Abstract: An application method restores the water or stain repellency of outer wear, foot wear, apparel, clothing, shelters, or fabrics that have already been pretreated with a water or stain repellent finish. This method involves washing the apparel item or fabric, rinsing it, removing excess rinse water and then applying the restorative repellent treatment to the wet apparel item or fabric by spray. The retreated apparel item or fabric is then dried and heated for a sufficient time to cause distribution of the new repellent material with residual amounts of the original repellent finish and activation of the fluoropolymer.