# Does a raincoat exist that will not float when your washing it **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 23, 2014, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-raincoat-exist-that-will-not-float-when-your-washing-it/705401 "2014-11-23T13:13:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sara20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@sara20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sara20)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-raincoat-exist-that-will-not-float-when-your-washing-it/705401/1 "2014-11-23T13:13:10Z")
I have a problem with my rain coat which is a nylon/polyester type material in that I have a top loading washer and when I try to wash it, it floats to the top of the water and many areas don’t get cleaned. If I open the top of the washer and push it down it just floats back up when I let go. Do rain coats exist that both stop water from rain but will become saturated with water when you try to wash it and sink to the bottom of the washer? ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-raincoat-exist-that-will-not-float-when-your-washing-it/705401/2 "2014-11-23T13:23:34Z")
I am no expert but wouldn’t that defeat the object? The point of a raincoat is to be waterproof. If it simply soaked up the water it would not be a raincoat. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-raincoat-exist-that-will-not-float-when-your-washing-it/705401/3 "2014-11-23T13:52:29Z")
What is needed is an adjustable mesh screen that would hold such items underwater without interfering with the agitation or spin cycles. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-raincoat-exist-that-will-not-float-when-your-washing-it/705401/4 "2014-11-23T14:40:16Z")
When necessary, I take difficult to launder items (coats, comforters, horse blankets) to the laundromat and use their large high efficiency machines. Only when absolutely necessary, though. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-raincoat-exist-that-will-not-float-when-your-washing-it/705401/5 "2014-11-23T14:48:38Z")
It occurs to me that I don’t actually own a raincoat. I have several jackets of varying levels of warmth and for extreme weather, a good wax jacket, of considerable vintage, that I inherited from my father-in-law. This gets the mud sponged off but that’s about it. The rest get dry cleaned or replaced as required. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-raincoat-exist-that-will-not-float-when-your-washing-it/705401/6 "2014-11-23T14:53:14Z")
You could try putting in first and putting the rest of your laundry on top of it. That should keep it on the bottom and fully submerged. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-raincoat-exist-that-will-not-float-when-your-washing-it/705401/7 "2014-11-23T15:24:09Z")
Do you turn it inside-out, and zipper the front? Or just zipper it closed if it’s the outside that’s dirty. Somehow, I think that would help it to get mixed into the water during the wash cycle. Maybe you could find something to add to its pockets to help weight it down. I’m not sure what to suggest, though. You wouldn’t want something hard like a rock, and of course it would have to be heavier than water. ---
**Author:** ![sara20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@sara20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sara20)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2014, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-raincoat-exist-that-will-not-float-when-your-washing-it/705401/8 "2014-11-26T21:54:33Z")
I knew someone who had a raincoat made a long time ago maybe in the 1970’s by London fog that was a natural fabric material instead of nylon, but was waterproof, and they said it would not float when they washed it, when I asked them how it was waterproof, they said it was the weave of it. Does that ring a bell to what it might have been made out of? ---
**Author:** ![CGav8r](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@CGav8r](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CGav8r)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2014, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-raincoat-exist-that-will-not-float-when-your-washing-it/705401/9 "2014-11-26T22:37:04Z")
You could try a raincoat made of Ventile-an all cotton fabric that actually soaks up a small amount of moisture and swells to become waterproof. [http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ventile](http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ventile) ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2014, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-raincoat-exist-that-will-not-float-when-your-washing-it/705401/10 "2014-11-26T23:42:21Z")
put rocks in the pockets. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2014, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-raincoat-exist-that-will-not-float-when-your-washing-it/705401/11 "2014-11-26T23:47:29Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > When necessary, I take difficult to launder items (coats, comforters, horse blankets) to the laundromat and use their large high efficiency machines. Only when absolutely necessary, though. I think you would not have this problem if you used a front-loading machine, like they often have in laundromats. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-raincoat-exist-that-will-not-float-when-your-washing-it/705401/12 "2014-11-27T01:35:10Z")
put a bunch of holes in it 😃 ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-raincoat-exist-that-will-not-float-when-your-washing-it/705401/13 "2014-11-27T03:20:24Z")
Get a front loader, problem solved. ---
**Author:** ![sara20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@sara20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sara20)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-raincoat-exist-that-will-not-float-when-your-washing-it/705401/14 "2014-12-02T02:24:36Z")
> [@CGav8r](#): > > You could try a raincoat made of Ventile-an all cotton fabric that actually soaks up a small amount of moisture and swells to become waterproof. [http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ventile](http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ventile) That’s a interesting fabric, do they make jackets out of it that can be bough in the US? It seems to be more popular in Europe. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-raincoat-exist-that-will-not-float-when-your-washing-it/705401/15 "2014-12-02T07:12:14Z")
I have 2 London Fog raincoats - they are a twill fabric, and probably treated with waterproofing as well. The reason your “raincoat” floats is the insulation sewn into it. A traditional raincoat (such as London Fog) does not mess with such. Sadly, everybody wanted the quilted coats, and London Fog folded years ago. I wore out the second one I bought, but the first was waiting in the back of the closet for me. Watch diplomats arriving (or even the President) - they don’t wear gaudy, quilted overcoats. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-raincoat-exist-that-will-not-float-when-your-washing-it/705401/16 "2014-12-02T13:02:55Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > Sadly, everybody wanted the quilted coats, and London Fog folded years ago. [Really?](http://www.londonfog.com/) ---
**Author:** ![sara20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@sara20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sara20)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-raincoat-exist-that-will-not-float-when-your-washing-it/705401/17 "2014-12-03T02:22:49Z")
Anyone know if any common manufacturers like REI, Columbia, Cabelas make jackets using Ventile? ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-raincoat-exist-that-will-not-float-when-your-washing-it/705401/18 "2014-12-03T02:47:20Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > [Really?](http://www.londonfog.com/) They’re back? (or the newscaster lied). Happy days - you don’t have to be filthy rich to own a proper raincoat! ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-raincoat-exist-that-will-not-float-when-your-washing-it/705401/19 "2014-12-03T05:19:13Z")
Per Wiki: “Iconix Brand Group bought London Fog in 2006, selling the outerwear division to Mystic, Inc.” So today’s “London Fog” isn’t the same as the ones who made my coats. Just as nothing you see with the “Polaroid” name has anything to do with the original Polaroid. Progress… ---
**Author:** ![sara20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@sara20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sara20)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-raincoat-exist-that-will-not-float-when-your-washing-it/705401/20 "2014-12-06T04:39:07Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > They’re back? (or the newscaster lied). > Happy days - you don’t have to be filthy rich to own a proper raincoat! Yes, london fog is back but now they make their raincoats out of nylon and cotton, not Ventile [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-raincoat-exist-that-will-not-float-when-your-washing-it/705401.md?page=2)