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The author and her favorite rain jacket.
Have you seen the forecast for the next few days? I know a large percentage of my readers live in the northwest, and if you haven’t looked yet, the rain is coming.
I got my first cycling specific rain jacket that actually fit in January of 2021. Prior to the Pearl Izumi WXB Monsoon Rain Jacket, which I’ve raved about to anyone who will listen (and was just featured on Insider.com as one of my go-to Plus Sized Gear finds for cycling), I used casual rain jackets from Old Navy, rain capes, and fleece jackets - just about anything to attempt to keep myself dry. Spoiler alert - they don’t work that well.
Well, as the seasons change again and we head into the rainy season, I realized I had no idea how to properly care for my rain jacket to make sure it’s as water repellent as possible! I assumed you just pull it out of the closet when the rain starts and voila…you’re ready!
Turns out that might not be the case. Rain gear, just like all the rest of your gear, needs to be taken care of to stay in good working order.
I learned all this recently as I’ve partnered up with Nikwax NA, makers of some of the best (and most sustainable) technical fabric wash, waterproofing materials, and gear protectants on the market to learn how to keep my favorite new rain jacket in tip-top shape for years to come.
I’m gonna share with you what I’ve learned, so you can keep your gear in great shape too:
You’re supposed to both CLEAN and RE-WATERPROOF your gear!
Just like our clothes, our outer layers get gross. Road dirt, grime, grease from our fingers, body oil, and just dirt from daily life builds up on our rain jackets, which actually attracts more water to the fabric. I’ve definitely noticed this on my gear, especially around the collar (where it touches my face), near the hand openings, and by the zipper. These spots always seem to lose their water repellency the fastest and now I know why!
Before Cleaning/Waterproofing
The water is sitting on the surface, kind of absorbing into the fabric.
The first step in taking care of your gear is to clean it with a technical wash. Using a regular detergent (which I’m totally guilty of) actually attracts water to the fabric instead of repelling it, the whole point of wearing a rain coat!
I used (and recommend) Nikwax’s TechWash - you add it directly to the washing machine (just like detergent) and run a regular cycle. Easy peasy!
****Quick note - if you live in a building with a shared laundry facility, make sure you clean out the detergent hole before putting in the TechWash! If not, the detergent will basically deactivate the TechWash, making it pointless.****
Clean, then waterproof your gear.
Step 1. Clean
You wouldn’t wax a dirty car. Why would you waterproof a dirty jacket? Clean that baby!
You wouldn’t wax a dirty car. So why would you waterproof dirty gear? When it's put this way, it makes way more sense. So, after you wash your gear with the TechWash, run it through another cycle with the wash-in waterproofing (or use the spray on waterproofing.) Hang it up to dry (no heat needed to activate!) And you’re ready to go!
Step 2. Waterproof
After you clean it, then you can waterproof it. Run another cycle with the TX Direct Wash-in and you’re done!
You should clean your gear 5 times more often than you waterproof it!
Ok, this one was mind-blowing to me. Maybe I’m a gross person because I don’t think I wash my rain jacket 5 times in a season. But after learning this, I will definitely be washing my rain jacket and technical gear MUCH MORE OFTEN!
Clean your technical gear, base layers, wool, and footwear using the proper cleaners!
One size does NOT fit all when it comes to this and we should not be using standard laundry detergent to clean our gear! (Again, I’m definitely guilty of this…)
We all know that funky smell that happens when people wear their rain gear or base layers and don’t clean it properly. Don’t be that person. Nikwax makes specifically designed base layer wash, wool wash, technical gear wash (for tents, etc), and a sandal wash for our nasty Crocs, Chacos, etc.
Nikwax products are pretty dang sustainable - and have been since the beginning!
Over the past few years, I’ve definitely switched many of my cleaning products away from harsh chemicals and more towards natural ingredients. Truth be told, I think I use more vinegar and baking soda than is healthy, but that stuff works. So I was heartened to learn about Nikwax’s sustainability efforts, including using all water-based products, never using PFCs, and having a goal of using 100% recycled plastic in their bottles by the end of this year.
Super importantly, their chemicals are also non-persistent in the environment, which means they don’t stick around - because they’re water based, we won’t be breathing in or ingesting NikWax for years to come.
The Greenest Gear is the Gear you Already Own
Honestly when you think about it, it's surprising how much money we spend on our outdoor gear, and how little time and energy we spend to maintain it. If we all took a little more time, effort and yes, investment into keeping our existing gear in good shape, we’d all need to consume a lot less gear overall.
So, in addition to riding my bike more this winter, my goal is to be a lot less gross and take better care of my gear. I’d love for you to join me in this effort!
