Waterproof rainwear often features a protective coating on the outer shell. Many parents believe that washing their kids' rainwear will damage this coating — but what may surprise you is that rainwear actually performs best when it's clean. The key distinction is that it's not washing itself that reduces the coating's effectiveness. Problems come from using the wrong products, or skipping a few simple but essential steps.
Does Washing Rain Gear Remove the Waterproofing?
Washing rain gear does not remove the waterproofing on its own. What degrades waterproof protection is using the wrong detergent — which leaves residue in the fabric — or applying fabric softener.
Waterproof rainwear relies on a protective coating applied to the outer surface of the fabric. At Hatley, our waterproof rainwear is coated with 100% polyurethane. This coating allows water to bead up and roll off instead of soaking through the outer shell. Regular detergents, especially those with built-in softeners or heavy fragrances, can leave behind a residue that coats the fabric fibres and gradually degrades the protective layer. This residue can also combine with dirt, body oils, and mud, preventing water from beading as it should.
An important distinction: the waterproof membrane inside the jacket, which blocks water from passing through entirely, is not affected by normal washing. It is the outer protective layer that requires special care.
What to Use When Washing Waterproof Clothing
The best practice is to use a cleaner specifically formulated for waterproof or technical fabrics, or a fragrance-free, non-bio detergent with no built-in fabric softener.
Standard laundry detergents are designed for everyday fabrics and often contain surfactants, brighteners, and softening agents that linger in the fabric long after the rinse cycle. For regular clothing, this is fine. For anything waterproof, these residues work against the protective coating.
Fabric softener, in particular, is one of the fastest ways to ruin rainwear's water protection. It should never be used on waterproof gear — not in the wash cycle, not in the dryer, and not as a spray. The softening agents coat the fibres in a way that actively prevents water from rolling off the surface.
What to use instead:
- A technical fabric cleaner or Nikwax-style wash-in product designed for waterproof gear
- A small amount of fragrance-free, dye-free liquid detergent with no softeners
- Nothing else — no dryer sheets, no fabric softener, no scent boosters
How to Wash Kids' Rainwear in a Washing Machine
Rainwear can go in the washing machine. A gentle or delicate cycle with cold or lukewarm water is recommended for most kids' rainwear. Here's a straightforward process:
- Close all zippers and velcro fasteners before washing — open velcro can snag the fabric and damage the surface coating
- Shake off loose mud and debris before putting the garment in the machine
- Use a small amount of technical fabric cleaner or a mild, softener-free detergent
- Select a gentle cycle with cool or lukewarm water
- Run an extra rinse cycle — detergent residue left in the fabric attracts moisture and reduces waterproof performance; a second rinse helps clear it out
- Check the care label before drying — some rainwear benefits from low heat in the dryer to reactivate the protective layer; others should be air-dried flat
That extra rinse step is worth emphasizing. Much of the loss in water protection after washing isn't caused by the wash itself, but by detergent residue left behind. A second rinse makes a noticeable difference, and it costs nothing to add.
Following these steps keeps kids' rainwear — like Hatley's waterproof rain jackets and rain pants — performing reliably season after season, and ready to be passed down to the next child.
Why Water Sometimes Stops Beading — and What to Do
If water stops beading on the surface of a rain jacket, it doesn't necessarily mean the jacket has lost its waterproofing. It often means the protective coating needs to be restored.
This is one of the most common misreadings of rainwear protection. Some parents notice the outer fabric looking wet and assume the jacket is no longer doing its job. But there's a difference between the fabric surface getting wet and the jacket actually letting water through to the child underneath. When the protective coating degrades, water stops rolling off the outer fabric — but the waterproof membrane inside can still be fully intact.
To restore water protection at home, try this first: wash the jacket using the method above, then apply low heat in the dryer (if the care label allows it) or use a cool iron over a cloth. Heat reactivates the protective layer and often restores beading without any additional products.
If that doesn't fully restore performance, a waterproof spray or wash-in reproofing product can be applied. These are available at outdoor gear retailers and are straightforward to use.
