The snow season is ending, and your gear is probably covered in slush, sweat, and mystery stains. Want to just toss everything into the washing machine? Don't. The wrong method can ruin the expensive DWR (durable water repellency) on your waterproof jacket and snowsuit. This guide shows you exactly how to clean ski gear properly while keeping the DWR fully intact.
🔽 Quick Navigation
- 📌 How To Wash Snow Gear?
- 📌 How To Wash Waterproof Fabrics?
- 📌 How To Dry?
- 📌 How To Store Snow Clothes?
- 🧭 Conclusion
- ❓ FAQ
How To Wash Snow Gear?
The first rule of washing snow gear is: don't rush. Do three things before you start:
● Check the label: Find the care tag inside your garment. Different brands and fabrics have specific needs. For example, the insulation inside snow pants or snow gloves may not tolerate high heat.
● Pre-treat: Zip all zippers and secure velcro straps. If the cuffs or collar have heavy stains, gently brush off surface dirt with a soft brush.
● Sort: Wash the hard-shell waterproof jacket separately from any insulating mid-layers. Puffy insulation needs a more delicate cycle.
Choosing the right detergent is critical. Never use regular laundry powder or fabric softener – those ingredients clog fabric pores, destroy DWR, and ruin breathability. Buy a specialized tech wash (like Nikwax or Grangers). Measure it according to the instructions, then use cold water and the delicate cycle on your machine. Remember: hot water damages stretch fibers and waterproof membranes, and a fast spin cycle can delaminate the taped seams inside your snowsuit.
How To Wash Waterproof Fabrics?
Waterproof fabrics are more delicate than regular clothes, but proper washing can extend your snow gear's life for years. The core rule is: turn it inside out.
Flip your snow pants and waterproof jacket completely, so the side that contacts sweat and snow faces outward. This does two things:
1. Protects the outer DWR layer from excessive friction against the washing machine drum.
2. Directly cleans the dirtiest inner layer – the accumulated body oils and salt there actually degrade waterproofing faster than external dirt.
If you're washing snow gloves, put them in a large mesh laundry bag before turning them inside out. The velcro on gloves tends to snag other items; washing them separately or in a bag is safer.
After the wash cycle finishes, run an extra rinse cycle. Detergent residue is the number one enemy of durable water repellency. Even if the bottle says "no extra rinse needed," I recommend that extra plain-water cycle.
How To Dry?
Many people get drying wrong. Air drying is fine, but to reactivate DWR, you need a little heat.
Don't hang up your freshly washed snowsuit and waterproof jacket right away. Take them out of the machine, gently shake out wrinkles, then:
● Best method: Put them in a dryer on low heat (never above 50°C) for 20–30 minutes. Gentle heat allows the worn DWR coating to "re-flow" and fill the tiny gaps in the fabric fibers, so water beads will again roll off the surface.
● Alternative method: If you don't have a dryer, use a low-temperature iron over a dry towel on the outer layer. Do not directly touch the fabric.
● Air drying: Hang in a cool, ventilated area away from sunlight. After it's completely dry, test with a few drops of water. If they no longer bead up, your DWR is dead and you need to apply a spray-on waterproofer.
The cuffs of snow pants and the fingertips of snow gloves dry the slowest. Flip them inside out for half a day of extra drying.
How To Store Snow Clothes?
After your snow gear is clean and completely dry, how you store it determines whether it will still perform next winter.
● Don't: Fold and stack gear under heavy storage bins. Long-term pressure flattens the insulation inside a snowsuit, and the DWR coating can develop tiny cracks at the fold lines.
● Don't: Seal in plastic bags. Moisture can't escape, and you'll open them next year to a musty smell.
● Do: Hang waterproof jackets and snowsuits on wide, padded hangers. Hang snow pants upside down using pants hangers with clips – grab the waistband on both ends so the legs hang freely.
● Do: For snow gloves, once they are fully dry, stuff a crumpled piece of newspaper into each palm. This absorbs residual moisture and helps them keep their shape.
● Storage environment: Cool, dark, and dry. High temperatures (like near a radiator or in an attic) accelerate DWR aging.
Conclusion
Proper snow gear maintenance isn't complicated – it just requires changing a few habits: cold water, specialized detergent, low-heat drying, and hanging for storage. Spend half an hour treating your waterproof jacket, snow pants, snowsuit, and snow gloves with some care, and next season they will reward you with reliable warmth and dryness. After all, nobody wants to discover their durable water repellency has failed at the top of a freezing mountain.
FAQ
Question:
If my waterproof jacket no longer forms water beads on the surface, is it ruined?
Answer:
No. Usually only the outer DWR coating has worn off, while the inner waterproof membrane may still be fine. Simply wash it with a specialized tech wash and tumble dry on low heat as described in the article — that will reactivate the DWR. If that doesn't work, apply a spray-on waterproofer to restore it.
