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How do I Reproof my Waterproof Coat?

We've enjoyed a good summer and a mild autumn.  Thankfully, we have not needed our rain mac or overcoat for quite a while.  It's been packed away unused for many months, and finally the rain hits, and we root about to find our trusty coat, dust it off and... get wet!

What should you do?  Buy a new Target Dry waterproof coat of-course!

But we understand that people can get very attached to their jacket or coat.  After all, you have been through a lot together!  So how can you get an extra season of staying dry out of your BJF (Best Jacket Forever)?

Remember that all Target Dry products are machine washable at 30° (Find out more about how to wash your waterproof coat).  And while there are many wash & re-proof products on the market, we recommend using the NikWax Two-Stage Treatment.

This is a cleaning and re-proofing sequence that aims at restoring the original performance of your coat or jacket.  Coming in a twin-pack, remember that "Green is for Clean & Purple is for Proof".  Now we are all set!

 Stage 1 - Wash Your Jacket / Coat with NikWax Tech Wash

NikWax Tech Wash is a soap based cleaner that can be used on all sorts of outdoor equipment, including clothing, tents, awnings, rucksacks etc.  Just washing your Target Dry jacket or coat can help the breathability (it cleans out dirt in the fabric), and revitalises the waterproof finish.

1. Before washing please make sure to clean the detergent dispenser of the washing machine, as detergent residue will impair the effectiveness of the wash, as will that used tissue hiding at the bottom of the pocket! (Hate that!)

2. Place up to 2 items in the washing machine.  Trying to wash too many items at once, will impair the effectiveness of the wash.

3. Use 3 full caps (150ml) for areas of medium / hard water.  Use 2 full caps (100ml) for areas of soft water.

4. Wash with a delicate 30° wash as per wash instructions sewn into our garments

 Stage 2 - Reproof Your Jacket / Coat with NikWax TX Wash-In

There is no need to dry your items before moving to the next stage of reproofing.  The steps below closely follow the previous stage but remember to use the right product - NikWax TX-Direct -  "Purple is for Proofing"!

1. Before reproofing remove any detergent build up in the detergent dispenser.

2. Place a maximum of 2 clean items in the washing machine.

3. Use 2 full caps (100ml) per garment.

4. Wash with a delicate 30° wash on a slow spin as per wash instructions sewn into our garments

5. Allow to dry in an airing cupboard, warm room or (weather permitting) outside in the sunshine!  This will help the reproofing agent to bond well to the fabric, and ensure that it is fully activated.

There you have it - You should now have a reproofed waterproof coat!

We hope that this short guide helps you get more wear out of your outdoor waterproof gear.  But if you're ready for a change and a new coat for a new season, check out our Target Dry collection!

How to Wash Your Waterproof Coat

The more you wear your waterproof coat, the more dirt you will find building up on it. This can lessen the effectiveness of the waterproof coating as well as the breathability of the coat. We’ve put together a guide on how to wash your Target Dry coat as this is a good question we are frequently asked.

Just follow these steps to make your waterproof coat feel like new again:

• Before you put it in the machine, try and brush off as much loose mud or dirt as possible. Be sure to do up any zips, buttons or Velcro tabs as these can get caught in the washing machine.

• Make sure there is no extra washing powder lurking in the detergent drawer of your machine from previous washes. Normal washing powder can damage and deface the waterproof coating on your coat, making it less waterproof and more susceptible to leaks.

• We recommend using pure soap suds to wash your coat. Dri-Pak Soap Flakes are a good choice. Follow the instructions on the packet for the correct directions and amount to use. Do not use fabric softeners on our waterproof products as these can also be very harmful.

• Place your waterproof coat in the machine. It is best to wash your Target Dry coat on its own or with only one or two other similarly coloured garments.

• Wash at 30 degrees (on a delicate setting if the machine provides this option) and allow the machine to complete a full wash and spin cycle.

• When the wash is complete, waterproof garments are best left to dry out naturally, but they may be dried in a tumble drier at a low or medium heat if the care instructions allow (most of our waterproof products do not allow tumble drying so be sure to pay attention to the label).

