If you are someone who loves being outside or must run errands in inclement weather, you might have found yourself wondering whether it's possible to just throw a rain jacket in the dryer and call it a day. After all, it seems like such a simple solution - an easy way to get your raincoat ready for another wet-weather adventure without having to hang dry or air-dry for days on end!
There are pros and cons when it comes to putting your trusty waterproof coat in the tumble cycle, so before proceeding any further with this plan, take some time to consider what's involved and the damage that can occur. In this article, we'll explore everything from washing instructions and temperature settings to tips on drying your raincoat.
How To Safely Wash and Dry Your Raincoat
Raincoats are essential for any outdoor activity, but like all other garments, they need to be maintained and cleaned in order to stay in perfect condition. To properly clean a raincoat, you must first know its material. From here, you can follow the care instructions and proceed to wash.
Ultimately, proper maintenance and cleaning will ensure that your raincoat stays in great shape and keeps you protected from the elements. Luckily, we have compiled this guide to walk you through the process of cleaning your rain jacket.
Read the Care Label
Raincoats are available in a variety of styles, making it important to read the care label and check all laundry symbols prior to attempting to clean the coat. In certain cases, dry cleaning may be recommended due to delicate inner fabrics or linings that do not respond well to washing.
Such linings may need to be removed and separately cleaned. It is important to take note of the care instructions for raincoats as each coat may have different requirements for cleaning and maintenance in order to preserve its integrity.
Spot Treat Tough Stains
To clean vinyl or plastic coats, start by dampening a microfiber cloth with water and a few drops of laundry detergent or dishwashing liquid. Gently rub the fabric to remove visible mud and soil.
Woven fabric raincoats should have food stains and body soil around the inside of the collar and cuffs pretreated with an enzyme-based stain remover or a bit of laundry detergent. Rub it in and let it sit for at least 10 minutes to loosen the dirt before washing.
Make sure to rinse any soap residue left on the fabrics after cleaning, as this could cause skin irritation when worn. It is important to use the appropriate cleaning agent for each fabric to avoid damaging its fibers or color and avoid any skin reaction from harsh chemicals.
Choose a Detergent
Arguably the most important thing that one must do when washing their raincoat is to choose the proper detergent that will target stains but not cause damage. If you are looking for the best detergent for this job, then look no further than the products from Tru Earth.
Our laundry detergent strips pack a powerful punch of hypoallergenic, eco-friendly detergent that is ultra-concentrated and pre-measured. The smart formulation effectively dislodges dirt molecules and stains from any surfaces, allowing them to be rinsed away.
Additionally, these laundry strips have perfect ingredients and are free of added dyes, chlorine bleach, parabens and phosphates, and 1,4-dioxane. Plus it's vegan - no animal-based ingredients or testing on animals was used in production. Therefore this laundry strip makes an ideal choice for those who want to keep their clothes clean without sacrificing any environmental benefits.
Washing Your Raincoat
By choosing Tru Earths' laundry detergent strips, you will be ready to wash and dry your raincoat. Making a choice to machine wash your raincoat or hand wash will be entirely up to you. We will go over the steps needed to do both.
Machine Wash: Select a Water Temperature and Washer Cycle
It is best to use cool or lukewarm water when washing raincoats, as hot water can soften vinyl and plastic finishes and lead to wrinkles that are hard to remove. To ensure the best care of your raincoat, all linings, belts, zippers, and buttons should be closed, and pockets should be emptied.
When washing your raincoat, make sure it is washed with other garments made of the same material that can be safely cleaned with cold water, and use the gentle or permanent press cycle.
Hand Wash
By using Tru Earth's detergent, it's best to allow the strip to fully soak in a large tub of water. From here, you can add your raincoat into the mixture. Ensure the whole jacket is wet, and rub detergent onto it for a few minutes by using a small brush or your hands.
Some will let their jackets soak in the water for a short period of time to ensure that all stains are being treated; however, you need to only let it soak for ten minutes. You can keep checking your rain jacket to make sure the detergent has fully cleaned the jacket.
Drying a Rain Jacket
No matter what method you use to wash your raincoat, the drying of your raincoat must be done carefully. When cleaning a raincoat, it is important to take into consideration the fabric type and drying method in order to preserve its quality and lifespan. The most recommended way of drying a raincoat is to hang it on a sturdy hanger and allow it to air-dry.
This should take around 2 hours, depending on the temperature and humidity of the environment. Plastic, vinyl, or rubber raincoats should never be placed in an automatic dryer, as the heat may cause irreparable damage.
Woven fabric raincoats can be placed in a dryer set on low to medium heat; however, this should only be done if someone is in a rush since adding clean towels to the mix will help absorb moisture more quickly so that the coat does not need to stay in for too long.
Regardless of what method you use for drying your raincoat, make sure its fabric type is taken into account so as not to damage it beyond repair.
How to Remove a Musty or Mildew Smell From Your Raincoat
Because raincoats spend most of their time protecting you and your belongings from the rain, it's only a matter of time before a musty smell comes from your raincoat.
It is important to use vinegar and baking soda to eliminate mold and unpleasant odors from a machine-washable raincoat. Firstly, a cup of vinegar should be added to the washing cycle instead of laundry detergent. This will kill the mold and neutralize any odors.
For an even better result, a second washing with baking soda can be performed; this will also help to neutralize any lingering odors. Taking this approach will help ensure that your raincoat stays fresh and odor-free for longer periods of time.
How Often Should I Wash?
Raincoats should be washed regularly to maintain their water repellency and durability. If a raincoat is worn frequently, it should be cleaned every month or after around twenty uses. Doing so will remove any surface soiling which may otherwise wear away the garment's protective coating and reduce its ability to repel water.
To further enhance the water repellency of a raincoat, cleaning should be followed by treating it with a commercial durable water-repellent product. Taking care to clean a raincoat regularly will ensure that it can continue to provide effective protection against wind and rain for many years.
