How to Wash & Re-Waterproof Ski and Snowboard Clothing
Your ski jacket and snowboard pants are built to get dirty. Snow, sweat, chairlifts, sunscreen, body oils, and long days on the mountain all take a toll on technical outerwear.
The good news is that washing waterproof gear correctly can actually help it perform better. This guide covers how to clean ski and snowboard jackets, pants, and shells without wrecking the waterproofing — plus what to do when water stops beading off the fabric.
Contents
Should You Wash Waterproof Outerwear?
Yes. A lot of people are afraid to wash an expensive ski jacket because they think the washing machine will ruin the waterproofing. In reality, letting technical outerwear get packed with dirt, sweat, oils, and grime can hurt its performance too.
Waterproof-breathable fabrics need to move moisture through the material. Dirt and oils can interfere with that process, and they can also make the outer fabric stop shedding water as effectively.
How Waterproof Clothing Works
Most technical ski and snowboard outerwear relies on more than one layer of protection.
Inside the garment is a waterproof-breathable membrane or coating designed to block liquid water while still letting moisture vapor escape. On the outside is usually a Durable Water Repellent treatment, better known as DWR.
DWR is what makes water bead up and roll off the face fabric instead of soaking into it. It does not replace the waterproof membrane underneath. The two systems work together.
Waterproof Membrane
- Lives within the fabric construction
- Blocks liquid water
- Allows water vapor to escape
- Does most of the actual waterproofing
DWR Treatment
- Sits on the outer face fabric
- Makes water bead and roll off
- Helps prevent the face fabric from becoming saturated
- Can wear down and be renewed
Before You Put Anything in the Washer
Before anything else, check the care label inside your jacket or pants. That label wins over any general advice because manufacturers may use different fabrics, membranes, insulation, or treatments.
Once you have checked the label, prep the garment.
- Empty every pocket.
- Remove anything detachable that the manufacturer recommends removing.
- Close hook-and-loop or Velcro tabs so they do not snag the fabric.
- Secure the main front zipper as directed by the garment's care instructions.
- Do not cram the washing machine full of outerwear.
- Wash technical clothing separately or with only similar technical garments.
How to Wash Ski & Snowboard Outerwear
Once the garment is prepped, the actual wash is pretty simple.
| Step | What to Do |
|---|---|
| 1. Check the Label | Always follow the manufacturer's temperature and cycle instructions first. |
| 2. Wash Separately | Keep technical outerwear away from normal dirty laundry. |
| 3. Use Technical Cleaner | Use a cleaner intended for waterproof-breathable clothing. |
| 4. Use Warm Water if Allowed | Many technical garments can be washed warm, but follow the care label. |
| 5. Rinse Thoroughly | Make sure cleaner residue is completely removed. |
Ski Pro recommends washing technical outerwear by itself rather than mixing it into a normal load, and warns against overloading the machine. Its general guide recommends warm water and a normal cycle when the manufacturer's instructions allow it.
What Detergent Should You Use?
This is where you want to pay attention. Technical outerwear is not the place to grab whatever detergent is sitting next to the washer.
Ski Pro's general waterproof-clothing guide recommends a cleaner designed specifically for waterproof fabrics because some regular detergents can leave residue or interfere with the DWR treatment and membrane performance.
Use
- Technical outerwear wash
- Waterproof-garment cleaner
- Products specifically approved for the membrane in your garment
Avoid Unless the Care Label Says Otherwise
- Fabric softener
- Bleach
- Stain-removing additives
- Fragranced conditioners
One nuance worth knowing: membrane manufacturers can give different cleaner recommendations. For example, GORE-TEX's care guidance allows a small amount of liquid detergent on many garments while specifically saying to avoid fabric softeners, bleach, stain removers, and powder detergents. That is another reason the garment label should always be your first stop.
How to Dry Waterproof Jackets & Pants
Do not blast technical outerwear on the hottest dryer setting just because you want it done faster.
Ski Pro recommends low to medium heat for roughly 30 minutes when the garment's care instructions allow machine drying. If it is still damp afterward, you can continue drying according to the care label or let it finish drying away from intense direct heat.
Moderate dryer heat can do more than dry the garment. For many DWR-treated fabrics, heat can help reactivate the existing water-repellent finish. GORE-TEX likewise recommends additional gentle tumble drying after the garment is dry to reactivate DWR when the care label permits it.
How to Restore DWR
If your jacket is clean but water no longer beads on the outside, the DWR may need some help.
Start by washing and drying the garment correctly. Sometimes cleaning the face fabric and using controlled dryer heat is enough to restore the existing treatment.
If the fabric still wets out after that, use an aftermarket DWR treatment that is approved for waterproof-breathable clothing. Follow both the DWR product instructions and the garment manufacturer's directions.
Spray-On DWR
- Targets the outer face fabric
- Useful for shoulders, thighs, seat, and other high-wear areas
- Lets you concentrate treatment where it is needed
Wash-In DWR
- Applied through the washing machine
- Easy to distribute across a garment
- Compatibility depends on the garment and membrane
Ski Pro's newer waterproofing guidance favors spray-on treatment for waterproof-breathable garments because it concentrates the treatment on the face fabric rather than coating the interior as well.
How Do You Know When It's Time to Re-Waterproof?
The easiest test is to watch what water does when it hits the outside of your jacket or pants.
DWR Is Working
- Water beads on the surface
- Droplets roll away easily
- Face fabric does not immediately darken and soak up water
DWR May Need Attention
- Fabric quickly darkens when wet
- Water spreads instead of beading
- Outer fabric feels saturated
- Garment feels heavier and colder in wet weather
That soaked appearance does not automatically mean the waterproof membrane has failed. Often the face fabric is simply “wetting out” because the DWR has worn down from dirt, body oils, backpack straps, falls, chairlifts, and normal abrasion.
Common Outerwear Washing Mistakes
Using Fabric Softener
Fabric softeners and conditioners can interfere with technical fabric performance and should generally be avoided.
Using Too Much Cleaner
Residue is not helping you. Use the amount recommended by the cleaner or garment manufacturer and rinse thoroughly.
Overheating the Garment
Technical fabrics do not need maximum dryer heat. Use the temperature specified on the care label.
Never Washing It
Dirt, sweat, sunscreen, oils, and grime can hurt breathability and DWR performance over time.
Assuming Wet-Out Means a Leak
A soaked-looking face fabric can simply mean the DWR needs cleaning or renewal, not that the membrane underneath is dead.
Ignoring the Care Label
General instructions are useful, but the manufacturer knows exactly what materials went into your garment.
The Bottom Line
Good ski and snowboard outerwear is an investment, and taking care of it is pretty straightforward once you know what not to do.
Read the care tag, keep the load small, use the right cleaner, rinse thoroughly, and use controlled heat only when the manufacturer allows it. If water stops beading, clean and dry the garment before assuming the waterproofing has failed. If it still wets out, refresh the DWR with a compatible treatment.
Need New Ski or Snowboard Outerwear?
If your old gear has reached the point where cleaning and reproofing are not cutting it anymore, it may be time to step into a newer shell, jacket, pant, or bib.
Shop ski and snowboard clothing at Ski Pro or stop into one of our stores and let our crew help you find outerwear that matches where and how you ride.
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