Repairs and reproofing waxed
cotton and oilskin cotton coats and jackets
The Brands Barbour, Backhouse and Driza-Bone have
offices in most countries that we supply, and in most
cases will undertake repairs and reproofing of your
jacket or coat for modest cost, and will give you an
estimate of the probable cost of refurbishment.
Care for your waxed cotton or oilskin cotton jacket or
coat
Barbour, Backhouse and Driza-Bone coats and jackets
are all made from high quality cotton, which have been
coated in a wax or oil formula to provide their special
waterproof yet breathable qualities.
With the right care and attention, your coat or
jacket will provide years of satisfactory service.
To gain the maximum advantage of your coat or
jacket’s breathable qualities it is important to
carefully select the quantity and type of clothing you
will wear underneath to avoid unwanted condensation.
Too many layers and/or the use of synthetic
underclothing can lead to condensation that can sometimes
be mistaken for leakage.
Although cotton fabric is highly resistant to wear
and tear, it may be subjected to various types of
abrasion in the course of normal usage, and the wearer
should be on the lookout for areas of dryness that will
require attention to maintain the waterproof qualities of
the jacket.
Regular cleaning will not only enhance the appearance
of your coat or jacket, but will also remove dust
particles that can cause premature wear.
To clean your jacket, brush off any dirt then wipe or
sponge the fabric with COLD water.
NEVER use hot water, detergents, solvents, soap,
dry-cleaning or machine washing, as these will remove or
damage the proofing.
After cleaning or after wearing your coat or jacket
in the rain for prolonged periods, it is VITAL to allow
the coat or jacket to dry fully and gradually before
storage.
Because the fabric is a natural fibre it will take
much longer to dry fully than synthetics, and allowance
should be made to ensure that the jacket is hung in a
sufficiently airy place while drying takes place. Never
attempt to force dry or expose the coat or jacket to
naked flames.
It is generally recommended that in normal usage your
coat or jacket will benefit by being re-proofed annually.
You can do this yourself or if you prefer, you can send
your jacket to one of the manufacturers regional customer
service departments, who will do the job for you at
modest cost. (Check the location of your nearest regional
office in our ’contact’ pages).
To re-proof your garment at home, the only equipment
you will require is a pan of hot water, a soft cloth or
sponge and a can of Dressing.
Always choose a warm sunny position to do your
reproofing. Stand the can of Dressing in the hot water
until it is softened, and then work the dressing well
into the garment paying particular attention to seams and
areas that are dry, or creased. It is important to ensure
that the Dressing is rubbed well into the fabric, and not
allowed to remain thickly on the surface.
Following the wax dressing treatment, the coat or
jacket can be blown evenly all over with an electric hair
drier to assist in the absorption of the Dressing into
the fabric. Alternatively the coat or jacket can be hung
in the sun.
When repairs to your coat or jacket are needed, we
recommend consultation with your regional customer
service department, who can undertake anything from small
holes to large tears and replacement zippers.
Tears and rips can only be repaired by patching and
cannot be invisibly mended. However most of our customers
tend to regard these patches as ‘long service
medals’ rather than blemishes!
Occasionally we receive a question from customers who
have purchased a new coat or jacket about lines along the
creases sometimes referred to as ‘marbleising’.
This is not a fault, it is simply caused by the jacket
having been folded during packing and being stored in
cool conditions.
If your coat or jacket has this appearance after
delivery or storage, simply lay it in the sun for a few
minutes and the Dressing will soften and the creases or
‘marble effect’ will disappear.
Storing your oilskin or waxed cotton coat or jacket
The wax or oil treatment that is applied to the
cotton fabric of these coats prior to manufacture is best
considered to be a liquid for the purposes of
understanding the optimum storage method.
Cotton fibre absorbes the wax or oil formula that
makes the coats and jackets waterproof. But it
doesn’t actually stick permanently to the fibre,
instead it tends to migrate gradually down a garment hung
on a coat hanger over time, leaving the upper areas of
the shoulders with less coating than the lower area.
The higher the temperature that the garment is stored
at, the more viscous the treatment and the quicker it
will migrate.
This phenomena is something that happens in years
rather than months, so it is not something to be overly
concerned about, rather, by being aware of it you can
store your oilskin jacket or coat so that it will
maintain an even distribution of treatment and not
require reproofing as often.
The best way to counter the effects of oil migration
is to roll the garment prior to storage, but it is vital
that the garment is totally dry before rolling
it or mildew could appear.
Therefore if you do decide to roll your waxed or
oiled cotton garment for storage, be sure that it is dry,
and inspect it from time to time. If you see any traces
of mildew appearing, lie the garment in the sun for a few
hours (both sides), air it on a hanger and re roll it.
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