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gore tex

2K views 5 replies 5 participants last post by  andyh1956 
#1 ·
I have two military gore tex parkas, a desert camo & a woodland camo. I just washed them for the 1st time today. I think I should scotch guard them but having never owned gore tex other than boots I thought I would ask if anyone here has done this. thanks
 
#2 ·
Andyh1956,
Do not spray the parkas with any water repellant. Gortex is made to breath. It has thousands and thousands of pores small enough to allow vapor to escape but to small for water to penetrate. If you followed the washing instructions your parkas should be ready for use and completely waterproof.
 
#3 ·
REI and others sell a product by Nikwax called Tech Wash and TX Direct. They are designed for washing high tech fabrics like Goretex. The TX Direct restores the water repellency. Without that stuff, my Goretex will absorb water. I also use it on my tents. Works great.
 
#4 ·
Best way to ruin Goretex liners is to wash it with a standard detergent. It contains chemicals that prevents the surface tension of the water drops and will stick on the Goretex. Now the rain can penetrate the fabric because the molecules are small enough for the micro pores.
Wolf
 
#5 ·
If you did wash your Goretex in regular detergent and you find it's no longer waterproof, you will need to run it through a complete wash and rinse cycle WITHOUT SOAP OR DETERGENT to remove as much of it as possible. Then, warming the fabric in a low heat dryer or with a warm but not hot iron will hopefully restore the stuff quite a bit. But every maker of Goretex-like material I've come across also recommends you use this spray-on stuff to make it like new again:

http://www.mec.ca/product/4013-591/revivex-revivex-spray-on-water-repellent/

(I would have linked to the manufactor's website but when I went there I found it's an aggressive one that you have a hard time clicking out of.) Anyway, there are tons of outdoor sites that give advice on how to clean breathable waterproofs, and everyone should read up on how to before doing it. My advice is distilled from those.

PS: Scotchguard is no longer being made. It was found to be carcinogenic.
 
#6 ·
thanks guys. I washed them using a non- ammonia content unsented liquid soap called world something, as it was the least aggressive I could find & line dried them. but on the sleeve cuffs I used a go-jo type degreaser to try to get some of the grease out. I knew there was more to this than I thought. the upper shoulder area I think I was seeing some water migration but it could have just been getting cold. I will give a quick test when I get home tonight. thanks again!
 
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