How to care for your waterproof jacket

Designed to last - how to care for your Scribbler

Scribbler's waterproof rain jackets and fleece bonded coats are designed to last you many years of use with proper care. We believe in creating products that can be worn for many years and passed on to new owners through good care and repairing when necessary.

Here we answer some of your key questions around how to care for your raincoat. If you have any further queries please email us at: info@scribblergear.com

Best care for lightweight shell coats:

For lightweight shell coats (lined and unlined) we recommend these steps if you have noticed your jacket is not as water repellent as it used to be or it gets dirty and is ready for a clean:

1. CLEAN FIRST: Wash with Nikwax Tech Wash to safely clean your coat. If after washing and drying you are still not seeing water repellency improve, move to step 2 after washing again with Nikwax Tech Wash.
2. TREAT SECOND: After the wash cycle is complete with Nikwax Tech Wash, (no need to dry in between cycles) wash with TX.Direct Wash-in. This will retreat your coat with DWR. You should be able to wash your jacket 6-8 times before needing to retreat with TX.Direct.

You can buy this bundle which has both the Tech Wash and TX.Direct products.

Best care for fleece bonded coats:

For fleece bonded (soft shell) jackets we recommend these steps if you have noticed your coat is not as water repellent as it used to be, or gets dirty and is ready for a clean:

1. CLEAN FIRST: Wash with Nikwax Tech Wash to safely clean your coat. If after washing and drying you are still not seeing water repellency improve, move to step 2 after washing again with Nikwax Tech Wash.
2. TREAT SECOND: After the wash cycle is complete with Nikwax Tech Wash, (no need to dry in between cycles) wash with Nikwax Softshell Proof. This will retreat your fleece bonded coat with DWR. You should be able to wash your jacket 6-8 times before needing to retreat with SoftShell Proof again.

Can I wash my waterproof rain jacket?

The answer to this question is YES - you can, (it's easier than you think) and in fact we recommend that you do in order to keep your jacket functioning at optimum. The key is to follow some basic guidelines, which we cover here below.

Should I wash my waterproof rain jacket?

Again, the answer is YES - you should. When your waterproof, breathable jacket is worn by you in the elements, dirt and oils will start to build up and will compromise the efficacy of the DWR (Durable Water Repellent) coating. Washing your jacket with conventional laundry detergents will also compromise the DWR. Essentially, dirt and the residue from conventional laundry detergents attract water which is clearly the opposite desired effect! 

Over time this will result in your jacket 'wetting out' i.e. getting soaked with rain rather than repelling it. By washing your Scribbler rain jacket in a technical cleaner specifically made for waterproof, breathable clothing you will revitalise the DWR on your jacket, by removing water-attracting dirt and detergent residue. This will actually improve the performance of your Scribbler raincoat.

We recommend washing with the Nikwax range of products. They are water-based, environmentally friendly, biodegradable, non-flammable, non-hazardous and do not contain fluorocarbons. They are available for purchase on our website here. For more on Nikwax click here.

How do I wash my waterproof raincoat?

It couldn't be easier to wash your waterproof, breathable Scribbler rain jacket! You can pop it in the washing machine or wash by hand - it's up to you - but we do recommend using a technical wash like Nikwax Techwash which is specifically made to effectively clean waterproof, breathable fabrics.

Under no circumstances use a biological soap, fabric softener or bleach!

Follow the instructions on the bottle, but essentially these are the steps you need to take:

1. An important first step is to ensure your washing machine is clear of all laundry detergent residue. Clean your detergent dispenser and drum before washing.
2. Ensure all pockets are empty and all zippers are zipped shut.
3. Place your Scribbler jacket in the washing machine (1-2 garments at a time).
4. Apply Nikwax Tech Wash or other chosen technical wash in your machine's detergent dispenser.
5. Select a normal wash cycle, start your machine and complete the rinse cycle.
6. Drip-dry or if you are reactivating the DWR, follow on by using Nikwax TX.Direct for lightweight shell coats or Nikwax SoftShell Proof  for fleece bonded coats (no need to dry in between applications) or another chosen re-activator.

For hand washing - just apply the Nikwax Techwash and wash like usual.

You should wash your jacket often, but not after every wear. We suggest washing once per season for occasional use, or more often if you use your Scribbler coat frequently. 

Can I reactivate the waterproof level of my rain jacket?

Absolutely you can! Obviously nothing lasts forever, but you can take a few steps to extend the lifespan of your raincoat. You can use a technical wash-in or spray-on waterproofing re-activator such as the Nikwax TX.Direct for lightweight shell coats or for fleece bonded coats you can use Nikwax SoftShell Proof. These are easy to use but must be applied to technically clean jackets.

Here are the steps you need to take to reactivate the waterproofing of your waterproof jacket. It is best to do this right after washing:

1. Place your clean (washed using the Nikwax Tech Wash or similar technical wash) Scribbler jacket in the washing machine. No need to dry between washing with technical wash.
2. Apply Nikwax TX.Direct (for lightweight shell coats) or Nikwax SoftShell Proof (for fleece bonded jackets) in your machine's detergent dispenser.
3. Select a normal wash cycle, start your machine and complete the rinse cycle.
4. Drip-dry and you're all set to go!

You should be able to wash 6-8 times with a technical wash before needing to reactivate the waterproofing. There is no need to reactivate the DWR after each wash.

See this video for a guide: https://youtu.be/tqOftfXOf4E

Why is my rain jacket 'wetting through'?

Your Scribbler jacket is treated with DWR which allows water to bead and roll off the surface. If you have noticed that water is not beading as well as it used to, you might soon find that your jacket will 'wet out' and water will be absorbed into the outer layer of fabric. This will negatively impact the breathability of your jacket.

What has happened is that your jacket has built up dirt and oils that need to be removed through proper cleaning and DWR reactivating. Or you may have washed it with a regular laundry detergent, which increases water absorption. Please see wash instructions and waterproof re-treating instructions above on how to solve this issue.

Please be aware that insect repellents can damage the waterproof coating on your jacket.

What if the seam seal tape detaches?

Seam seal tape can detach after lots of use or through wear and tear, but the good news is that it can be repaired easily by you at home. You can either use a special glue to re-stick it down (after cleaning the area well) or by getting new seam sealing tape and reapplying it. 

What if I get a tear/hole in my jacket?

Again - this can be easily repaired by you at home. Seam sealing patches/tape or glues can be used to secure any small tears or holes you may get while out and about adventuring in your shell jacket. Patches/tape won't work on fleece bonded coats.

We hope this is helpful in extending the use of your Scribbler raincoat!