If during the washing process your down jacket gets lumpy, don’t be discouraged - the situation, albeit with a little effort, can be corrected.
When washed in a washing machine, fluff, even of the highest quality, under the influence of water is lumped into lumps and clogged into the stitched corners of individual “sectors” in the form of diamonds or squares (the smaller these “sectors”, the more evenly the fluff is distributed throughout the inner cover ). If these sectors are too large, all the fluff is knocked down under the influence of gravity - in this case, the shoulders, arms and chest freeze, and the bottom becomes bulky and heavy.
If it is not dried properly and there is no effort to keep the down in its original form, this insulation just dries out. The result is that the jacket has become unsuitable for further wear. Any manipulations with a dried down jacket are practically useless, since the fluffy fibers of your insulation are already caked and stuck together, even if you try to break them, the thermal effect will not be enough.
Exit: only repeat PROTECTION washing.
General rules for washing down-filled jackets
By following the basic rules for washing a down jacket, you can avoid unpleasant consequences:
- The washing mode is extremely delicate.
- It is advisable that the water temperature does not exceed 30 degrees.
- Spin - around 800 rpm.
- Mandatory additional rinsing for at least 1 hour.
- The amount of powder should not exceed the norm for liquid powder (but not exceed 2/3 of the norm for dry powder).
- Carefully inspect the labels - it is not for nothing that the manufacturer indicates all the necessary standards for the operation of the product.
- Never add stain removers, bleaches or conditioners to clothes.
- The approximate total washing time for down jackets is one and a half to two hours.
- It is not recommended to hang the product on a clothesline and dry it in this form until it is completely dry.
How does the washing process work?
To begin with, along with the jacket, place in the machine several ordinary heavy rubber balls covered with synthetic felt for tennis. This is a great way to keep the fibers from sticking together. They will allow you to whip up the filler directly during washing. You should absolutely not worry that you can damage your item or washing machine in this way, since this method of washing is recommended even by the manufacturers themselves.
The result of such simple manipulations should be a jacket with down evenly distributed over all sectors, not clogged in dense clumps in the stitched corners. In this case, you can say that the tennis balls did all the hard work for you.
Standard drying method
It is unlikely that you will be able to dry your jacket in the bathroom due to the high level of humidity and stuffiness. The ideal drying place would be the street. If due to weather conditions this option is not possible, you should choose a well-ventilated room with a large flow of fresh air.
You can safely hang the down jacket on plastic hangers and leave it on the hanger for several hours to sag a little. It is not recommended to choose wooden hangers, as they can leave noticeable stains on wet clothes.Since the recommended number of spin speeds is not enough for the jacket to be taken out semi-dry, it may drip a little from the sleeves and bottom - in this case, just put a cloth under it or place a basin.
For the best drying results, it is recommended to remove the down jacket from its hangers every few hours and shake the filling with light, small movements of your fingers, like a pillow. When the manipulations have been carried out with the sleeves, back, pockets and even the hood, you need to shake the item like a blanket and hang it on the hanger again. Each time the result of such actions will be more and more noticeable.
Do not forget about the simple laws of physics - moisture will always flow down, so the top will dry out faster. For uniform drying, it is recommended to change the position of the down jacket, hang it first sideways, then upside down. Under no circumstances should you dry your jacket on a radiator or any other heater! This type of drying is not recommended in principle, especially for down products. If all the recommendations are followed correctly, within a day your item will take on a completely new look - it will become soft, fluffy and warm.
Options for drying a down jacket
Many housewives have developed different ways to give a down jacket its normal appearance.
The first method, and the simplest, was created for those who washed things without tennis balls. In this case, you can simply start rinsing again, this time by throwing little “helpers” into the machine. If there are no balls among the means at hand, children's blocks or even ordinary sneakers tucked inside a sock are quite suitable as replacements.
You can try rinsing and wringing out the down jacket several times:
- Spin the first time at a low number of revolutions (about 400);
- the second time, put several balls along with the item into the drum of the machine and spin at 800 rpm (or risk 1,000).
Some people simply prefer to actively fluff and shake the jacket like a pillow until the item returns to its original appearance. At the same time, you need to try to distribute the fluff as evenly as possible across the stitched segments, breaking each lump through the fabric. Gradually the filler dries out, straightens out and takes on its original image.
Others simply sit down with a down jacket in front of them, turn on the TV and run their fingers through the down, smoothing it along its entire length. It is necessary to carefully pat each area of the jacket, fluff it up like cotton wool. This must be done when the jacket is already well dried.
There are representatives who use a carpet dust beater - according to the standard principle, they hang a completely dry down jacket and beat it with such a simple tool. In the process, the lumps should break into smaller ones, the fibers should rise, fluff up and be distributed in an even layer throughout the interior of your item. You can do it differently - put the product on a bed or sofa, and then clap it with similar light movements until you achieve the desired result.
Some people also use other available means of technology - a hair dryer or a vacuum cleaner. In the first case, you need to direct the air from the side of the down jacket lining, while continuing to shake and beat it, helping the formed fluff pebbles to break up.If you decide to use a vacuum cleaner, first place the dry down jacket inside a thick plastic bag, and then pump out as much air as possible. Then switch the device, and vice versa, fill the bag with air. This operation will need to be done 5-6 times.
It should be noted that the best time to wash outerwear is, of course, summer. It is recommended to wash each item separately, one at a time. And, of course, you should not dry jackets in the open hot sun. There is a high probability of burnt spots appearing, which will then be impossible to remove. Treat your things with love and care, because this is your second face: in this case, they will serve you for a long, long time. I like
