restoring waterproof trousers

raffe

any ideas on how to restore waterproof trousers, i have a really expensive pair that were a presents and i used them for gardening and laying stones and now they are all covered in marks, i've washed them however i can't get the marks out, any ideas

MrsBartolozzi

If they really are waterproof - Goretex or the like, then I hope you didn't wash them in detergents as this removes the waterproofing. Always wash in a weak solution of mild soap flakes and rinse well.
You could wash them in Nikwax or a similar product from an outdoor shop if they have lost the waterproofing.
see here for examples of these products.

You say they are covered in marks? What kind of marks are they? could it be soap residue? In my experience the waterproofing makes it hard to clean these items as the soapy water is repelled rather than soaking into the fabric. Maybe trying a nikwax wash might get it clean as it's designed for these fabrics.

raffe

thanks for your reply, the marks are stone dust marks

MrsBartolozzi

mistake please remove