Where Waterproofing Wears Off First
Waterproofing doesn't wear evenly across a garment. High-friction areas like the knees and shoulders lose their protective layer first, because those areas experience the most repeated pressure and movement.
This doesn't mean the whole garment needs to be treated every time those areas show wear. Spot application of a waterproof spray to the affected areas can extend the life of the protective layer in high-use zones without requiring a full treatment. It's a practical, targeted approach that avoids over-treating areas that are still performing well.
How Often Should You Wash Rainwear?
The best practice is to wash rainwear when it's visibly dirty or starts to smell — not on a fixed schedule. Overwashing isn't the main risk. Improper washing is.
For kids who wear their rainwear regularly, that might mean washing after a few muddy sessions rather than after every single outing. Light dirt and surface moisture don't require a full wash each time. A quick rinse and air dry is often enough after a typical day outside.
It is important, however, to avoid leaving rainwear dirty for extended periods. Dirt, mud, and sweat work into the fabric and make it harder for the protective coating to function. A garment that's been sitting unwashed for a long time will have compromised water protection.
Washing on a needs-based schedule — rather than either obsessively or not at all — is the most practical approach for keeping kids' rain gear performing well.
A Note on Drying: Low Heat vs. Air Drying
How you dry rainwear matters as much as how you wash it. Always check the care label before deciding.
Some rainwear is designed to benefit from low heat in a tumble dryer. The warmth reactivates the protective layer and can restore beading performance after washing. If the label allows it, a short tumble on a low heat setting is often the best finishing step.
Other garments — particularly those with waterproof membranes not rated for dryer heat, or with bonded seams that could be affected — should be air dried. Lay them flat or hang them in a well-ventilated space, away from direct heat sources.
When in doubt, air dry and use a cool iron over a thin cloth (not directly on the fabric) if the label permits. This applies low heat gently without the risk of overdoing it in a dryer. Avoid leaving rainwear bunched up and damp for extended periods, which can affect both the coating and the fabric structure.
Keeping kids' rainwear performing well isn't complicated — it mostly comes down to using the right cleaner, rinsing thoroughly, and applying a little heat at the end if the care label allows it. Browse our kids' rainwear collection to find gear designed to hold up through seasons of proper care and everyday play.
FAQ
Does washing a rain jacket ruin the waterproofing? No. Washing a rain jacket with the right products and method doesn't remove waterproofing — it can actually improve performance by clearing out the dirt and residue that interfere with the protective coating. What damages waterproofing is using regular detergent with softeners, skipping the extra rinse, or applying fabric softener. The act of washing itself is not the problem.
Why does my child's rain jacket look wet on the outside even though they're staying dry? This is called wetting out, and it means the protective coating has degraded — water is no longer beading and rolling off the surface. However, the waterproof membrane inside the jacket may still be intact and keeping your child dry. To restore beading, wash the jacket with a technical cleaner, then apply low heat in a dryer or use a cool iron over a cloth. This often reactivates the protective coating without any additional products.
Can I use regular laundry detergent on kids' rain gear? It's best practice not to. Regular detergents often contain softeners, fragrances, and surfactants that leave a residue in the fabric. That residue interferes with the protective coating and reduces how well water beads off the surface. Use a technical fabric cleaner or a fragrance-free, softener-free detergent, and always run an extra rinse cycle to make sure nothing is left behind.
How do I restore waterproofing on rain pants or a rain jacket? Start with a proper wash using a technical fabric cleaner or mild detergent with no softeners, followed by an extra rinse. Then apply low heat — either in a dryer on a low setting or with a cool iron over a cloth — if the care label allows it. Heat reactivates the protective coating and often restores water repellency. If beading still doesn't fully return, a spray-on or wash-in reproofing product can be applied to the outer surface.
How often should I wash my kid's rain jacket? Wash it when it's visibly dirty, muddy, or starting to smell — not on a set schedule. For children who wear rain gear regularly, that might be every few outings during a wet season. Light surface moisture doesn't require a full wash each time; a rinse and air dry is usually enough. The key is not to let dirt and grime build up over a long period, since accumulated residue is one of the main reasons protective coating degrades.