Autumn Clothing Prep: Get Your Wardrobe Ready for Rain and Cold

Start with a run-through of your outerwear

Before you buy anything new, lay out all your outerwear: shell jacket, rain jacket, down jacket, rain trousers and the thin mid-layers. Most garments need maintenance, not replacement. Go through each one and note what it needs before the autumn weather sets in for good.

• Drop-test the shell: sprinkle water on the shoulders – if it beads and rolls off, the proofing is good; if it soaks in, the jacket needs washing and re-proofing.
• Feel the down jacket: if the down clumps or the loft is flat, it needs a wash that lets the fill spring back.
• Check zips, hook-and-loop and seams for wear while the garment is in your hands.
• Look for dirt, body oils and salt marks on the collar and cuffs – they work against new proofing.

Always wash before you re-proof

This is the most important step, and the one most people skip. New proofing will not bond to dirt, body oils or detergent residue – a dirty jacket takes the treatment unevenly. So wash everything you are going to proof first.

1. Close zips and hook-and-loop fastenings, and empty the pockets.
2. Use a technical wash made for shell and outdoor garments, not ordinary detergent with additives.
3. Skip fabric softener entirely – it forms a film and clogs breathability.
4. Run an extra rinse to clear all residue before you proof.

Re-proof the shell and the down jacket

With clean garments, the proofing bonds evenly and restores the water-repellency. Choose wash-in for even coverage on simple shells, or spray when you want to keep the product on the outer fabric only – for example on a jacket with a liner or exposed membrane. Down jackets can be proofed too: treat the outer shell, not the fill.

• Wash-in: easy and even, but treats the inside too – less suitable for a mesh liner or a membrane facing the body.
• Spray: lets you keep the product on the outer fabric – best for lined garments and down jackets.
• Activate with gentle heat (low tumble dry / low iron with a cloth in between) so the surface settles and beads water again.

Check zips, seams and lining before the rain

Autumn is the time to tackle the small repairs before they become big ones. A zip that slides open, a loose seam or a torn lining lets in water and cold. Test each zip up and down, feel for loose seams at the shoulders and pockets, and check the lining for tears. Much you can fix yourself with a needle and thread; badly worn hardware and hidden lining repairs are often a job for a professional.

Dry and store correctly through the season

Wet outerwear crammed together in a narrow hallway dries badly and starts to smell. Hang garments loosely on wide hangers so they dry fully between showers, and keep them away from direct heat from a radiator, which can damage the membrane and adhesive. Off-season garments you are not using should be stored clean and loose – not vacuum-packed, which crushes the loft out of down.

When should a garment go to a professional?

If the jacket is expensive, technical or important to you, if you are unsure about the fabric and membrane, or if the down jacket needs a wash that brings the loft back, you can send it to us – we help you across Norway. We clean and re-proof according to the garment and its care label, so the treatment is correct and gentle, and we can handle a zip, a tear or a seam in the same round. You order online, and you see the price before you order.

Frequently asked questions