FAQ’s

Dirt and wear can reduce your gear’s water repellency and breathability. Regular cleaning and reproofing help maintain performance and extend the life of your gear.

Clean it again with the appropriate Nikwax cleaner, such as Tech Wash or Down Wash, to remove detergent residues. Check whether the garment still repels water and reproof it if necessary.

Yes. Clean your gear first with the appropriate Nikwax cleaner to remove dirt and detergent residues that can prevent the proofing treatment from working effectively.

This depends on the product. Check the instructions on the packaging or product page for the correct dosage.

For light use, reproof once a year. For heavier use, reproof two to three times a year.

Yes. Apply Nikwax spray-on proofers to wet garments. Always clean your gear with the appropriate Nikwax cleaner first.

TX.Direct Wash-In provides even coverage across your garment, including seams and stitching, in one wash cycle.

TX.Direct Spray-On is ideal for garments that cannot be machine-washed, allowing targeted application while maintaining waterproofing and breathability.

Breathable fabrics allow sweat vapour to escape, helping you stay comfortable. Without breathability, moisture builds up inside your clothing, leaving you feeling damp and clammy.

Wicking draws sweat away from your skin and spreads it across the fabric so it can evaporate more quickly. This helps keep you dry and comfortable. Use Nikwax BaseWash or Sports Refresh to help maintain your activewear’s wicking performance.

Durable Water Repellency (DWR) is a water-repellent finish on the outer fabric of most outdoor clothing and equipment. It makes water bead up and roll off rather than soak in. Keeping your gear clean helps maintain its DWR and breathability.

Nikwax footwear products are designed to minimise changes to colour and texture. However, we recommend testing the product on a hidden area first.

Waterproofing Wax for Leather can be applied to wet or dry footwear. For other proofing products, wet the footwear first. Always clean it with Footwear Cleaning Gel before treatment.

No. Nikwax treatments are designed to maintain performance without changing the colour, texture or feel of your gear.

If your garment is under warranty, contact the manufacturer about repairs. If not, you can carefully reattach loose tape with a clear adhesive. Then hand-wash with Tech Wash and reproof with TX.Direct Wash-In, following the product instructions.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large group of man-made chemicals used for their water- and oil-repellent properties. Many persist in the environment for a long time and have been linked to risks to human and environmental health.

Our Chemical Management System (CMS) Policy Manual explains our approach to safer chemistry and the principles behind our chemical management processes. Contact us for further information.

Our Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) limits hazardous substances used in manufacturing. Suppliers must confirm compliance, and we test wastewater annually to check our processes.

Net Zero means reducing greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible and removing any remaining emissions from the atmosphere.

Nikwax follows the Science Based Targets initiative’s guidance, aiming to reduce emissions by at least 90% and address the remainder through carbon removal. See our Net Zero Roadmap for details.

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol divides emissions into three categories:

Scope 1: Direct emissions from sources we own or control, such as company vehicles.
Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased energy, such as electricity.
Scope 3: Other indirect emissions across our value chain, such as purchased goods and services.

We work to reduce our emissions, but some remain difficult to eliminate. We support the World Land Trust’s Carbon Balanced programme to help address certain direct emissions while funding conservation projects.

We review the evidence for alternative materials regularly. Research by the European Outdoor Group found that recycled plastic performs favourably against many alternatives across several lifecycle measures. We therefore use recycled, recyclable plastic for our packaging and encourage customers to recycle our bottles.

We review our plastic use annually, using supplier data or our own measurements. This includes packaging and plastic used throughout our operations.

Yes. We review our plastic use annually and look for opportunities to eliminate plastic or replace it with recycled alternatives.

We support the World Land Trust’s Carbon Balanced programme, which funds projects to reduce deforestation and protect threatened habitats. Find out more about the programme through the World Land Trust.

As a Sustaining Member, we contribute an additional €10,000 annually, on top of our membership fee, to support EOCA’s operating costs and help fund conservation projects worldwide.

Nikwax is owned by its employees, who are Partners with an equal share in the business.

We became employee-owned in 2022 to strengthen our environmental and social values and help protect them for the future.

All Nikwax products are manufactured in Wadhurst, East Sussex, UK.

No. Nikwax has never tested its products on animals.

We are members of Sedex and System Partners and hold ISO certifications for environmental management (14001), quality management (9001) and health and safety (45001). We have also joined the UN’s Race to Zero campaign and set a validated near-term science-based target.

You may need to adjust the dosage. Check the product instructions for guidance on the correct amount to use.

Yes. Separation can occur due to temperature changes or storage. Shake the bottle well to remix the contents before use.

We advise against using products that have frozen. Store them in a cool, dry place, protected from freezing temperatures, and dispose of any product that has frozen.

No. Nikwax treatments are designed to work without heat. Air-drying is sufficient to achieve excellent water-repellent performance.