What's the best way to wash. I'm shamefully going to admit that I've not washed it in 3yrs+. So...best wash method and reproof?
Into the washing machine with normal powder. No softener. You can try Nikwax wash in if you want. No harm tumble drying on a low heat. Then iron with a warm iron to reset the fibres. That's done the job for me for the past 6 years!
Not normal detetgent powder.
Soap powder.
I always use nikwax. Helps the water bead off the surface again. I believe goretex benefits from tumble drying too.
Give your washing machine a clean by putting it on the hottest setting with an empty drum and nothing added. Then use liquid soap (e.g. Dripak from larger Tescos),or soap flakes dissolved in warm water), or techwash to wash. Don't use a bog standard detergent as it's designed to actually make materials wet, which is not what you're trying to achieve.
Then "reproof" with either Nikwax or Grangers spray on stuff, (TX direct or XT spray respectively).
Cool tumble dry if you can, but it won't be the end of the world if you cant.
Goretex is a semi permeable membrane,PTFE, that allows sweat out but repels the larger drops of rain water, you just need to treat the outside with a water repelant treatment,wash as normal then add waterproofer.one that you dry in a tumble drier is best, but not to hot as you may well melt the goretex.
Cheers will do 🙂