How often do you wash your waterproof breathables?

[Paul]

This might also fit in the "what I have learned today" thread.

My answer is: hardly ever. My Altura Nightvision jacket is several years old. At least 5. Maybe 10. It's not really waterproof anymore and I fell for a new one on sale.

On a whim (and coming across some ancient Nikwax) I decided to see if a wash might revive it sufficiently to make it a 'spare'. It emerged covered in what looked like dandruff but which I now think is disintegrated breathable membrane. The Altura website says this about washing their kit:

How Do I Wash My Altura Clothing?

Follow the instructions displayed on the garment care label inside every product. The instructions on the garment always supersede the instructions on a cleaning product.

As a general rule DO NOT use fabric softeners and DO NOT tumble dry. If using a washing machine you should only wash at 30 degrees C and use Non Biologic detergent.

All Altura garments are made from technical fabrics with specific properties to enhance comfort and performance while riding. Garments must be washed regularly in line with the specific washing instructions to ensure the technical fabrics continue to function at a high level.

The frequency of washing varies greatly dependant on type of use, conditions and personal preference. Don't be afraid to wash technical clothing, provided washing instructions are followed washing will enhance performance.

Commuter on a daily basis = wash it weekly
Occasional user = wash it monthly
Heavy use = wash after each use

Altura shorts and tights with padded inserts have antibacterial properties but we still advise that these should be washed after every use. Avoid biological detergents and ensure garments are not left wet for long periods as this can affect the performance of the insert.

Please note that if you are using biological washing powders in your washing machine it is advisable to rinse the machine before washing technical clothing.

https://www.altura.co.uk/pages/faqs

I had actually thought that less (okay, none) is more when washing goretex and its equivalents. I think I'll have to revise that idea

[robgul]

My (also ancient) Altura jacket gets an occasional wash with a 2 shot Nikwax treatment - one cleaner, then a waterproofer in the washing machine . . . I then, when it's dry, hang it on a hanger (outside) and spray it liberally with the Nikwax proof spray.   Probably fair to say it then repels water and is fairly waterproof (but then I try not to ride in the rain!)

. .  as an aside my wife washed my equally ancient HellyHansen jacket with Gore-tex type fabric in the washing machine (at low temperature) - total disaster as all the coating on the back of the outer fabric flaked and dropped down to the hem between outer and inner layers. 

[Mrs Pingu]

I don't wash any GoreTex type fabric (that's at GoreTex type prices) any more than I really have to, because I don't expect the fabric to stand up to a lot of physical abuse.
That being said, it's all made of plastics, so neither would I be particularly expecting it to last forever either. (Hence last time I was disgruntled with the apparently short life span of such a garment I promised myself I would subsequently only purchase such things when discounted).

[Andrew Br]

I'm no expert even though my 1st job was in textiles and, for a few years, I supplied Gore with a particularly important component for the waterproof/breathable Gore-Tex.

I tend to only wash my waterproofs when absolutely necessary. My experience is that, even with "specialist" washing chemicals, the surface treatment (DWR or similar description) invariably deteriorates and the clothing never performs as well as it dd when new.
I've used/use both "wash in" and "spray on" treatments (often both) and it still doesn't restore the original performance; the outer surface wets out more easily and the fabric doesn't breathe as well as it did because of this.
See my post on this thread for my thoughts on DWR:- https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=127141.msg2849700#msg2849700

Having said that I only wash my waterproofs when necessary, it's worth bearing in mind that the "old style" Gore-Tex fabrics have a hydrophilic/hydrophobic layer to prevent body "secretions" ie fats from blocking up the micro-pores on the expanded PTFE membrane. These fats will build up and, in time, reduce the breathability of the fabric so you need to wash the garment.
Please bear in mind that I'm referring to the "traditional" 3 layer fabric, I'm not sure how the "Shake Dry" material works although I could hazard a guess. I'm also not entirely sure of the construction/mechanism of other types of waterproof fabrics except I'm pretty sure that most of them rely heavily on surface coatings to give the DWR effect.
There's a balance to wash/not wash somewhere; I'm not sure where........

FWIW, the best waterproof that I've owned was a Howies Long Way Home jacket. I replaced it when the taping on the seams started coming off. The (partial) replacement was/is a Sportful Fiandre jacket which is a soft shell. It's really good and I know that it doesn't rely on a surface coating for it's water resistance/proofing since it wets out immediately but still seems to keep the rain out (albeit I haven't tried it "proper" rain). My thoughts on the Showers Pass jacket are given above; I'm not sure what future use it will have on the bike........ My other (current) waterproof is a Galibier Tourmalet 4 jacket. I bought it as a cheap replacement for the Showers Pass and based on the road.cc reviews. It's very good (outstanding for the money) but I have issues with the sleeve fastenings and water wicking up them. In a "prolonged" test last Sunday, my sleeves and arm warmers were wet (wicking presumably) but the rest of the internal surfaces of the jacket were dry. FWIW, I wore my old Gore-Tex over trousers (see the link above) and my legwarmers were completely dry.

