How to wash your Helly Hansen waterproof jacket

No matter how hard we try, jackets get dirty. 

Of course, they do! We wear them while we work, when we’re out walking, fishing, hiking, and more. 

Unfortunately, waterproof jackets attract dirt and debris, which can settle on the jacket once it comes into contact with the material. This dirt and debris can damage the coat's waterproof coating, resulting in moisture seeping into the fabric and getting you wet! 

Before putting your jacket in the washing machine, there are several things to take into consideration with HH jackets to maintain the high-quality waterproof element. 

To help keep your jacket as good as new, check out our top tips below. 

How to wash your Helly Hansen jacket 

Before starting any jacket cleaning, you need to make sure that all of the pockets of the coat in question are emptied! No one wants to wash something they shouldn’t, and trust us a lot of damage can be done to your jacket and your washing machine when you wash items other than clothes! 

You also need to make sure all zips and pulls are securely fastened, and any removable features such as hoods or collars are removed and washed separately. 

Getting started 

Using a brush or cloth, clean away any large parts of dirt or visible debris. It would be ideal for clearing off any dirt as soon as it comes into contact with the jacket to avoid it potentially creating a bigger mess. 

Never use an abrasive wipe or cloth on your HH jacket. It will most definitely damage the coating of the jacket. We’d recommend using a microfibre towel, dipped in warm water to wipe over the surface and dirty area in question gently. 

It’s also essential to make sure there’s no leftover washing powder or liquid in the machine tray before you start the wash. You can always run your washing machine on a hot wash with nothing in it, clearing any leftover detergent or powder residue. 

Regular washing powders and detergents can attack waterproof coatings on jackets, causing it to start absorbing water. To stop this happening, you’ll need to use specific waterproof washing liquids. 

This is because the chemicals in ordinary detergents can break down the composition of the fibres with each wash and strip it from its waterproof coating. 

Washing your Helly Hansen coat 

Handwashing is not something that is recommended with Helly Hansen coats as it can be difficult to remove excess washing detergent, and it can also lead to excessive tension placed on the fabric and seams. 

Most clothing labels will advise to machine wash at 40 degrees, however, dropping to 30 provides a gentler wash, and it’s better for the environment. 

Make sure to check the wash instructions on your jacket as every jacket can be and is different. 

Ideally, you want a slow spin cycle, one which won’t be too harsh on your jacket.  And we’d also advise that you don’t wash your jacket with other items of clothing. 

When the wash cycle is complete, we’d advise running a further dry spin to help remove any excess moisture from the coat. This helps to stop water soaking too long into the fabric. 

If you tumble dry your jacket use only a medium or low heat. Anything stronger will damage the jacket. 

If you opt not to tumble dry, you should hang your jacket up in a cool, dry place until it is thoroughly dry. 

Jackets using the Helly Tech are safe to tumble dry and can help to re-activate the DWR treatment used on the coats. 

When tumble drying, you can also pop two or three drying balls into the dryer (tennis balls also help too) as this can help to gain extra loft between the down feathers. 

Never iron your jacket! 

For all HH jackets are designed to last, if the waterproof coating is beginning to wear out, you can use waterproofing products to restore its features. 

Washing and keeping your jackets clean is not only for cosmetic purposes, but it also helps to prevent the growth of bacteria and other micro-organisms. 

Depending on whether your jacket has the HH Dry, HH Active, HH Worn, and HH Wool will depend on the washing specifications, which you should follow. 

However, if your jacket is looking tired and worn, maybe it’s time to start thinking about new? 

Check out Active Workwear’s full range of Helly Hansen UK waterproof jackets online. With a range to suit all requirements. 

Read the next blog post: Sustainable workwear – is there such a thing?