How to take care of Eco-shell

Extend the lifetime of your wet weather garments



The durable water repellent (DWR) we use to impregnate our Eco-Shell garments is fluorocarbon (PFC) free. This is great news for nature, as PFCs don’t break down, and instead stay in the environment, slowly working their way up the food chain. So by choosing a PFC-free garment you’re choosing to not let these fluorocarbons free into nature. The compromise is that extra care is required to ensure your Eco-Shell garments retain their waterproofness.

Re-Waterproofing Eco-Shell

Bottom of jacket laying on table

Prepare

Start by hanging the garment on a hanger (best for jackets) or laying it flat (best for trousers). The item can be dry or wet. It’s easier to get an even surface on a humid garment for instance, but it’s easier to see where you’ve sprayed on a dry garment. So it’s up to you.

Closeup of jacket zippers

Spray

Shake the bottle of DWR vigorously then spray evenly over the garment. Let it dry then go back and pay special attention to high-wear areas like the shoulders and chest.

Closeup of arm cinch enclosure

Spread

Use a clean sponge to ensure you’ve spread the DWR evenly over the entire garment. This helps to avoid discolouration, so don’t skip this part. Too much DWR in one area could lead to patchiness.

Close up of jacket button snaps

Dry

Heat optimises the uptake of the DWR, so if possible dry the Eco-Shell garments in a drying cabinet or tumble dryer on a medium heat for 30 minutes. If you choose to tumble dry your clothes we recommend closing all zips and Velcro adjustments, as dryers place unnecessary wear on these areas.

REPAIRING HOLES IN ECO-SHELL GARMENTS

There are now plenty of repair kits on the market for patching holes in shell garments. So you don’t have to get rid of your shell gear at the first sign of a hole.

We recommend repairing holes as soon as you see them – if you put it off they’ll likely just get bigger and become much harder to deal with.  Most shell garment repair kits include small amounts of water-resistant adhesive fabric that you cut to shape and press onto the outer material. They’re cost effective ways of extending the lifetime of your waterproof clothing. A good tip is to round the corners to make them less likely to catch and peel off.

WASHING ECO-SHELL GARMENTS

You can wash your Eco-Shell garments in the washing machine. We recommend a mild liquid detergent, a slow spin-cycle and a temperature of 85°F. And to be kinder to the environment, only wash your Eco-Shell gear when it really needs it – this also means you won’t need to reapply the DWR so often either. We suggest closing all zips and releasing drawstrings before washing.

It’s a good idea to run an extra spin-cycle without detergent after the regular cycle. This is just to make sure all the washing liquid has been removed. And don’t use a rinse aid.

For drying, follow the instructions above. You can read our general care advice here.