Rain Jacket Revival
How to Revive Your Rain Jacket (Without Buying a New One)
Note: These steps are designed to restore jackets made with a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish—which includes most rain shells and technical outerwear. If your jacket didn’t come with DWR, this won’t make it waterproof, but it can still improve water resistance.
Wash with Nikwax Tech Wash – This removes dirt, sweat, and residue without damaging the fabric or the water-repellent finish.
Lightly air dry or tumble for a few minutes – Get the jacket to a damp-but-not-soaking state. This helps the spray stick better and absorb more evenly.
Apply Nikwax TX.Direct Spray-On – Spray it evenly over the outside of the damp jacket, focusing on high-exposure areas like the shoulders, hood, and sleeves.
Tumble dry on low heat – You don’t have to fully dry the jacket here—just a short tumble helps activate the DWR treatment and improves performance without overheating the fabric.
It won’t make your jacket brand new, but it does extend its life—and it’s a whole lot cheaper than buying a replacement.
You can find Nikwax products at your local outfitter or gear shop.