How to Iron a Waterproof Jacket
Clara Redwood and 4 other contributors
Last updated on Oct 15, 2025
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Introduction
Go to step 1 ↓You may want to iron your waterproof jacket if it's gotten a little wrinkly, or if it's just been washed and you don’t have access to a dryer but still want to restore its water-repellent finish. Applying heat is key to both smoothing out the fabric and reactivating the DWR coating. While a dryer is ideal for both of these purposes because it evenly distributes heat across the entire garment, using an iron is better than no heat at all!
Every jacket is different, so pay close attention as you iron. Avoid ironing over drawcords, zippers, or other closures that can create a bumpy surface or risk damage. If you don’t have an ironing board, no problem—just fold up a towel on a solid heat-resistant surface like a table or countertop to create a makeshift ironing station.
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Unzip your clean jacket and slide one half over your ironing board or towel-covered surface.
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Flatten your jacket with your hands.
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Lay a dry towel over the area of your jacket that you'll be ironing.
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Smooth out the towel with your hands.
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Remove the towel and inspect the jacket.
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If the fabric looks unchanged, increase the heat slightly and try again.
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If the area looks smooth, move on to the next section.
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To fully reactivate the DWR coating, heat must make contact with every part of the jacket. Go slowly and work in small, manageable sections to ensure even coverage.
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Be extra careful around tight or curved areas like hoods, cuffs, and sleeves.
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For the sleeves, slide a tailor’s ham, sleeve board, or folded towel inside the sleeve to separate the two sides.
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Continue repositioning the jacket and repeating the ironing process until the entire surface has been treated.
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17 Guide Comments
Thank you, good advice for younger generation who have clue.
Thank you - good reminder for the older generation who have lost their marbles
Thank you- good reminder for the baby boomer middle aged who voted for Brexit and haven't got a clue.
