Barbour: Care Guide

How to Wax a Barbour Jacket

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STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO RE-WAXING YOUR BARBOUR


Step 1: Preparation

A few things to consider before getting started:
Purchase Barbour Wax & and give the instructions a read. Re-wax somewhere clean, safe, and away from children. In fact, we recommend children under the age of 16 not to be involved in the re-waxing process (or driving for that matter).


    Step 2: Clean your jacket

    Clean your jacket with cold water and a sponge to wipe down the outside of the jacket. DO NOT use hot water or any kind of soap, and NEVER put the jacket in the washing machine, as this will permanently remove the wax coating. After that calamity, the jacket cannot be rewaxed. Don't do it. Ever.


    Step 3: Soften the wax

    Take a tin of Barbour Wax Thornproof dressing (you can buy it from a great store called Country Club Prep). Take off the lid, and then place the tin of dressing in a container of water hot enough to soften the wax (doesn't have to be boiling - just hot). It should take approximately 20 minutes to melt the wax into the appropriate liquid consistency.


    Step 4: Wax your jacket

    Using an old cloth or sponge, work the melted wax well into the jacket (paying particular attention to seams, creases and dry patches). Wax on. Wax off. Then wipe off any excess wax. This probably goes without saying, but you should keep the wax tin in the hot water while working in order to keep the wax softened. If the wax begins to harden, fill the container with more hot water. Ensure you keep the wax away from the corduroy collar, the inside of the jacket, and inside of the pockets.


    Step 5: Drying the jacket

    It's key to create an extra-smooth finish. The secret is to blow over the jacket with a hair dryer to spread the wax evenly. Once you've finished re-waxing the jacket, hang it up to dry overnight in a warm place away from other garments. The jacket might lose excess wax for a short time, so take care not to get your newly waxed jacket near leather or upholstery.


    Step 6: Re-wax your jacket every year

    In an ideal world, and to keep your Barbour in top condition, we recommend you have your waxed jacket re-waxed once a year. You can either send it to Barbour to have it re-waxed, or, since you are an industrious American, you can purchase a tin of Thornproof Wax Dressing and re-wax your jacket yourself. You should only need one tin to complete the process (two if the garment is in a tired condition). Good luck! Buy your Thornproof Dressing here.