There is no such thing as permanent water-repellent treatment. Over time, the original repellent finish will be depleted and
you'll need to use a spray-on or wash-in water-repellency treatment to treat the fabric. You may repeat this process as many times as needed. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for reapplying the finish. Don’t forget to reactivate the finish by putting your jacket in the dryer for 20 minutes.
A Case of Mistaken Identity
Performance problems caused by worn DWR coatings are often mistaken for Gore-Tex fabric failures. This is due to the fact that when DWR coatings wear off, Gore-Tex® layers may:
- Appear wet on the outside—since the outer fabric may absorb some water.
- Feel heavier—again, due to water absorption.
- Collect condensation on the inside—water on the fabric's surface can lower the temperature of the fabric through evaporative heat loss. This can cause warm, humid air inside the garment to condense on the inside surface so it feels wet—like it's leaking.
Before you consider replacing your jacket or rain pants, first try restoring your DWR or reapplying a spray-on or wash-in coating. Remember—just because the outer fabric becomes wet does not mean that water is passing through the Gore-Tex membrane layer laminated to the inside of your garment.