Down filled items are used to provide lightweight insulation to keep you warm. The structure of down allows air to be trapped between its filaments and warmed by body heat to provide insulation for the user.
If down gets wet it clumps together. This causes it to lose loft and insulation as it can’t trap air effectively. When wet, down loses all of its insulating properties, as water conducts heat away from the body up to 25 times faster than air. It will also gain weight and its breathability will be significantly reduced; leaving you feeling cold, wet and uncomfortable. Down filled items are most likely to get sweaty and wet inside when used in damp or wet conditions. Therefore it is important to stop down filled gear from getting wet by applying Durable Water Repellency (DWR). The outer fabric of your down filled item, as well as the down inside, must be maintained to ensure comfort. Through use it will eventually wear off and need to be renewed with Nikwax Down Proof™.
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 revitalised 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.
Down items need Nikwax Down Proof to maintain insulation.
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 which 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 optimised for down items, providing Durable Water Repellency (DWR) to both the outer fabric and the down fill, whilst maintaining insulation and breathability.
How Nikwax Down Proof protects.
Nikwax Down Proof™ has been specifically designed and optimised for down filled gear. It adds Durable Water Repellency (DWR), which protects against rain and condensation, improving the natural insulating properties of down.
Nikwax Down Proof™ prolongs the effective life of your down gear. It leaves a flexible water repellent treatment on individual down filaments and fabric fibres allowing moisture vapour to pass through, maintaining breathability and optimising performance in cold and damp conditions.
Nikwax Down Proof™ is a safe, easy to use product for down filled gear. It is quick to apply in a washing machine and ensures that the treatment goes right through the item, treating both the outer fabric and the down fill. The DWR of Nikwax Down Proof™ develops on air drying. 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.
Use Nikwax Down Proof in a washing machine.
For best results remove all non-washable parts and clean item(s) first with Nikwax Down Wash™ in a separate wash cycle. No need to dry item(s) before waterproofing. Shake well before use. Follow care label instructions (large items can be treated by hand).
Remove all detergent build up from the detergent dispenser.
Place clean item in washing machine (maximum 1 item).
Use 150ml for 1 item.
Run 30°C synthetic cycle and slow spin.
After the cycle has finished run multiple spin cycles, each time incrementally increasing the spin speed, to remove excess water.
To maintain waterproofing always wash with Nikwax Down Wash™. Do not use detergents.
Nikwax Down Proof™ treated items need no heat to develop water repellency. However, tumble drying is recommended (if care label allows) to ensure that the down is dried thoroughly and as quickly as possible. Leaving down wet or damp can ruin it completely. Tumble dry according to manufacturer’s instructions on a low setting until clumps have disappeared. 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 drying process will help restore loft to the down. After tumble drying it is recommended to air item(s) for at least a day in a warm and dry space, prior to packing away.