Cleaning a waterproof garment isn't always easy. You might wonder how to go about it, what products to use and, above all, what to do first: can you wash a waterproof garment? The answer is yes, waterproof garments can be washed in a variety of ways. Of course, you have to respect a few basic rules: you can't wash it with anything and everything, or at any temperature, for example. But the real question is: why wash your waterproof garment?
All waterproof and water-repellent coats, jackets and even pants are exposed to a great deal of weather and have to overcome a number of challenges. Being confronted with the rain often means getting dirty: mud, dirt, dust... A whole host of things that undermine the effectiveness of the waterproof or water-repellent film. the effectiveness of the waterproof or water-repellent film.. All this accumulated dirt become embedded in the fabric's pores and considerably reduce its effectiveness by hindering the waterproof or water-repellent treatment of your garment.
As soon as you realize that your garment is absorbing water (when it shouldn't) and becoming heavier from the rain, it's time to wash it.
For a standard wash to simply refresh your waterproof jacket and restore maximum efficiencyyou can put it in the washing machine. But be careful! Follow our care guide to avoid damaging its waterproof film.
Care must be taken when washing water-repellent garments. The important thing, of course, is to avoid further damaging its primary function: to protect us from water.
For machine washing, we have the detergent you need, the detergent Flotte ! Essentially formulated withnatural ingredients so as not to harm our precious biodiversity, it's ideal for machine-washing your raincoats. How does it work? It's simple: you buy a dose of our dose of our washing powder and once it's in your hands, mix it with 1 liter of water to make your own can of (almost) homemade !
Caution! When washing your waterproofs, we strongly advise you not to use washing powder. Don't confuse Flotte with standard washing powder - you could be in for a nasty surprise.
➡️ Machine-wash your raincoat to restore its waterproof and its water-repellent and waterproof capabilities by removing all the dirt particles that prevent it from repelling water.
SPOT CLEANING
Occasionally, a few stains can find their way onto your waterproof garments. If this is the case, be sure to clean any stains before putting your raincoat in the machine. To remove them, you can use washing-up liquid or Marseille soap. Soapy water and a sponge should do the trick to remove stains from your clothes without damaging their waterproofing.
If the stains persist, you can opt for stronger solutions such as white vinegaror even pure vinegar if the stains are really tough. Just put a little on your sponge and get to work!
For example, sludge stains can be very stubborn, you may need to tackle them with a brush. brush and pure vinegar to get rid of them!
If your raincoat is really dirty, soak it in water with half a cup of baking soda for about an hour, then rinse well.
Once you've managed to remove the stains from your garment, you can put it in the washing machine, again following the instructions in our care guide.
If you prefer more powerful, ready-to-use stain removers, we recommend you look for one that is technical dedicated specifically to waterproof and water-repellent fabrics.
In fact, a normal stain remover would be counter-productive, as these are designed to deep-clean fabrics: in other words, they allow the water to pass through the pores pores of the garment to make it even cleaner than it is. So, while it's great for our everyday clothes, raincoats wouldn't appreciate it at all (and neither would you).
DRYING A WATERPROOF GARMENT
To dry your waterproof jacket or pants, we always advise against tumble-drying. Instead, let your garment dry air dryflat or on a hanger to minimize creasing and wrinkling..
To smooth out your waterproof garment after washing, you can opt for a steamer or a steam straightener. Easy to use, it allows you to remove creases while preserving the fabric.
WATERPROOFING A RAINCOAT
In principle, if you have followed all the previous steps, washing and heating will have helped to reactivate the waterproof film. Be careful, however, as too much heat can damage the fabric. damage the fabric and damage its waterproofing more than anything else. That's why it's best to avoid using irons.
Conclusion: you can't iron a raincoat.
If cleaning your garment isn't enough to give its waterproof film a new lease of life, you can use a waterproofing.
But you should know that, whatever happens, whatever price you pay and whatever brand you choose, a waterproof garment will always eventually wear out over time. This will inevitably result in a reduction in its protective capacity. No matter how many times you wash it, or how well you care for it, it's only natural that a garment will lose some of its effectiveness as it ages! After all, they can't be invincible either... 🦸
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