cleaning & re-waterproofing gortex waders/jacket

[paul]

Hey guys,
I have a simms guide jacket and guide waders I'm lookin to clean/waterproof.
I got this stuff called Nikwax from the patagonia store. They have some stuff called tech wash for cleaning and TX Direct wash-in for waterproofing. Anyone have any experience with this stuff? Anyone was their waders in the washing machine before?
Simms is closed as its a sunday so I figured I would throw the question out here to the masses.
-Paul

[Guest]

Hi Paul,

I've used Nixwax Tech Wash and water proofing treatments (can't remember the names) to waterproof my surf pack and some fleece jackets.

The surf pack was nylon ripstop and it wasn't waterproof at all. After washing and treating with the Nixwax, I've been out in the surf with it about a dozen times and so far, it's surprised me with how water resistant it is. I usually get slapped each trip with a wave or two and (so far) the stuff in the pack has stayed dry. Before I treated the pack I had to put everything in it in plastic bags 'cause it got soggy in there.

The fleece stuff has also been quite resistant to water. I've been wearing them around in this weather and the water continues to bead up on the surface and not flow through. Don't know how long the treatment lasts--but it seems to work as advertised.

Don't know about putting waders in the washing machine. If they're stocking-foot they should be OK. Might be worth checking in with SIMMS tomorrow...

Good luck,

Steve D

[Richard Cullip]

Paul

I haven't yet had to restore the water-repellency on any of my GoreTex stuff (waders and kayak top) but I know there is a proper way to do it. Here's some instructions I found on the http://www.gore-tex.com website:

Gore shell fabrics are treated with an ultra-thin treatment called DWR, a durable water repellent polymer applied to the outermost fabric layer. This treatment penetrates the fibers and lowers the surface tension of the fabric, causing water to bead up and roll off the outer layer of fabric, instead of being absorbed.

Water-repellent outer fabric provides additional insulation and prevents liquid from saturating your garment's outer fabric, a condition known as 'wet out' that can make you feel damp and clammy. Your garment may even feel like it's leaking, although it's not.

Regular wear and tear, plus exposure to dirt, detergents, insect repellant, and other impurities, causes DWR failure. DWR is not permanent on any fabric. Its effective life depends upon how you care for your garment and how rigorously it is used. The most effective way to maintain your Gore garment's water and stain repellency is to wash it, rinse it, and put it in your dryer. The washing removes contaminants and the heat from the dryer helps redistribute the DWR treatment on the fabric surface.


If water fails to bead up on the surface of your cleaned and tumble-dried garment, its DWR treatment has reached the end of its useful life. But don't worry: You can restore a Gore garment's durable water repellency by using a topical DWR revival treatment for outdoor fabrics, available at most outdoor retail shops. (Note: We do not recommend wash-in treatments.)


In addition, I've seen a spray-on treatment that is supposed to revive the GoreTex fabric. Simms sells it along with lots of fishing websites. It's called ReviveX and it's made by the McNett Corporation (http://www.revivex.com). You wash your GoreTex item, spray on ReviveX and tumble dry.

A note of caution - I'm not sure I would want to throw my Simms GoreTex waders in the drier without first checking with Simms.

Good luck on restoring you GoreTex stuff. let us know how it goes. I might be doing something similar in the near future.

Richard

[Richard Cullip]

Here's the word on wader care/cleaning taken from the Simms website

Wader Care & Maintenance
Waders should be washed by hand, in a bathtub, in cold water using a powder detergent. Rinse thoroughly and allow to air dry. Simms Waders should not be dry-cleaned or put in the dryer. A water repellent treatment, such as Revivex®, will rejuvenate the water resistant finish on your waders.

Applying Water Repellent Treatment
After the waders are washed and thoroughly rinsed, saturate the outside of the waders with Revivex® or other water repellent treatment. Allow product to drip-dry. "Set" the treatment with heat using a blow dryer or iron (low setting), avoiding the stockingfoot attachment area.


It looks like putting Simms waders in a tumble drier is a no-no.

Richard

[paul]

I checked with Simms today about the waders and jacket. Their outer layers like the guide jacket are fine to clean in the washer using the nikwax tech wash and then waterproof in the washer using the nikwax tx direct washin.
The waders, however, need to be hand washed and treated with a spray on treatment then blow dried on the goretex only...not the stockingfoots.
That being said, I'm skipping the waders and just doing the jacket for now. The waders didn't need it but I figured if I could do both at once, why not.
I'll let you know how the jacket holds up in this weather.
-Paul

[Guest]

Both of the products you mentioned (tech wash and TX direct) are fabulous at their perspective duties. I do have one word of caution, however. If you are washing a jacket that has a liner (such as fleece, or some other fabric that is designed to wick/absorb moisture) I would use something OTHER than a wash-in waterproofing like TX direct. The wash-in will waterproof the liner as well as the shell, and it will loose it's wicking properties until the waterproofing wears off. I know this isn't a problem with Simm's guide jacket, but for those of you who have jackets with liners, keep this in mind.
Jackets with liners should be treated with a spray-on DWR revitilizer such as the spray version of TX direct, or one of the many other brands.

Jeremy

[protectedproof12]

I think the best thing for your problem is waterproof spray. It is inexpensive but can last longer.

[coolwater12]

Yes, waterproof spray can really help to maintain and protect to your clothes.