> I can't read the label as it's faded due to numerous visits to the washing machine.
Since you've probably used normal detergent washing powder, the fabric will now have a nice hydrophilic coating, encouraging water to be absorbed into the fabric. After all, that's what you want to happen when you wash something. Rinsing won't remove this, but a wash in a pure soap product might.
Polycotton isn't the greatest of water resistant fabrics, and will tend to absorb water.
> Is there some sort of spray on coating that will make it waterproof again.
Spray treatments won't make it water<i>proof</i> (i.e. resistant to a hydrostatic head, aka water pressure), but might improve the water resistance. This will reduce the amount of water the fabric soaks up, or increase the time before it does start to soak in.
> Incidentally it is also lined so a wash on sort of idea probably won't work.
What is it lined with? It might be perfectly okay to make this water resistant, too, to stop it absorbing water.
- you shouldn't need to reproof often.
................are you a schoolteacher?
This link here is just for illustration only really, for anyone not knowing what great stuff Fabsil is. I have a little spray bottle I got recently, so there is no need these days to buy those really massive tins and bottles anymore - as per once it was in the distant past. There's a good range of products and package sizes to suit all kit requirements these days. Still cheaper overall if you do get a big tin though, you might well find if you've a lot of gear to do over. Fabsil Gold is a newer product on the market as well, extending this great range for treating outdoors kit. All made by those nice Granger's people too.
