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“Simm is reasonably specific about how to clean them. They recommend:

“Waders should be washed by hand, in a bathtub, in cold water using a powder detergent. Rinse thoroughly and allow to air dry, including the feet. Packaging or storing your waders wet may result in mildew and tape peeling. Simms Waders should not be dry-cleaned or put in the dryer. A water repellent treatment, such as Revivex®, will rejuvenate the water-resistant finish on your waders.”

I believe that they recommend powdered detergent because only enough will dissolve to create the cleaning solution. Liquid detergent can have excess detergent (beyond saturation) floating around the solution, and it can stick to the waders (where it may not all be removed by a rinse). Part of the water-repellency system for breathable waders is to have the fabric’s surface be water repellent. This allows the surface tension of the water to keep the water from wicking into the outer fabric layer and contacting the Gore-Tex membrane. Its like wax on the hood of your car – water beads up rather than spreading out into every nook and cranny. That is why they recommend the Revivex treatments periodically – just like waxing the car periodically. Any excess detergent on the waders will breakdown this part of the system, as will liquid soap because they are designed to break down the surface tension of the water.

NEVER apply detergent/soap directly to the waders. Only apply a fully dissolved solution to the waders, because it is nearly impossible to rinse off 100% liquid detergent/soap thoroughly with rinsing if it gets down in the fabric.

Getting waders dirty can also affect their water repellency for the same reason. Dirt and grime will make the outer fabric layer less water repellent. It may also get down against the waterproof membrane and wick water down to the membrane. If the water surface tension is broken by the dirt (indicated bywater wicking along the surface rather than beading up) you may get a little dampness coming through the membrane. I have personal experience with this. In areas of my old waders, I got “mullet juice” on them in a few select locations (on the inside and outside) , where I contacted the waders with my bait soaked hands. In those areas, they would feel a little damp after extended use until I thoroughly cleaned them.

P.S. Soaps tend to leave residues. so I would stick with detergent. Look up the recommendations of your wader’s manufacturer and follow them.”

crashq @ http://www.stripersonline.com/surftalk/showthread.php?t=553618