Outdoor enthusiasts know that a quality rain jacket is essential for enjoying activities like hiking and camping in damp weather.
But after repeated outings, you may be wondering if tossing your muddy Outdoor Research softshell jacket in the washing machine could damage the performance or construction.
Read on to learn the ins and outs of safely cleaning rain jackets at home.
Key Considerations Before Washing Your Rain Jacket
When deciding how to clean your jacket, there are a few things to keep in mind:
Materials
Most rain jackets today feature waterproof yet breathable membranes like Gore-Tex or proprietary alternatives. The face fabrics tend to use burly materials engineered to withstand abrasion, like nylon or polyester. These can generally handle washing machine cycles fine. But study your jacket’s care tag to be sure or contact the manufacturer if uncertain.
Dirt
Rain jackets get dirty – it’s inevitable when you’re active outdoors. Mud, soil minerals, salty sweat residue, insect juices and sunscreens can accumulate. It’s best to wash before these have a chance to set in and abrade or otherwise damage the fabrics.
Odors
Along with grime, stinky odors from exertion or campfire smoke set into rain jacket fabrics over time. Be sure to regularly launder your jacket to control odors. A clean rain jacket lets moisture escape so you stay drier.
Preparing Your Rain Jacket for the Washing Machine
You’ll want to take a couple of pre-wash steps to protect your rain jacket and washing machine:
Close All Fasteners
Secure all zippers, velcro closures, snaps and other fasteners so they don’t catch on the interior of your machine during the wash cycle. This prevents damage.
Wash Separately
Wash your rain jacket on its own or with other outdoor garments only. This is to avoid picking up lint from cottons or delicate fabrics. Use a gentle, dedicated outdoor or sports wash formulated for synthetic technical fabrics.
Turn Inside Out
Flip your jacket inside out before washing. This protects the durable outer face from damage while ensuring dirt and oils on the interior contact the detergent.
Use Mild Detergent
Steer clear of regular laundry detergents, which can be harsh on the specialized face fabrics and membranes. Pick a delicate, perfume-free formula instead.
Washing Your Rain Jacket in a Machine
Once you’ve prepped your rain jacket, the actual washing is quite easy. Just follow these basic guidelines:
Select the Gentle/Delicate Cycle
Choose the gentlest agitation and spin speed on your washing machine to clean your jacket – this maintains the fabric’s integrity. Consider using the handwash setting if your machine has one.
Wash in Cool to Lukewarm Water
Set your washing machine to use cold or lukewarm water up to 30°C/85°F. Avoid warmer temperatures as heat can degrade the membranes over time.
Skip the Dryer
Line dry your clean rain jacket instead of machine drying, as the heat and tumbling can potentially damage the fabrics. Hang it inverted so water pools inside and takes longer to evaporate.
Revive DWR Treatments
Restore leaked-out durable water repellant (DWR) finishes after washing using wash-in or spray-on formulations. This keeps moisture beading up on the surface.
And that’s all it takes to safely refresh your trusty rain jacket at home! Proper storage and preventative care when not in use will also help extend its lifespan significantly.
