Gore-Tex jackets are made of special quality material to help keep you warm and dry. They are also coated with a durable water repellent so that rain and snow do not absorb through the jacket and get you wet.
The process is not difficult to employ. Simply apply detergent to stain, wash the jacket in a washing machine or basin of warm water, and dry in a drying machine or hung on a line. Always make sure to use liquid detergent and never apply bleach and stain removers to your Gore-Tex jacket.
In this article, we will give you step-by-step instructions on how to remove any stains in your Gore-Tex jacket as well as things you should not do that may damage your Gore-Tex jacket during the stain removal process. Additionally, we will provide you with the best cleaning products to use to remove stains from your Gore-Tex jacket!
Gore-Tex Stain Removal Guide
Step 1. Apply Cleaner to any Stains
It’s important to know that special care should be taken to clean your Gore-Tex jackets, especially when removing stains. Locate the stain on your Gore-Tex jacket and rub in a little bit of liquid detergent right on the stain itself. There is no need to scrub the stain vigorously.
As long as the detergent is somewhat absorbed into the material and not simply sliding off, it will start to do its job of lifting out the stain.
Step 2. Wash the Gore-Tex Jacket
There are two ways to wash your Gore-Tex jacket during the stain removal process. You can put the jacket in your washing machine and set the cycle to pre-wash. Ensure that the water temperature is warm in order to thoroughly remove the stain and wash out the detergent.
Alternatively, you can fill a basin or sink with warm water and let your jacket soak for twenty to thirty minutes. After it soaks, lightly scrub the stained area with a soft toothbrush or washcloth to help the detergent lift the stain out.
Rinse the once-stained area out under clean running warm water until the detergent is gone and wring out the wet jacket so it is not dripping wet.
Step 3. Dry Your Jacket
There are two ways to completely dry your jacket after washing it. You can put the jacket in your dryer to tumble dry. This will not hurt the material of the jacket and will ensure that it gets thoroughly dried.
Alternatively, if you want to conserve energy, you can hang your Gore-Tex jacket out to dry on a line. This is the safer way as well since you won’t risk any damage happening to your jacket with an extended cycle in the dryer.
If you do this, it is best to still throw it in the dryer machine for about twenty minutes to reactivate the special water repellent coating on the jacket.
What to Avoid While Removing Stains
Do not use stain removers, chlorine bleach, or powder detergent to remove stains from your Gore-Tex jacket.
These products can damage the sensitive material of the jacket causing it to lose its water repellent properties and ability to keep you warm.
Do not wash out stains in cold water. While it will not damage your Gore-Tex jacket, it will not effectively lift the stain out of the jacket nor thoroughly wash the detergent out. This may leave a gummy residue from the detergent which can have a slight effect on the performance of the jacket.
Which Products to Use For Stains on Gore-Tex Jackets?
The best type of cleaning product for removing stains from your Gore-Tex jacket is liquid detergent. Any brand will work but some of the highly recommended ones include NikWax Tech Wash which is made to clean water repellent materials.
If you have a tougher stain such as grease, read this more detailed guide on removing grease from your Gore-Tex gear.
Any mild detergent will do though, so Woolite, Tide, and All are also perfectly sufficient alternatives.
Final Thoughts
Gore-Tex jackets are made to ensure that the wearer is kept warm and dry especially during snow and rain. Therefore, if you need to remove a stain from your Gore-Tex jacket, you should be aware of the proper products and practices to use to protect its water repellent quality.
Using the wrong cleaning products can compromise the performance of your Gore-Tex jacket’s water repellent abilities. If you take proper care of your jacket, it will last you a long time. Make sure to keep it clean and stain-free with these three easy steps!
