The easiest way to look after your gear is to keep it clean, 

Nikwax proofing and care products will extend the life and enhance the performance of your waterproof gear. Nikwax is easy to use - you just wash the product in. Nikwax is safe: it's water-based, non-toxic, doesn't use propellant gases or fluorocarbons, and it's bio-degradable, so it has less impact on the environment.

You may feel that proofing a waterproof is an extra faff, but all waterproofs, however good the brand, will get progressively less waterproof as time passes. This is because the coating that prevents absorption of water into the material is affected by dirt. Cleaning with a conventional laundry detergent can have an impact on the item's breathability, which is why it's advisable to use specialist cleaning products such as Nikwax.

Techwash will clean tents, awnings, rucksacks, bags and panniers and waterproofs.