If you notice that the fabric of your jacket is beginning to absorb water rather than repel it, you may also need to reproof your garment. This is not necessary every time you wash it, but we would recommend that you do it periodically when you think it needs it.

Keep an eye out for our next blog post- we will be explaining the best way to reproof your waterproof coat!

Sizing Guides: Hints & Tips

Ah, the wonder of online shopping. Just browse, click, buy and it arrives at your door in a couple of days without so much as having to leave your seat on the sofa. What’s not to like?

Unfortunately, as wonderful as the concept of online shopping is, nothing is perfect and with every good thing comes a down side. We all know how annoying it is to buy something online and then have to go to the bother of sending it back if it doesn’t fit. That’s why we have made a special effort to ensure it is as easy as possible to decide which size is best for you.

Each product on our website has its own individual sizing chart. If you are a regular shopper with us, you will have noticed that our sizing charts are not the standard generic charts you will find elsewhere. Instead of using person measurements, we show the measurements of the actual garment. This is so that you can measure the coat against one you already have that fits well and compare the measurements to see which size will be best for you.

Just in case you need a little extra guidance, we have included some generic sizing charts below to give a good idea of which size would suit you best.

How Waterproof is my Coat: What Does 5000mm Mean?

If you are buying yourself a new waterproof coat and you’re not too well versed in the ins and outs of modern day waterproofing technology, you may find yourself coming across a few rather confusing terms. What on earth does 5000mm mean? And 5000gsm? What’s the difference? These are just a few of the questions that will be running through your mind.

Not to worry, our guide to waterproof technology is here to help.

Number, numbers, numbers. But what do they all mean?

A waterproof garment is measured with two numbers. The first one measures how waterproof the coat is. This is measured in millimetres. You will see numbers from 2,000mm up to 8,000mm across our collection to describe to the consumer how dry the coat will keep you. But what does it mean? For example, if a coat were 5,000mm waterproof, a test is conducted where a long tube is placed over the fabric and the tube is then filled with water. 5,000mm or 5 metres (16.4 ft) is how far you could fill the tube before it would start to leak through the fabric. So in theory, you could stand out in the rain until 5,000mm of rain fell before you would start getting wet.

The second number relates to how breathable the coat is. It is expressed in terms of how many grams (g) of water vapor can pass through a square meter (m²) of the fabric from the inside to the outside in a 24 hour period. The larger the number, the more breathable the fabric. For example, if a coat were 5000gsm breathable, 5000 grams of water would be able to pass through a square meter of the fabric in 24 hours.

Waterproof Technology Explained

So what's the composition of the fabric? Keeping in mind that some of our coats are designed slightly differently, we have constructed a basic diagram to show a general example of the different layers of our coats. This applies mostly to our Xtreme Series and Outdoor Leisure collections. Just click the link below to view.

View Waterproof Technology Diagram

Behind the lining inside, there may or may not (depending on the season of the collection) be a layer of insulation to keep your body heat in. Next comes a waterproof membrane which is fixed to the inside of the outer layer of material. The outer layer of material is then sprayed with a Teflon coating which helps the outer fabric to bead off as much rain as possible before it seeps down to the waterproof membrane. All of the seams of our coats are fully taped which means that no water can get in through the stitching.

Which one is best for me?

If you are buying a waterproof coat for walking about town or dropping the kids to school, a waterproof rating of 2,000-5,000mm will be more than enough. If you were planning a weekend in the mountains, we would advise a rating of 5,000-8,000mm as the conditions can be much harsher. A high breathability level would not be required for the school run, but if you have hiking in mind, we would recommend a breathability rating of at least 5,000gsm.

If you are still having problems choosing what is best for you, please just send us a message through our social media, or email us at shop@targetdry.com.

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What delivery options are available?

This week we are answering the question - What delivery options are available?

Royal Mail Tracked 48 - £ 1.95 (Free P&P over £15).

Republic of Ireland

USA

All goods are shipped from the UK and should arrive with you within 14 working days of your order being placed. You may have to pay import duties and taxes on your goods when they enter the United States.

If you have any further specific delivery questions, please email:

help@targetdry.com