A down jacket is found in almost every wardrobe, because such clothing is almost weightless and very comfortable. But like any other item of clothing, a down jacket requires care, periodic washing or dry cleaning. Often, dry cleaning services exceed the cost of the down jacket itself, so it’s easier to wash it in a machine, or, in extreme cases, by hand.
Most of all, consumers are concerned about how to wash a down jacket so that the down does not get lost. This problem can be solved very easily if you follow simple rules.
General rules for preparing and washing a down jacket
First of all, fasten all the zippers and buttons, this will prevent the zipper from becoming deformed, otherwise it will be very difficult to use it in the future. When the buttons are not fastened, the sewing areas are subject to deformation, which also leads to damage to the material.
Be sure to turn your down jacket inside out before washing. Check your pockets to make sure there is nothing in there. Unfasten the fur and hood.
If there are noticeable stains on the down jacket, then before washing it is best to wash them separately, with special stain removers or laundry soap.
You need to wash down jackets separately with other things and down jackets; you shouldn’t stuff several things into the machine, as they won’t wash out and can also get damaged.
It is very difficult to manually wring out a down jacket, so it is best to set the washing machine to low speed, using tennis balls. To prevent the fluff from getting lost. Drying a down jacket can be done in a washing machine or near a heat source.Do not forget to periodically shake the product in different directions, the movements should be similar to fluffing a pillow so that the fluff does not get lost.
Rinsing, especially during the first wash, should be done at least twice. In addition to dust, both industrial and ordinary, powder remains in the product, so thorough and repeated rinsing is the key to cleanliness and streak-free down jackets.
If the seams on the down jacket have come apart and there is a lot of fluff sticking out of them, then most likely the next wash will not give it a better look, and may even ruin the thing, so it is better to think about washing it by hand.
Choosing a detergent
It is preferable to choose a liquid detergent as it is easier to rinse out. Just don’t use products with bleaching components or their constituents. Dry laundry detergents are not recommended, as the abrasive particles they contain are very difficult to rinse out. Never use regular soap to wash a down jacket, as the down will certainly stick together and form clumps. It is not recommended to use conditioners or softeners when washing a down jacket, as they leave streaks on things.
Machine washable down jacket
To prevent fluff from getting lost in your clothes or matting, place tennis balls or special ones for washing down items in the drum of the washing machine. Tennis balls can be pre-soaked in boiling water and washed with bleach to prevent them from fading. At least three balls must be placed, depending on the size of the item and the balls themselves.
Never set the machine to speeds exceeding 800 per minute, otherwise the fluff may be completely lost and the product will be completely damaged.
Before washing, be sure to read the information on the down jacket label. If there is a mark that the item must be washed by hand, then you will have to do so, but if not, then we can easily wash it in a machine.
Be sure to fasten all zippers and buttons and turn the down jacket inside out. The washing machine must be set to a delicate cycle. The water temperature should not be higher than 30 degrees.
When washing for the first time, be sure to turn on the “extra rinse” mode to avoid soap or dust stains.
You can also dry them out in the washing machine so that the fluff doesn’t get lost, just don’t pull the balls out of the machine’s drum. The speed should be minimal. Remember that washing should not be very frequent, no more than twice a year, so that the impregnation of the down jacket does not deteriorate and it does not become wet.
Also, to prevent fluff from getting lost, it is recommended to use Velcro fasteners for the sleeves, like VELCRO.
Handwash
If the down jacket is not recommended to be washed in a machine, you will have to wash it by hand. When the contamination is minor, you can use a stain remover specifically in the areas of contamination. Usually the cuffs, sides and collar are heavily soiled. These areas are slightly moistened and a stain remover, laundry soap or shampoo is applied. Then you can rub with your hands or a brush and thoroughly rinse off the foam.
In the case when the down jacket requires washing only the outer part, it must be hung on hangers or on a rope, above the bathtub with the outer side facing out. Then wet, soap the cloth and rinse well in the shower.If the fabric in the down jacket is water-repellent, then the top of the item will be washed, but the down itself will not get wet, there will be no lumps and drying will take place very quickly.
If the down jacket needs to be washed completely, then this must be done in warm, but not hot water. Washing is done with soft and smooth movements so that the fluff does not get lost. Then it is lightly wrung out and dried on a hanger.
Absolutely forbidden
- soaking a down jacket, except for items filled with padding polyester;
- use water above 30 degrees for washing;
- use laundry detergents that contain bleaching or coloring ingredients;
- never use regular powder that is not intended for washing a down jacket, as this can completely ruin the item;
- neglect thorough rinsing;
- dry things for more than two days, it is better to use a heat source, but just do not hang the down jacket, for example, on a heating radiator, it is better to hang it nearby;
- dry in a horizontal position, on a blanket, towel or other materials that retain moisture, as the process of rotting may begin in the fluff;
- store in compressed or damp form;
- Ironing should be done at temperatures above 110 degrees;
- If you steam a product, do it only in a gentle mode.
Drying a down jacket
You should not neglect this stage, so as not to end up with a completely new and unusable item. If you dry it in a washing machine, then it should be in the “delicate” mode or, in the absence of one, in the “synthetic fabrics” mode and always with tennis balls. Typically, such drying does not take more than 3 hours.
After this, it is recommended to still hang the down jacket on a hanger, shake it well and leave it to air, periodically fluffing the thing, as if you were fluffing a pillow, you can turn it inside out, and so on.
If the fluff has bunched up in the corners of the down jacket, these places can be slightly dried with a hairdryer or vacuum cleaner at the lowest power and be sure to move the tube in a circle and from side to side, so the fluff should straighten out and lie flat.
Throughout drying on hangers, periodically shake the down jacket and straighten the down by hand. Just never dry a down jacket in a horizontal position, the down may become dry and even begin to rot, which means an unpleasant odor will appear that is almost impossible to get rid of.
