NikWax Down Proof

Description

Easy to use, safe, high-performance wash in waterproofing for down-filled clothing and gear. Adds Durable Water Repellency; reducing weight gain, maintaining the insulation and breathability of down-filled items in cold and damp conditions.

Your down gear could be soaking up water just because it is dirty. First, try cleaning it with Nikwax Down Wash™, and if it is fairly new, or recently re-waterproofed, the Durable Water Repellency (DWR) will be revitalized just from cleaning. But, once the gear has been thoroughly used, you will need to add DWR, using Nikwax Down Proof™, after cleaning first with Nikwax Down Wash™. This will add DWR to the outer fabric of the gear and also the down fill.

Alternative waterproofing products are often solvent-based aerosols; alternatively, they may be water-based and use fluorocarbons. Aerosol products are flammable. Fluorocarbons pose a potential risk to the environment and to the long-term health of the consumer.

Additionally, alternative waterproofing products that are not designed specifically for the treatment of down items may compromise the loft properties of down. Often these are just surface treatments that will only treat the fabric and not the down fill.

Nikwax Down Proof™ is a safe product to use on down-filled items. It is WaterBased, non-flammable, contains no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and is fluorocarbon free.

Nikwax Down Proof™ has been specifically designed and optimized for down items, providing Durable Water Repellency (DWR) to both the outer fabric and the down fill, whilst maintaining insulation and breathability.

Wet down is heavy, so it is important to use the right wash cycle to ensure no damage occurs to your machine or your down items. A gentle cycle with a slow spin is recommended. Using a top-loading washing machine with an agitator is not recommended, as it can damage the structure of the down.

After washing it is important that down items are thoroughly rinsed and very thoroughly dried. Even if you treat your items by hand, spin drying is recommended using a slow spin to get the maximum amount of water out of your down. It’s best to spin dry multiple times, each time incrementally increasing the speed of the spin cycle. If items are spun too quickly while still holding a large amount of water it is possible that internal baffles may be broken.

Nikwax Down Proof™ requires no heat to develop its DWR. However, tumble drying is recommended to ensure that the down is dried thoroughly and as quickly as possible. Leaving down wet or damp can ruin it completely. Ensure that there is sufficient room in the tumble drier to house the item once dry, as items will return to their original size during the drying process. Teasing apart clumps repeatedly during the drying process will help restore loft to the down.