Technical Wash for Waterproof Gear and Down (2026)

Rain shells, synthetic sleeping bags and down gear all need a wash now and then, and Nikwax blames household detergent residue for many jackets that start soaking through. The choice is between a technical wash for waterproof shells and synthetic fill, and a down wash for anything filled with feathers. What follows is what GORE-TEX, Nikwax and GEAR AID each say goes in the machine, and what stays out.

How we chose: we did not test these washes. The picks come from the makers' directions and listings, and each was sold by Amazon.com and in stock on September 29, 2026.

Six washes and what each is for

Prices are Amazon's, as of the time shown, and subject to change. Details

Doses come from Nikwax's Tech Wash and Down Wash pages and GEAR AID's Pro Cleaner and Down Cleaner pages.

What GORE-TEX says goes in the machine

GORE-TEX's outerwear care page is short and specific:

• Close the front zip, pockets and pit zips.
• Machine wash at 105°F (40°C) with a small amount of liquid detergent.
• "Don't use powder detergents, fabric softeners, stain removers, or bleach."
• Rinse twice and minimize spinning.
• Tumble dry on a warm, gentle cycle or line dry, then tumble another 20 minutes to reactivate the DWR.

Note what GORE-TEX does not say: it does not require a branded tech wash. A small dose of plain liquid detergent is within its rules. The GORE-TEX care hub adds that you should always check the maker's label inside the garment, which can be stricter.

Why not regular detergent?

The case for a technical wash rests on residue. Nikwax's Tech Wash page says "dirt attracts water and household detergents leave water attracting (hydrophilic) residues, leading to fabric 'wetting out' in wet or damp conditions."

GEAR AID makes the same argument for its cleaner: "unlike regular laundry detergent, this specialized liquid cleaner leaves no residue behind," per its Pro Cleaner page. Both washes are sold free of the additives GORE-TEX bans: GEAR AID lists no fragrances, softeners or optical brighteners, and Nikwax lists no optical brighteners or added scent.

Whatever soap you use, skip the softener: GORE-TEX bans it outright on outerwear, and neither care brand puts any in its wash.

How to wash a rain shell

1. Empty the pockets and close every zip, as GORE-TEX says.
2. Clean the drawer. Nikwax's first step is to "remove all detergent build-up from the detergent dispenser," so old detergent does not wash into the load.
3. Dose for your machine. Nikwax Tech Wash: a maximum of 2 garments and 3.5 fl oz (100 ml) in a front loader; up to 4 garments and 5 fl oz for 1 to 3 garments in a standard top loader. GEAR AID counts 20 jackets per 10 oz pouch.
4. Warm or cold water, extra rinse. Nikwax says a normal cycle with warm or cold water and an extra rinse if possible; GORE-TEX says rinse twice.
5. Dry, then heat. If the label allows, tumble warm and gentle, then run 20 more minutes to wake up the DWR, per GORE-TEX.
6. Test. Sprinkle water on the shoulders. If it beads, you are done.

If it does not bead, it is time for a repellent. Our DWR spray guide compares spray-on and wash-in treatments. If you go on to a Nikwax wash-in, its Tech Wash directions say "do not dry before waterproofing."

How often to wash, and the repeat cost

Wash more often than you think. Nikwax says on the Tech Wash page that with regular cleaning "you should be able to clean your gear 5-6 times with Nikwax Tech Wash before it requires re-waterproofing." Cleaning is cheaper per jacket than re-proofing, so dirt, not the calendar, is the signal.

At the makers' doses:

• A 10 oz GEAR AID Pro Cleaner pouch: 20 jackets or 5 sleeping bags, per GEAR AID.
• A 10 oz bottle of Nikwax Tech Wash: about three front-loader loads of up to 2 garments.
• A 10 oz GEAR AID Down Cleaner pouch: 10 jackets or 5 sleeping bags.
• A 300 ml Nikwax Down Wash: about three loads of 2 jackets, or two sleeping bags.

Down is different: use a down wash

Down insulates by lofting, and residue weighs the plumes down. GEAR AID's down washing guide says regular soap leaves residue that clings to the plumes, and recommends its Revivex Down Cleaner instead. It also says "just one wash per season will keep down gear fresh, lofty and warm," per its product page.

Nikwax explains why a wet down bag is cold: on its Down Wash page it says wet down clumps and loses its insulation, and that water conducts heat away from the body up to 25 times faster than air. That is why Nikwax also sells Down Proof, to add water repellency to the fill and shell after washing.

How to wash a down jacket or bag

GEAR AID and Nikwax agree on the method:

• Machine: a front loader, or a top loader without an agitator, per GEAR AID. Nikwax says a sleeping bag goes in alone, and if it does not fit easily, wash it by hand.
• Dose: Nikwax Down Wash takes 3.5 fl oz for up to 2 garments or 5 fl oz for one sleeping bag in a front loader.
• Rinse: GEAR AID says rinse "until water runs clear at least 3 times."
• Dry: GEAR AID says low to medium heat for 1 to 2 hours with tennis balls or dryer balls. Nikwax says slow spin several times, dry on air or low heat, and tease apart clumps as it dries.

Do not stop when the outside feels dry. Keep teasing apart clumps, as Nikwax says, until the fill is even all the way through.

Synthetic sleeping bags and ski gear

Synthetic insulation goes in the technical wash, not the down wash. GEAR AID lists synthetic insulation among Revivex Pro Cleaner's uses and counts 5 sleeping bags per pouch. Nikwax lists synthetic sleeping bags among the uses of Tech Wash on its listing. Nikwax's front-loader instructions for Tech Wash say a maximum of 2 garments per load, so a bulky bag goes in on its own.

Before you wash: patch the holes

Wash with an open tear and you lose fill and fray the edges. Patch first, then wait: GEAR AID says its Tenacious Tape needs 24 hours before it is machine washable, per its down jacket repair guide. Our repair tape and patch guide covers which patch sticks to which fabric.

Related: GEAR AID vs Nikwax for the two ranges side by side.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a tech wash on a down jacket?

Use a down wash instead. Nikwax sells Down Wash for down-filled items and GEAR AID sells Revivex Down Cleaner, each made for down and the shell around it.

Does the Hardshell Duo-Pack go in one cycle?

No. Nikwax's TX.Direct Wash-In directions say to clean first with Tech Wash "in a separate wash cycle," then run the wash-in as a second cycle.

Can I remove a stain before washing?

GORE-TEX rules out stain removers on outerwear. Nikwax instead suggests treating stubborn stains with its own Stain Scrub before a Tech Wash cycle.

Do I need to wash a new jacket before proofing it?

No. Nikwax says that on new or recently re-waterproofed gear, cleaning alone will revitalize the DWR, so there is nothing to add until it stops beading after a wash and dry.

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WildProofLab is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Doses and washing directions are the makers' own.