How do I know when I need to re-impregnate or reactivate?
If water drops no longer bead on top of the outer fabric—as they do on a plant leaf—but instead enter the fabric (it will typically take on a darker shade if this occurs), then it’s time to either re-impregnate or reactivate the fabric.
How do I decide between re-impregnation or reactivation?
Always start by testing reactivation: wash the garment and reactivate the impregnation by drying it in a drying cabinet, tumble dryer or with an iron set on low heat with a towel between the iron and fabric. When the garment has dried fully, splash some water on it. If it still doesn’t bead and/or there are some darker areas, it is time to try re-impregnation.
NOTE: Even if a garment lacks functional impregnation it will still keep you dry from external wetness. However, the material’s breathability will decrease and it will soil more easily.
How do I re-impregnate shell clothing?
There are several methods and products to choose from. The two most common are: 1) a spray-on treatment applied after washing, or 2) a liquid that you machine-wash into the garment. We recommend trying the former first.
When you Google “shell clothing impregnation products” it returns several options, all of which have easy-to-follow instructions on the bottle. Note that sometimes the most eco-friendly option isn’t always the best, so try to choose something with a good balance between eco-friendly and efficient.
NOTE: Modern garments with fluorocarbon-free impregnation require more frequent re-impregnation (see “Shell Clothing with Fluorocarbon-free Impregnation“ section below).