Waterproofing

So, when I left the house this morning (at 4:45 AM, mind you) I didn't realize that rain was in the forecast. Among other things, I wore my windproof fleece jacket, the brand of which will remain nameless for the sake of this little story.

At about 6:30 this morning I conducted an unplanned test of the waterproofness of my jacket. Lucky for me, I had recently used a product called TX.DIRECT by NIKWAX on my jacket. After almost an hour of light but steady rain, followed by another hour of sitting, no water had made its way inside my fleece. True, it wasn't a monsoon, but usually the weather man can tell you if it's going to rain if there is a monsoon involved. And won't you be smart enough to have an actual waterproof jacket on in a monsoon? (That question is more for me than you.)

Here is some information about TX.DIRECT from NIKWAX:

Wash-in waterproofing for wet weather clothing

Adds water-repellency and revives breathability to fabrics without wicking liners.

Benefits of using this product Adds / renews water repellency and revives breathability Prolongs the life of gear and optimises outdoor performance Easy to apply - can be used in a washing machine, no tumble drying required Will not affect cosmetic appearance WaterBased - environmentally friendly, biodegradable, non flammable, non hazardous Does not contain fluorocarbons Guaranteed performance for 4 years from manufacture
Ideal for Clothing with drop liners Microporous coatings Gore-Tex Sympatex eVENT Tripple-Point Ceramic Microfibre fabrics Breathable laminates
How to apply Place clean item in a washing machine Apply Nikwax TX.Direct in the machine’s dispenser Select a normal wash cycle, start machine and complete rinse cycle Alternatively, just apply Nikwax in a simple hand wash Drip-dry or tumble dry on a low setting if the care label allows Note: Always check the garment care label and follow instructions Always clean garments first with Nikwax Tech Wash before re-proofing When using a washing machine, remove traces of detergent from the dispenser before adding Nikwax
When to use this product After cleaning and re-proofing clothing, maintain its waterproofing qualities by frequent cleaning with Nikwax Tech Wash. After 6 to 8 washes with Nikwax Tech Wash, re-apply Nikwax TX.Direct to re-proof. Remember you don’t have to wait to dry between cleaning and re-proofing.