Initially, down jackets were not popular among the population. They were sewn for special categories of workers - polar explorers, climbers, etc. Later, down jackets entered our lives as everyday wear, thanks to their durability and warmth. But ease of use does not mean the same in care.
A warm down jacket reliably protects you from the cold, but something very unpleasant can happen to it. After washing or improper storage, the filling may become matted, and the down jacket itself may lose its shape and presentation. To avoid this incident, people have come up with several ingenious devices.
Step-by-step instruction
You will need: a dryer (or washing machine) and tennis balls.
- The easiest way to fluff the down jacket is in the dryer. To do this, place several tennis balls inside. Usually they put 3-4 balls. If they are not available, you can find something suitable according to the parameters. These can be children's cubes, the size and weight of which are quite appropriate.
- If the item is caked, use a gentle drying mode and a low drying temperature. If the washed down jacket is still damp, dry it in the standard mode. If there is no expected result, dry again in a gentle mode.
- You can use a washing machine for the same purpose. The principle is the same, but you need to load the same items into it and turn on low speed. Put it on spin mode and wait for the effect.You may have to make more than one pass to get the down jacket to straighten out properly.
- Manually fluffing the fluff is a challenge. To do this, each cell should be kneaded with your hands, straightening the filler. The result is achieved if there are no lumps and the fluff feels light like cotton wool. It’s more convenient, of course, to fluff the thing up like a pillow.
- To prevent the filler from caking during the washing process, you need to place the balls in the washing machine and do not touch them until the spin cycle is completed. Spin at low speeds 3-4 times, and then hang the product to dry at room temperature, shaking occasionally. After drying, you can wring out the item again to consolidate the effect.
Advice! Do not use celluloid table tennis balls as they are of little use. They are too lightweight.
Why does the fluff cake?
The extent to which a down jacket will retain its presentation depends not only on the structure of the filler and fabric, but also on the frequency of stitches. Products with frequent stitching and small cells are more durable, because the filler does not collect in one place during washing.
But outerwear without quilting will cause a lot of trouble. It is recommended to wash it only if it is heavily soiled. To do this, dilute liquid soap in water and then gently clean the collar, sleeves and pocket areas. Use a damp sponge, rag or fluffy brush for this. Blot wet areas with a napkin.
Owners of down jackets whose items have been stored folded for a long time, for example, in vacuum bags, are forced to fluff the fluff. Truly, such things look pathetic.
Alternative methods
If you have difficulty straightening out the down in your jacket, try doing it by hand.
Procedure:
- After washing, shake the wet down jacket thoroughly;
- Place the item on a hard surface;
- Straighten the filler with your hands, distributing it over the entire item;
- Shake the item again;
- Wait 30 minutes;
- Repeat the procedure.
If you have a carpet beater at home, you can safely use it.
- Step 1. Place the almost dry item on a hard surface.
- Step 2. Pat it with the beater.
- Step 3. Shake it thoroughly.
- Step 4. Pat it again thoroughly.
A vacuum cleaner with reverse air supply is an excellent assistant in this matter. Do the following:
- Pack the down jacket in a special vacuum bag;
- Remove all the air mass from it using a special valve;
- set the reverse mode and fill the bag with air.
The procedure should be repeated, regularly taking the item out to see the effect. If in some places the filler is very compacted, straighten it out manually.
If in the end there is no effect, give the down jacket to the dry cleaners. Professionals can easily eliminate the consequences of unsuccessful use.
Mistakes
Some common mistakes:
- Do not soak the down jacket;
- Do not try to bleach the item;
- A temperature mode above 30 ° C is harmful to the product;
- It is not recommended to soak or wash the whole thing if a feather or fluff has come out, as this will aggravate the situation;
- Do not put several down jackets in the machine at once, especially together with other things;
- If the down jacket takes a long time to dry, place it at a safe distance from the heating appliance, but the drying time should be a maximum of 48 hours;
- If you dry the item, do not place it on a cloth, as this interferes with air circulation, which leads to the appearance of a musty smell;
- Regularly fluff the item and do not allow it to dry in a crumpled state.
If a down item is slightly dirty, it is better to simply wash it. Use a gentle detergent for this. Usually, the material of the down jacket has an impregnation that protects the fluff filling it from moisture. It is better to wash the down jacket in the spring, as well as fluff it, when warm clothes are put away until the next season.
How to avoid problems with a down jacket?
- Carefully study the information on the label, which also contains information on the appropriate washing. As a general rule, down items are washed in a gentle mode. If you wash the item correctly, at low machine speeds, then there may be no problems with lumps at all.
- Before washing, zippers, fasteners and pockets are tightly fastened, and the fur is removed if it is detachable.
- It is strictly not recommended to use stain removers and conditioners. Usually, a special liquid detergent is used, designed for washing such items.
- When choosing a washing mode, you need to set the lowest spin speed. After the basic wash, the item needs additional rinsing (3-4 times) to avoid streaks.
- You can hang the item on the loggia, in a place where direct sunlight does not fall. In this case, the down jacket should dry in a draft, and then the moisture will not linger in the cells, and the filler will dry evenly.
- It is more convenient to dry the down jacket on hangers, periodically pinching it and shaking it with your hands. This way the filler will straighten out better.
- In winter, you can use the temperature difference to your advantage, that is, alternate drying in the room with drying on the loggia, not forgetting to straighten and fluff the item by hand.
- In damp weather, you can dry the product with a hairdryer. Use cold air and be sure to dry the down jacket from the inside.
- If you have recently purchased a down jacket, you should rinse it at least twice, because there are often manufacturing defects that are not clearly noticeable, but affect the overall appearance.
Having now learned how to fluff the down, you can independently make the down jacket presentable. Detergents that act gently on fabrics, dissolve quickly, and thoroughly wash products without forming light streaks or stains are important. Don’t be afraid to overdo it in this matter, because if the filler dries out and crumples, it will be difficult to straighten it later.
