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Waxed Cotton Care
Wingback luggage is made using a heavy-duty waxed cotton from Halley Stevensons, a company from Scotland that specialises in waxed cotton. They have been making fabrics for more than 150 years and have worked with brands such as Barbour. The fabrics used are made from responsibly sourced and are made using low impact manufacturing methods.
The waxed cotton used in all of Wingback’s luggage, see collection here, is 100% organic, is made without fluorocarbons and can be fully recycled. We chose this material to use as it has a high resistance to abrasion, has high water resistance and is better for the planet.
This guide covers information about waxed cotton (how waterproof it is, how it ages) as well as how to clean and re-wax it, and will help to answer any questions you might have about how to care for your waxed cotton Wingback.
IS WAXED COTTON WATERPROOF?
Waxed cotton is not fully waterproof. Keeping up with re-waxing when necessary will help to keep the rain out, but if it gets submerged, water will get into the bag. All our waxed cotton items are weatherproof, meaning they are able to withstand rain and wind that you might encounter on a trek or your commute.
We put our Everyday Pack to the test on the Three Peaks Challenge as it rained pretty heavily, and it kept our belongings safe and dry. However, if you're needing to cross a deep river, best to keep it above your head.
To help keep the rain out of your bag, we double line our waxed cotton items, on the outside and inside. We also have a fabric skirt that sits on top of the YKK zips to reduce the chance of water getting in.
Using natural materials, waxed cotton is a breathable fabric. The wax will adjust to the temperature outside. During warmer weather, the wax softens making it more breathable. While when its colder, the wax becomes stiff allowing the fabric to become more windproof.
HOW WAXED COTTON AGES
Waxed cotton is a dense material that is strong and resilient. It is also a very sustainable material, especially compared to other water resistant or vegan leather materials.
As waxed cotton gets used, it gets lighter. This is from the natural patina of the material as well as the Sun’s UV rays. Waxing or re-waxing will make the fabric a darker shade. The more you use our waxed cotton items, you will notice the material shaping to the way it is used, making it more comfortable and malleable. The durability of our bags won’t diminish through use, they will only get more comfortable for you to use.
It can be hard to tell the difference between the natural patina the waxed cotton picks up compared to needing to re-wax the material. The waxed cotton will crease, crack and have scratches or similar marks as its natural patina. If you notice the wax starting to come off or it being less water resistant, those are good signs indicating it’s time to re-wax. Keep an eye on high abrasion areas as these are the areas that are most likely to need re-waxing sooner.
HOW TO CARE FOR WAXED COTTON
Waxed cotton is a low-maintenance material and doesn’t require too much upkeep. If it picks any little bits of dirt or grime, use a dry cloth, brush or lint roller to remove it from the waxed cotton surface.
The material should not be cleaned using soaps or detergents. It should also not be put in the wash, dry-cleaned, tumble dried or ironed. All of these processes will diminish the waxed cotton's ability to resist water by removing the wax and reducing the durability of the cotton, therefore lowering the lifetime of the product.
It is recommended to re-wax the cotton once a year. This does depend on the amount of use the luggage gets. If it’s not used too often, once a year might be too often, but if its used daily for treks and adventures, it might need to be re-waxed sooner than a year. Re-waxing refreshes the cotton and allows it to perform at its best to protect the luggage and your personal items from the weather.
If an oil stain gets on your bag, use some corn starch and apply it on the area for 48 hours. After that, using a brush, brush off the cornstarch and it should be ready to go.
If you are in need of soap, use a small amount of gentle soap and cold water only on the area required and re-wax the same area before use.
HOW TO RE-WAX WAXED COTTON
Following the instructions on Halley Stevenson’s instructions, in order to re-wax a waxed cotton surface, you need a wet sponge and cloth or lint roller, a bowl of hot water and some reproofing wax. Halley Stevenson sells some on their website here.
- Using a lint roller or a dry cloth, brush off any dirt or grit left on the exterior.
- Sponge down the waxed cotton with cold water. There shouldn’t be too much water being absorbed into the waxed cotton. Make sure it is fully dry before moving on to the next step.
- Keeping the wax in the tin for now, put it in hot water to soften it. It should be soft enough to leave an imprint when pressed softly but should not be liquid. This will make it easier to apply without applying too much wax.
- Rub the wax on to the cotton using a dry cloth or sponge. Don’t need to be too gentle, make sure it doesn’t stay just on top of the surface.
- Make sure there isn’t too much on the cotton’s surface. Too much will make the cotton stiff and no longer breathable.
- Pay attention to seams, creases and dry patches. Make sure the wax is evenly applied. That there is an even layer of wax across the whole surface, and not any excess on the seams and creases.
- For the best and a factory finish, use a hairdryer evenly across the waxed cotton surface.
- Hang and leave to dry overnight in a dry and warm place, ready for the new day.
For more wear, care and breaking in instructions, visit our support section here.
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