Waterproof rainwear, umbrellas, and windbreakers with Nikwax
Early spring rain had my old shells wetting out. I threw rainwear, a UNIQLO windbreaker, and umbrellas into one Nikwax bath and the fabric started beading again—easier than spray-on and no sticky overspray.
Before/after: did the beading come back?
Before
Two pieces had lost all durable water repellent (DWR): a mountain parka and a windbreaker. Pour water on them and the fabric just drank it up.
After
The parka still looked matte—maybe the fabric texture—but it no longer soaked through. The windbreaker formed round beads again. I also tested a plain nylon shell that never had DWR and it graduated to “light rain ok” status.
How I prepped (wash first)
I rounded up every nylon piece in the house—about 10 items—and closed all zippers and snaps before tossing them into laundry nets.
Washer or basin?
Nikwax works in a washer or a tub. With this many items I used the washing machine. If you’re only doing one ski outfit, a washbasin saves solution.
Wash once before Nikwax
The bottle says “Wash with Nikwax Tech Wash first,” but a previous test showed Tech Wash is basically mild liquid soap (no synthetic surfactants). Tech Wash runs about ¥2,000/L; a similar soap from the drugstore (Miyoshi’s “Soyokaze”) is ~¥500 for 1.2 L, smells nice, and needs no softener.
Packages warn:
Do not use synthetic detergent, fabric softener, or bleach. They leave residues that attract water.
I’m guessing residues could interfere with the DWR. Also, Nikwax positions itself as eco-friendly, so that might be another reason they avoid synthetics.
Quick how-to / cautions
- Use the washer’s gentle/delicate course for rainwear.
- Go easy on spin: waterproof shells trap water like a bag and the weight can strain the machine.
- Heavy waterlogged items (like duvets) can slam a washer; the same principle applies here. This video shows the risk:
Add Nikwax and soak
The solution smells like wood glue—probably acetic acid. No ingredient list, so it’s a mystery liquid, but it behaves like an oily repellent and washes off skin with soap.
Label directions: 300 ml for 35 L of water (noted as enough for 1–2 jackets). I had ~10 pieces in there but still followed the 300 ml guideline. Let the washer agitate occasionally and soak for about 10 minutes.
Reuse the bath for umbrellas
Before draining the tub, I scooped the solution into a bucket and dropped in a folding umbrella for a 10-minute soak. Frugal and effective.
Rinse, spin lightly, air-dry
Rinse twice until the water runs clear, then do a short spin and hang to dry in the shade. Thin nylon dries fast; lined rainwear takes longer because water hides in hoods and pockets.
Once dry, test with running water—you should see round droplets on any rainwear fabric. The glue-like smell mostly disappears after drying; you have to press your nose to the fabric to notice a faint sour scent.
The DWR should last a few washes. I just needed coverage for rainy commutes and summer downpours, and one treatment is enough for a season. Recommended.
FAQ: will my washing machine get water-repellent too?
Maybe very briefly, but washer drums are stainless and already repel water. I ran normal laundry afterward and had no lingering smell or surprise waterproofing. Any thin residue rinses away with regular detergent.
