Waterproofing Questions – Waterproof Tips

A waterproof spray can alter the appearance of an item of clothing or footwear by changing the coloring or making it appear patchy. If this has happened to you then obviously you can't just wash it out as waterproof spray works to prevent water penetration, thankfully there are ways of getting rid of it and restoring your jacket/footwear or whatever it is to its former glory: 1. Use Ether Ether is used to get rid of oil and grease stains in upholstery so it will definitely be able to remove waterproof spray from fabric or a shoe. Be aware that Ether can give off toxic fumes so use it in a well-ventilated space or, preferably, outdoors. To remove waterproof spray using ether follow these steps: Spray the ether onto the fabric/shoe, alternatively, apply it on a rag and rub it in.Leave it to sit for 2-3 minutes.Take a clean towel and wipe as much of it off as you can, and rub thoroughly until no more ether is left.Wash in the washing machine or hand wash in the sink to remove all remaining ether and waterproof spray. 2. Use Alcohol Isopropyl alcohol AKA rubbing alcohol can also be used to get rid of stains in clothing, carpets, rugs and more so it should be able to remove waterproof spray from a garment or shoe. Don't be tempted to use some leftover whisky as that won't work as the alcohol concentration isn't high enough, it needs to be Isopropyl alcohol. You can try using hand sanitizer as this is made up of at least 60% Isopropyl alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol can give off strong fumes so use it in a well-ventilated space ideally outdoors. To remove waterproof spray using alcohol follow these steps: Spray the alcohol onto the garment or apply it on a rag and rub it in.Leave it to sit for 2-3 minutes.Take a clean towel and wipe as much of it off as you can.Wash in the washing machine or hand wash in the sink to remove the remaining alcohol and waterproof spray. 3. Use a Microfiber Cloth Waterproof spray doesn't last forever, over time it eventually wears off becoming ineffective. You essentially replicate the process of it wearing down by rubbing it vigorously with a microfiber cloth. They have millions of fibers that lifts and hold dirt, grease and more. According to today.com, this is due to their positively-charged polyester fibers and negative-charged nylon fibers that actually attract and pull up whatever is on the surface you're cleaning. Rubbing your garment or shoe with a microfiber cloth will help break down the waterproof spray. Simply rub vigorously for a couple of minutes (if it's a big garment share the job with a friend), then wash either in the washing machine, or hand wash it to remove the loose waterproof spray particles. This method is a lot more labor-intensive than the other methods but it does work well if you are willing to give it some elbow grease. 4. Get it Dry Cleaned This can work in some cases, but may not work in every case. Dry cleaning involves the use of petroleum-based solvents to wash clothes and remove dirt and chemicals which shouldn't be there. Depending on the type of waterproof spray you have used this may or may not work. If the waterproof spray has left your garment patchy then dry cleaning it may work well as the patchiness is an indicator that the spray hasn't bonded properly with the garment.