Rewaxing and Reproofing

Expert Advice

Caring for Your Wax Jacket

Waxed cotton is a unique, high-performance fabric, made by weaving cotton yarn into a strong canvas fabric. The fabric is then treated with waxes. This wax is wind resistant and acts as a water barrier, but the cotton also remains breathable.

Wax jackets will last a long time if treated properly. It should always be kept in a well ventilated area and dried mud, sand and dirt should be removed as soon as possible.

Most importantly wax jackets should be regularly reproofed!

Cleaning Your Wax Jacket

Regular cleaning will enhance the appearance, removing dirt and grime which ultimately shortens the life of your jacket.

  • REMOVE mud and grit as soon as possible as these is abrasive.
  • SPONGE WIPE with cold water. Carefully brush off ground in dirt before wiping and rinsing.
  • DRY naturally and completely for a minimum of 24 hours.
  • REPROOF after cleaning.
  • DO NOT dry clean, machine wash or tumble dry.
  • DO NOT use soap, solvents, detergents or bleach
  • DO NOT iron or starch
  • DO NOT force dry or expose to a direct flame
  • DO NOT expose to direct sunlight for a long periods.

Reproofing Your Wax Jacket

Wax jackets will need regular reproofing and usually yearly if worn often. Uneven, shiny or dry areas, or where moisture no longer beads, is a good indicator to reproof those specific areas.

On top of prolonging the life of your jacket, reproofing will also revive the fabric’s colour and help to prevent holes from forming. Garments can be brought to “as new” condition with an easy application of reproofing wax.

  • Be sure that the garment is CLEAN and DRY.
  • Lay it on a flat surface and apply the wax sparingly with a soft cotton cloth.
  • Try using a hair dryer to WARM the wax on the cloth and on the garment as you apply it.
  • SPREAD WAX EVENLY, working it into the fabric in a circular motion.
  • DO NOT coat the surface too thickly
  • Seams and worn areas will require more wax.
  • WIPE OFF EXCESS WAX
  • Hang garment to dry overnight.
  • Spread out any excess oil not absorbed.
  • Apply more wax to areas that still appear shiny or dry.

Store Your Wax Cotton Garment Correctly

Items stored not completely dried or stored in a humid area may very well develop mildew. Once stored, regularly inspect your garment for mildew or mildew-indicating smell to prevent damage from occurring to your garment.

To store your coat or jacket:

  • Hang it in a dry, cool and well-ventilated space
  • Or fold and roll your garment for storage in a dry, cool and well-ventilated space.

We offer this advice for those who are investigating the possibility of cleaning their own wax jacket. However it should be emphasised that due to the nature of these items, wax jacket cleaning is best undertaken by a specialist, the results will often be far better and worth the small cost.

The Wax Jacket Cleaning Company have been successfully treating a variety of wax garments for many years and our customers send their garments to us from all over the county, so you can be reassured our cleaning and reproofing services are top notch!

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*Disclaimer: The Wax Jacket Cleaning Company™ and all its staff members are not affiliated with any of the brands listed above. We do not work for them or on behalf of them. We are an independent company.