Waterproof clothing care

I have a Gore waterproof top, and some Endura eVent 3/4 shorts which i have had for a couple of years. They have been washed regularly, but have noticed recently that the waterproofing on them has started to fail. I wash them with the Niknak Tech wash from time to time, but was wondering if there is anything else i can do, or is this just a consequence of them being well used for a couple of years? It does seem a bit cheeky given the expense of these technical fabrics though.
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You also using the nikwax properly, i.e. not overloading the load as you need a lot of nikwax per item.
If after cleaning and re-proofing there is still water getting through then it's the membrane itself that's failed and there is nothing really you can do.
My Berghaus walking jacket is now 12 years old and still going strong and my Berghaus riding jacket is 4 years old and still good.
As said sometimes a quick wipe down and warm iron is enough to reactivate the DWR.As a rule I iron my riding jacket every couple of months and re-proof it once or twice(if a particularly wet year) a year.
Actually the manufacturers advise washing regularly. If you wash too infrequently then sweat and muck will build up and block the pores in the jacket's membrane as well as making the DWR less effective so the jacket won't work as well dirty as it will clean...
Also instead of paying best part of a tenner for a couple of doses of Nikwax soap you can use a solution of old-fashioned pure soap flakes.
I forgot to put that bit in :roll:
I always keep a box in the cupboard,it cost a couple of quid and will last a couple of years.....use very sparingly though as they really "sud-up"
Washington,nearly Newcastle
I have a protective softshell and use this stuff...
http://www.johnlewis.com/230605440/Prod ... urce=14798
Follow the instructions on th ebottle unless the disagree with the instructions on the garment.
My jacket says no tumblywumbly and no iron, so i just spray the stuff on then hang the jacket to dry in a reasonably warm place.
Works a treat, but might not be quite as good as if you had tumbled it.
H.G. Wells.