Castelli softshell jackets treated with a durable water-repellant (DWR) finish, which keeps the outer fabric from becoming saturated so that the breathable barrier can do its job, may start to absorb water.
First of all, make sure the garment has been cleaned properly. Your Castelli softshell garment could be soaking up water just because it is dirty. First, try cleaning it. If it is fairly new or recently re-waterproofed, the DWR will be revitalized just from cleaning.
Once the garment has been thoroughly worn, you will need to restore the water-resistant finish.
You can rejuvenate the DWR finish by putting the garment in the dryer at low heat for about 20 minutes, or by ironing under low heat being careful not to melt the synthetic fibers of your garment.using a spray-on softshell treatment agent. Make sure to clean the garment first.
If this doesn't work, you may want to re-treat your Castelli product’s water repellency by applying a commercially available water-repellent spray-on DWR treatment by following these instructions:
- Make sure the garment has been cleaned properly and is dry.
- Lay the garment out flat and spray the entire outer shell with the water-repellent finish, holding the bottle 15 cm from the surface.
- Allow the water-repellent finish to soak in for 10-15 minutes.
- Wipe off excess water-repellent finish with a damp cloth. Check carefully to make sure no areas have been missed.
Remember, the garment will not become waterproof, but it will take longer for water to penetrate the outer fabric.
We recommend spray-on finishes (such as Nikwax SoftShell Proof™ and McNette) rather than wash-in finishes as it will effect the moisture management.