Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

If you don't mind them being only somewhat clean, a good hosing will get the 
worst dirt out.  The problem is that washing with soap removes some of the 
water proofing, and leaves a soap residue that negates the rest.  Lots of 
people have found this out the hardway after  washing expensive Gore-Tex 
rain suits.

Being terminally cheap, I make most of my waterproof rain sheets. I start 
with  the cheapest cotton canvas blankets I can find.  I  water proof them 
by applying many coats of Thompson's Water Seal with a brush.  They are 
stiff and not very eligant, but layered over insulating blankets they get 
the job done.

My old division at 3M used to sell really good spray cans of Scotchgard (TM) 
waterproofing that could be applied at home.  Unfortunately, various 
environmental concerns mandated a complete reformulation.  The new aerosol 
cans of Scotchgard (TM) do not work as well as the old formulation, but they 
are very safe and environmentally responsible.

One thing you could try is to iron the washed item with as hot an iron as 
the fabric can stand.  Sometimes this will reorient the fabric repellency 
treatment and restore some of the repellency.  No guarantees.

Ed
Ed & Wendy Hauser
2994 Mittower Road
Victor, MT 59875

(406) 642-9640

ranch@xxxxxxxxxxx 


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