Finally, to end a very long post, I only use liquid soap to wash all my clothes in the washing machine. That way I can avoid the recommended high temperature "flushing" before washing waterproofs and I use the same soap to wash the waterproofs.
I still get crap results albeit no different to when I used specialist waterproof cleaners (Nikwax, Grangers etc).

In summary: enjoy your new waterproofs. That's as good as they'll ever be.

[Ian H]

The warm-iron treatment, after washing and reproofing while still damp, seems to do the trick.

[Paul H]

I don't wash mine in a machine, I'll sponge any dirt off the outside, and wipe the inside clean with a cloth and liquid soap. then rinse under the tap.  I replenish the DWR periodically with spray on Nikwax.  I've been told that stuff sticks best to itself, the cleaner the garment, or the longer you've left it, the less chance the new application will last. 

[Paul H]

The warm-iron treatment, after washing and reproofing while still damp, seems to do the trick.

+1
Drying it off with a hairdryer has the same effect.

[Flite]

Drying it off with a hairdryer has the same effect.

Oh, I might try that as I do not iron.
We do own an iron - it  lives in the visitors bedroom in case anyone else wants to use it.
Actually, so does the hairdryer apart from in very cold weather when it is used to de-freeze the cat hatch...

[Cudzoziemiec]

The frequency of washing varies greatly dependant on type of use, conditions and personal preference. Don't be afraid to wash technical clothing, provided washing instructions are followed washing will enhance performance.

Commuter on a daily basis = wash it weekly
Occasional user = wash it monthly
Heavy use = wash after each use

Altura shorts and tights with padded inserts have antibacterial properties but we still advise that these should be washed after every use. Avoid biological detergents and ensure garments are not left wet for long periods as this can affect the performance of the insert.

That seems to be about shorts and jerseys more than waterproofs. I would have thought once a year was enough for most waterproofs. But they do need some washing in order to keep them breathable and reproofing with eg Nikwax to keep the DWR working.

[Kim]

On the odd occasion it's got really manky (usually every couple of years or so) I just bung my Altura on a 30°C delicates wash, and then spray it down with some of that waterproofing spray stuff once it's dry.  I don't think it's supposed to be breathable though.  It's certainly boil-in-the-bag in practice.

[Lightning Phil]

As good a reason as any to continue with my not wearing “waterproofs” on the bike.

[fd3]

Basically never.
I have had gore one jacket for years, but I generally have one or two layers to contain the sweat. 
I did feel that my boil in the bag overtrsouers were risking a pong, so I rinsed them off in the bath.

It's waterproof gloves that are my biggest issue, they tend not to dry without going in the dryer, which then make them not waterproof.

[Wowbagger]

I occasionally wash my paramo in Nikwax wash, but rarely reproof it, because the wash seems to revive the fabric's waterproof capacity pretty well anyway.

Mostly, if it rains, I just stay indoors.

[Blodwyn Pig]

https://www.screwfix.com/p/grangers-clothing-care-kit/702fm

This would seem to be a bargain!   “ I likes a bargain, I does”

[TPMB12]

I've been on a few outdoors websites with some real experts on outdoors  ( hiking / backpacking kit). I learnt a lot about fabrics and it depends on the fabric.

Paramo you wash in their techwash (I've heard about some using pure soap flakes similar to woolite I think to reduce cost) when it looks like it needs it, if it's exposed to oils, s sweat, etc or if it starts top wet out. After washing, before drying,  you pour water over it.  If the water bears up and rolls off then it's ready to wear again when dry.  If not you need to reproof,  their tx10 is best. Paramo stuff does not need heat activation but I believe grangers does. That's to effectively bind the stuff to the fabric and possibly activate it.

Goretex you wash less often, the ptfe layer is protected from your natural oils which can reduce performance by an oleophobic treatment to the fibres of the liner layer I read somewhere.  So you really only need to wash after it gets really dirty,  stinky or looks like it's about time for a refresh.

Event fabric can get clogged up by natural oils reducing breathability.  So it needs a lot more washing. Nikwax techwash will do or pure soap flakes. Reproofing isn't needed unless it wets out.

I  general,  techwash usually helps with beading so between reproof you can have several washes for all fabrics but especially event and Paramo.

With fabrics which have the waterproof membrane as the outer layer,  iirc gore shakedry is one,  I believe reproofing isn't needed only occasional washing.

I hope that helps.