Prepping Your Rainwear for Spring – Wash, Re-proof and Check

Why rainwear needs a round in spring

Rainwear that's been stored through the winter rarely starts the season at its best. The water-repellent surface (DWR) has flattened, and if the garment was put away unclean, sweat and dirt can block the breathability. If it was also packed damp or warm, the inner coating can start to turn tacky. Spring is the wet season in Norway and the start of the outdoor season, so this is when you want to find the weak points – on a dry day at home, not on the first rainy trip. Think of it as four steps: inspect, wash, drop-test and re-proof if needed.

Start with a proper wash

Proofing won't bond to dirt, so a clean surface is the first step. A wash also clears out the winter's road salt and grime that clogs breathability. Here's how:

1. Empty the pockets and close all zips and hook-and-loop fastenings.
2. Wash with a technical cleaner made for waterproof garments – not ordinary detergent with additives.
3. Skip fabric softener entirely: it forms a film and works against the proofing.
4. Run an extra rinse to clear all residue before you re-proof, if needed.

The drop test: does it need re-proofing?

You don't have to re-proof blindly – let the garment show you whether it's needed. Sprinkle a few drops of water on the shoulders of the jacket and on the seat and knees of the rain trousers, where wear is greatest. If the water beads and rolls off, the DWR is still good and a wash is enough. If it soaks in and darkens the fabric, it's time to re-proof. Use a wash-in or spray depending on the garment, and activate the treatment with gentle heat as the care label allows. Rainwear often needs a wash more often than fresh proofing.

Check the seams and the coating

Spring is when the winter's storage shows itself, and some damage can't be solved with proofing. Look the garment over carefully:

• Taped seams: look for tape on the inside that's lifting, bubbling or flaking. A lifted seam lets water in even if the fabric beads.
• Inner coating: a tacky, sticky or flaking PU coating means it's breaking down – this isn't fixed by fresh proofing.
• Fold lines: cracks in the coating where the garment was folded tightly through storage.
• Zips and hook-and-loop: check they run smoothly and grip, and clear out dirt and lint.

Don't forget the kids' rainwear

Children's rainwear and rainsuits take the hardest wear, and spring is peak season for puddles and outdoor play. Go over the knees, seat and cuffs especially, where wear gathers, and check that zips, snaps and hook-and-loop work. Wash the winter smell out of the inside, and do the drop test the same way as for adult garments – re-proof only where water no longer beads. Hat, rain mitts and boots can be gone over in the same round, so the whole set is ready for the wet season.

When should you send rainwear to a professional?

If the batch is large, if a membrane is still clammy after washing, or if the spring check turns up damage – taped seams lifting, a coating that's breaking down, or a failing zip – you can send the rainwear in together. We clean and re-proof by garment and care label, and can handle the repairs the check turns up in the same round, so the garments are ready before the rain sets in. You order online from anywhere in Norway, and you see the price before you order.

Frequently asked questions