbrush and gently scrubbing.
If you discover any dark, bubbled, or mottled spots on the underside of your garments, check in with the manufacturer. It might be delaminating (a separation of the layers), which means it’s time to bid the piece goodbye. But, be sure to check on warranties first as you might receive a replacement or credit towards the replacement of the piece depending on the manufacturer and age of the garment.