With nice spring weather finally here, lots of people will be putting their winter waterproofs away. They’ll be switching to lighter garments for the occasional showers. This is a good time to look at the condition of your winter garments. Some of them may be getting to the end of their life. If so, you need to decide what to do with them. We want to have a look at that here, so read on for some useful tips.

Be careful

The first thing we’ll always advise is to think carefully about your waterproof garments. They sadly tend to have quite a big impact on the environment. It can take a lot of energy to create them, especially composites and polymers that offer very high water resistance. In addition, they tend to not be recyclable because of the materials. Ultimately, if you want to minimise the impact on the environment, you need to do all you can to prolong the use of the garments rather than throwing them away.

Revitalise

If you think your garments are at the end of their life because they don’t resist water as much or at all, revitalising them may be an option. A good wash to get rid of dirt, sweat, and other contaminants can help to reactivate the water repellent coating. It could massively improve the performance.

Another thing you can do is try to reproof the garments. What you are basically trying to do here is restore the water repellent properties of the materials. There are lots of options, including sprays and wash-in products. Select a suitable one and carefully follow the instructions. If you do use a spray, focus on areas with the most wear and tear where you have wetting out. It could give your waterproofs a new lease of life.

Repairs

You may think your garments are at the end of their life because of damages like rips and tears, broken zips, or failed seams. However, many of these are fixable. In fact, a number of brands have professional repair services. This ensures their garments last longer and minimises the impact on the environment.

Change the use

Just because a garment is no longer useful for long hours in heavy winter weather doesn’t mean it is time to throw it away. It could still be perfectly sufficient for lighter showers and short term protection. So, maybe you could use it for things like dog walking or working in the garden. It could also be useful to keep it in the car in case of emergencies in wet weather.

Donations

Generally it is always an option to donate old waterproofs. Many charities specialise in waterproof garments, supplying them to low income people and families, schools, homeless individuals, and more. They will typically accept any products as long as they are still wearable.

Reusing

One of the most creative solutions is to take your old waterproof garments and turn them into something new. For example, the material could be perfect for creating bags or pillows for outdoor furniture.

Talk to us about waterproofs

JS Hubbuck Ltd has a lot of experience with waterproof garments. We’ve been working with farmers for generations, so we know they need clothing they can rely on to keep them dry, warm, and safe in any weather. On top of this, we specialise in shooting merchandise. Again people need reliable clothing for warmth and safety.

So, if you want quality waterproofs, speak to us. We’d be happy to give you advice and recommendations for different needs.