Waterproof clothing help protect you from the elements and they allow you to enjoy the outdoors no matter what the weather throws at you. In order to help prolong the life of your waterproof clothing, it needs to be washed and taken care of in a specific way in order to keep the waterproofing at the highest level. This guide is going to talk you through the best ways to wash and look after your waterproof outdoor clothing.

Before you put your waterproofs into the washing machine, the first thing you need to check is the care and instruction labels on the inside of the garments. This will have all the necessary instructions and tell you what to do and what not to do. It was also tell you important facts including what temperature to wash at, whether or not it can be tumble dried and whether or not to wash inside out.

Once you know what your waterproof garments need to be washed in, there are a few steps you need to take before it can go in the washing machine -

• Make sure all zips are closed and velcros fastened so that they don't damage the fabric during the washing process. This is also the perfect time to check any and all pockets to make sure there's nothing left in there.
• Wipe off any dirt, mud, snow, ice that is still on the jacket. Use a soft bristle brush or microfiber cloth and some warm water to remove the excess dirt off the garment.
• Once you've got your waterproofs prepped for a wash, make sure you've got your washing machine on the right settings, as per the instructions on the care labels. We would recommending washing every 5-10 uses, depending on how dirty the clothing is. Washing too frequently can damage the waterproofing element of the clothing and reduce the waterproof level of them as well.
• Check that the detergent you're planning to use is suitable for waterproof clothing. Some detergents can be too strong and start to strip off the waterproofing technology off the fabric.