How to Maintain a Jacket for Durable Water-Repellent

The Structure of Durable Water-Repellent Jacket

Jackets are mostly made from durable water-repellent composite fabrics, generally featuring 2-layer, 2.5-layer, and 3-layer structures, all with laminated structures.

The 3-layer structure generally includes:

• An inner layer material to protect the waterproof breathable membrane, reducing friction with inner garments for easier donning and doffing.

  
  

• The middle layer is the durable water-repellent breathable membrane

  
  

• The outer layer is a fabric made of nylon or polyester. 3-layer structured jackets are usually heavier, but they are also more durable, most expensive, and comfortable.

2.5-layer jackets are composed of an outer fabric layer, a waterproof breathable membrane, and a non-woven interior coating.

2-layer jackets typically consist of an outer fabric and a durable water-repellent coating, making them the lightest, relatively cheaper, less durable, and slightly less comfortable jackets. Their functionality is not as good as 2.5-layer and 3-layer jackets.

Durable Water-Repellent: You Need to Maintain and Clean Jackets

It is precisely because jackets are made of multi-layer durable water-repellent functional fabrics that ensure a good jacket's excellent windproof, waterproof, and breathable functions. Therefore, maintaining these fabrics is the key to cleaning and caring for jackets.

When we use jackets outdoors, they can get dirt or oil stains that block the waterproof breathable membrane, reducing the jacket's breathability and affecting our experience. Additionally, the acidic substances in rainwater can corrode the fabric, aging the jacket and shortening its lifespan. Therefore, maintaining and cleaning jackets is crucial for removing stains and ensuring performance, improving comfort.

Durable Water-Repellent: How Often Should Jackets Be Cleaned

In outdoor sports, the durable water-repellent aspect of the jacket is significant. The frequency of cleaning depends on how often and intensively the jacket is used. For activities like skiing, jungle trekking, and climbing, cleaning every 10 days is recommended. For urban commuting, cleaning every 20 days to a month is sufficient. If the jacket no longer beads water and doesn't form droplets, it's time to clean it. Cleaning a jacket requires: a washing machine, detergent, dryer, iron, towel, or dry cloth, and water-repellent spray. (Water temperature: 104°F)

Detergent choice and dosage

Outdoor specialty stores sell various cleaning solutions. Use 1 ounce/30 ml per wash. Avoid detergents with fabric softeners, fragrances, conditioners, bleaches, or dyes.

Washing mode

Use a gentle cycle to avoid excessive twisting of the fabric. A spin speed of 400 rpm or lower will significantly reduce wrinkles.

SUNGOD outdoor waterproof membranes, as the core material of high-end outdoor jackets, offer excellent durable water-repellent performance, effectively blocking rainwater; they have good breathability, effectively expelling sweat and keeping the body comfortable; and they possess good abrasion and waterproof resistance!