Castelli softshell jackets are treated with a durable water-repellant (DWR) finish. The DWR finish keeps the outer fabric from becoming saturated, allowing moisture to escape without becoming trapped. Without care, the DWR finish will lose its effectiveness over time.
To maintain your product's DWR finish, make sure the garment has been cleaned properly. Dirt and other contaminates will block the micropores in the outer fabric through which moisture can escape. If your product is new or recently re-waterproofed, the DWR finish will be revitalized just from cleaning.
Once the garment has been thoroughly worn, you will need to restore the water-resistant finish.
Make sure the garment is clean, then put it in the dryer at low heat for about 20 minutes, or by ironing under low heat, being careful not to melt the synthetic fibers of your garment.
If this doesn't work, you may want to re-treat your Castelli product’s water repellency by applying a commercially available water-repellent spray-on DWR treatment by following these instructions:
- Make sure the garment has been cleaned properly and is dry.
- Lay the garment out flat and spray the entire outer shell with the water-repellent finish, holding the bottle 15 cm from the surface.
- Allow the water-repellent finish to soak in for 10-15 minutes.
- Wipe off excess water-repellent finish with a damp cloth. Check carefully to make sure no areas have been missed.
Remember, the garment will not become waterproof, but it will take longer for water to penetrate the outer fabric.
We recommend spray-on finishes (such as Nikwax SoftShell Proof™ and McNette) rather than wash-in finishes as it will affect the moisture management.