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Bike Apparel Guides > How do I wash my water-repellant apparel?

The DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish on your Giant apparel can become blocked with sweat and grime and break down over time. By following the care instructions below, you can keep the DWR finish performing like new.

BEFORE WASHING

TEST THE DWR ON YOUR CLOTHING

spraying water on cycling jacket
1. Spray some drops of water on the fabric.
spray bottle by cycling jacket
2. Shake to see if the water drops bead up and roll off the fabric or sit on the fabric and wet through.

CHECK THE WASHING INSTRUCTIONS ON THE LABEL

washing label on cycling jacket

Not all cycling clothes are the same. Some need special care, so always check the label before washing. Learn more about laundry labels.

GET YOUR CLOTHING READY TO WASH

jacket and gel wrapper
1. Check pockets for trash such as used gels and bar wrappers.
damp cloth on cycling jersey
2. Pretreat stains with a damp cloth.
closing zippers on cycling jacket
3. Close all zippers, hook-and-loop closures or any other fasteners.

WASHING & DRYING

HAND WASHING

eco-friendly detergent
1. Use an eco-friendly detergent, free of dyes and perfumes.
washing cycling jacket
2. Wash in cold water (30° C / 85° F at most)
hand washing cycling jacket
3. Submerge clothes in the soapy water and hand wash gently
bleach and softener crossed out

Warning

  • Hand wash only, due to the membrane coating on fabric maybe damaged by machine wash.
  • Do not use fabric softener as it forms a layer on clothing that makes it lose breathability.
  • Do not use bleach as it destroys clothing fibers.

Drying

drying cycling jacket

Hang dry indoors with lots of ventilation.

STORAGE

STORAGE

  1. Keep apparel in a dry, well-ventilated wardrobe or cupboard, away from direct sunlight.
  2. Storing apparel in a breathable garment bag, especially for long-term, is highly recommended.
cycling jackets in storage

REAPPLY NEW DWR FINISH

jacket being sprayed
1. Using a trusted DWR spray such as NIKWAX or Grangers, lay the garment flat and spray the entire outer shell, holding the bottle about 15 cm from the surface. 2. Allow the water-repellent finish to soak in for at least 2 minutes.
washing off dwr
3. Wipe off excess DWR finish with a damp cloth. Check carefully to make sure no areas have been missed.
hanging to dry outside
4. Hang dry indoors with lots of ventilation.

NOTE

  • Remember that a DWR finish does NOT make the clothing waterproof, it only slows the rate at which water will penetrate the fabric.
  • Too often washing may damage DWR-treated garment membrane slightly.