With a dirty jacket and extensive tape over the seams of your trousers, you may look like a hardcore skibum, but to maintain the function of your expensive hardshell gear, it makes much more sense to wash and waterproof it properly!
Note the care instructions
Good laminates and coatings don't mind many washes. How often a wash is necessary depends on the frequency of use and the degree of soiling. A mountain guide who uses his jacket intensively and daily may wash it once a week. However, you should always follow the manufacturer's care instructions before washing, as not every laminate can withstand everything. Clothing made from Gore-Tex Shakedry™, for example, must not be dry-cleaned, tumble-dried or ironed.
Use liquid detergent, but not too much
Before washing, all zippers and straps should be fully closed. Outerwear can generally be washed at 40° on a gentle cycle (easy-care) with the addition of a small amount of liquid detergent. A lot of detergent does not make the whole thing cleaner, but is counterproductive: detergent residues that remain in the clothing after washing act as a wetting agent and attract water. They must therefore be removed completely. So: use less detergent and ideally rinse twice. Special detergents for functional clothing are not required.
