Gortex - does it wash well?

[IrishGolfer]

I am thinking of machine washing / tumble drying my Gortex rainsuit, anyone tried this? Just worried will I damage it.

Cheers.

[Sandpiper3]

I've put my rainsuit through the dryer after a round, but never into the washer.

Had to dry it out as i quickly came home between rounds to change and dry up in a tourney last spring.

But ive never tried the washer. I have a Dunning jacket/pants and they were fine through the dryer.

[Irish]

should be a problem IG...after a while the gore tex will wear off but most of the new gear is machine washable...

here's a spiel on water resistence

Water-Repellent Coatings

To maximize water-resistance and breathability, Gore-Tex outerwear comes with a DWR (durable water repellent) treatment on its outer surface. This DWR causes water to bead up and roll off the garment, which keeps the fabric surface clear so that sweat and body heat can pass through from the inside. DWR treatments also keep the fabric surface drier, which cuts down on evaporative heat loss and keeps your outerwear light and comfortable.

Over time, with regular laundering and exposure to the elements, DWR treatments can wear off. When this occurs, water may no longer bead on the surface of the outerwear fabric, and the fabric may absorb some water (NOTE: the Gore-Tex barrier beneath the outer fabric will still stop this moisture from getting to your skin). The best way to renew your DWR is to launder your Gore-Tex outerwear according to the care instructions and iron it using a warm steam setting. This will restore the water beading on the outer surface of the fabric as long as the original water-repellent treatment is present.

Unfortunately, there is no permanent water-repellent treatment available. Eventually, after extended wear and/or many washings, the original repellent finish will be depleted and you'll need to use a spray-on or wash-in water-repellency treatment to treat the outer surface of the fabric. You may repeat this process as many times as needed.

[Youngun5]

i have a nike Storm Fit short sleeve rainshirt and the water repellant did wash off, a little more quickly than i expected tbh, pretty sure i followed the care instructions, but anyway, i sprayed it with some scotchguard and haven't had any problems with it. will probably spray again in the spring as well.