How to care for your Oilskin

Oilskins are breathable and durable garments that will keep you warm and dry through the worst of it. If taken care of properly, an oilskin can look after you for a lifetime.

Care

• Make sure that the garment is the right size. If a seam gets overstretched, it can let water in, compromising the garment.
• Store in a cool, well-ventilated area. Leaving it hanging outside is better than tucked away in a wardrobe.
• Clean and reproof the garment regularly.

Cleaning

Oilskins are made tough and can handle a bit of dirt, but to keep your garment in good and working order, it needs a clean from time to time.

• If the garment is only a little bit dirty, use a brush and a damp cloth to remove dirt and debris.
• If the garment is very dirty, hand wash in a tub of cold water. Or even hang it up and give it a good hose down with cold water.
• Hang the garment up to dry in a cool, well-ventilated area away from sunlight and any source of heat.

Removing Mould

If your oilskin is stored in a damp environment, small spots of mould may develop in patches, especially in seams and crevices. Luckily, this is a simple thing to fix.

• To start, brush off as much mould as you can. Use isopropyl alcohol and sponge off any persistent patches.
• Quickly hand wash in a tub of warm water with a drop of oilskin detergent.
• Rinse thoroughly and hang up to dry in a cool, well-ventilated area away from sunlight and any source of heat.
• Reproof as per the instructions below.

Reproofing

Over time the protective coating on an oilskin wears off and dries out. Re-proofing restores this coating, and when done regularly, it will help keep you dry and prolong the life of the garment.

• Clean the garment before starting the reproofing process by following the steps above.
• Rub the reproofing product onto the garment using a lint-free cotton cloth or a clean, soft sponge.
• You can soften the product before use by placing the container in a bowl of warm water. This will make the product much easier to work with.
• Make sure to pay particular attention to the seams or anywhere that experiences an increased amount of wear, eg the elbows or cuffs.
• After reproofing, hang out in the sun on a hot day or use a hairdryer on a low setting to dry the product. You will notice the colour changing from shiny to matte as you go.