Many owners of down jackets are wondering how to properly wash the product so that it does not lose its original appearance? Owners of this type of clothing are frightened by the thought that if the filling clumps up after washing, the item will be impossible to wear. To prevent this from happening, down jackets must be washed and dried according to certain rules. But if you have already washed such an item and the filling inside it has rolled up, there are several ways to straighten the fluff.
Features of the filler
In order to avoid unpleasant consequences, as well as restore a down jacket damaged after washing, you need to study the properties of the down filler. Natural down has the ability to absorb moisture well and release it poorly. The villi, filled with water, stick together and form dense clumps, and subsequently they are very difficult to separate.
To prevent this from happening, during the washing process it is necessary to beat the product, preventing the fibers from sticking together. This can be done using special balls for washing down items. The balls are placed in the drum of the washing machine and the down jacket is well beaten during washing.
In addition to water, the fluff absorbs particles of detergent, which contribute to its gluing. If a down jacket stinks after washing, it means it was washed with low-quality powder and the down has absorbed harmful substances. If you wash a down jacket together with balls, the fluff of the down will be better cleaned of detergent and dirt and will not form clumps.
It is necessary to rinse the jacket several times to thoroughly clean it from detergents. This also needs to be done with balls. After washing, the down jacket must be dried properly, periodically fluffing it with your hands to prevent the down from sticking together during drying. If you do everything correctly, the jacket will return to its original shape.
If after washing you see that small lumps have formed in some places of the product and decide to leave everything as is, the product will not fully fulfill its purpose. In order for the item to retain heat, there must be an air gap between the fibers. If the fluff is crumpled and clogged with powder residues, the heating of such a thing will be much worse.
Under the influence of gravity, the lumps will settle down, and the top of the jacket will become thin, and wind and cold will be felt through the fabric. Therefore, it is necessary to get rid of all lumps, even small ones, and distribute the filler evenly throughout the entire inner layer.
What to do if your down jacket has gone astray: detailed instructions
These methods will tell you how to fluff up a down jacket not only after washing, but also due to long-term storage.
Vacuum cleaner
Using a vacuum cleaner, you can dry and fluff up any winter clothing with filling. For this method, in addition to the device itself with the blowing function, you will need:
- scissors;
- scotch;
- dense polyethylene bag.
The down jacket must be dry. You need to place it in a bag and try to pump out the air to create a vacuum. Some vacuum cleaners have a special function, but you can do this manually. The easiest way to “close” the bag is with tape. Use scissors to cut a hole for the vacuum cleaner pipe and insert it inside. Turn on the blowing mode and process the product for several minutes.
Repeat the procedure until the down jacket returns to its original condition. To speed things up, you can use a special attachment for cleaning furniture. It should be passed over the item from the lining side, thus distributing the filler among the cells.
Temperature difference
This method will not only help restore the condition of the down jacket, but will also ventilate it. The method involves the use of sub-zero temperatures.
The item of clothing must first dry completely. Then you need to shake it, hang it on a hanger and take it out to the balcony or outside. After 1-2 hours, the item is brought into a warm room.
When the jacket is completely warm (which may take a couple of hours), it is taken out into the cold again. The actions are repeated several times.
Carpet beater
- The down jacket can be hung, but it will be more convenient to lay it out on a bed or sofa.
- Use the beater from top to bottom, working each section of the product. The pops should be gentle enough to break up the lumps and fluff up the filler, but not damage it.
- Shake the product in different directions 3-4 times.
Repeat the steps until you achieve the desired result. If you don't have a beater on hand, use a kitchen spatula. Nonstick cookware tools coated with silicone or wood are best. They are not as dense as metal ones and will not damage the fabric upon impact.
How to wash a down jacket in a washing machine and by hand: instructions that will not ruin the item
Hairdryer
It takes a long time to process a thin down jacket with a hair dryer; it is a very painstaking task. But this is how you will get the best results. You often have to resort to using a hair dryer in other ways to dry the product faster and better.
- Proceed with the procedure after washing. The down jacket should not have time to dry completely. Turn the jacket over with the lining facing up and straighten it out.
- Turn on the hairdryer. Select cold or warm air mode. Hot will not work, as it will destroy the pen.
- Direct the stream onto the down jacket. Process one cassette after another, drying and distributing the filler.
- Shake your coat or jacket well. Beat it with your hands. If you are not satisfied with the result, repeat the steps with the hairdryer. Then shake again.
How to spread with your hands
This method is suitable for both dry and wet items. In the latter case, the result may be better, since the fluff will not have time to compact. The work will take a lot of time, so the method is more suitable for men's products - they are shorter. For women's down jackets, it is better to choose some kind of device that allows you to quickly perform the following manipulations:
- Walk with pinching movements over the surface of the product on both sides.
- Rub each cassette between your palms, don't forget the hood. After processing a cell, lightly hit it and only then move on to the next one.
- Shake the thing. Repeat steps until completely dry.
Dryer
For this method you will need tennis balls - 3-4 pieces. It is best to take the classic ones (mostly they are made in green). Such samples are quite dense to break up lumps, but their soft coating prevents damage to the filler. As an alternative, you can use wooden baby blocks or rubber balls, they will prevent the fluff from matting.
Place the product in the machine. Choose a gentle mode and low temperature if it has already dried out. For a wet jacket, set the standard program. If the result is unsatisfactory, repeat the procedure in a gentle manner.
Solutions to the problem
If your down jacket has become thin and the down has bunched up after you washed it, you can try to fix the problem in two ways. The first method is to re-wash in the correct way, the second is to try to get rid of the lumps by breaking them up manually.
If you see that the accumulations are small, and the jacket is not yet dry, then it will be easier to bring the product back to normal. If the item has dried well, but the lumps are large and hard, and you also feel that it stinks, it is better to wash the down jacket taking into account the recommendations.
General rules for washing down products:
- Use only mild detergents, preferably gel or liquid. Do not use washing powder; it clogs the lint with harmful substances.
- Products made with natural down should only be washed in cool water, otherwise the filler will lose its properties.
- When processing by machine, be sure to place special balls in the drum to help fluff and wash the down jacket.
- You need to rinse the item thoroughly 2-3 times so that the detergents are washed out of the filler.
- Machine rinsing is also carried out using balls.
- Squeeze the product carefully without twisting it. When machine spinning, set the speed to low.
Before you start washing the product, read the information on the label. Perform further actions in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions to avoid damage.
Gels
Gels intended for washing outerwear are an excellent choice, because they are water-based and therefore can dissolve quickly. In addition, they are very economical.
If your favorite down jacket has difficult stains, before washing you need to apply gel to them, and only then put the product in the washing machine.
The gel is poured into a tank intended for washing powder, the mode is set to no more than 40 degrees and washing begins.
Note!
If your washing machine has a delicate or hand wash mode, you can choose one of them. This way you will ensure careful care for your favorite item.
Machine washable
If the manufacturer allows your down jacket to be machine washed, caring for it is quite simple. Prepare the item for processing in an automatic machine. Remove excess items from jacket pockets and close all zippers and pockets. Turn the item inside out.
Purchase balls for washing your down jacket in advance. They are often sold in outerwear stores along with products. They can also be purchased at hardware stores. If you do not find special balls, you can replace them with regular tennis balls (with a soft coating for tennis).
First, make sure that the tennis balls will not fade during washing and will not damage the surface of the jacket. It is better to buy balls with a white or light coating.
Place the down jacket in the drum of the machine. Wash only one item at a time, even if it is small. In order for a down product to stretch well, it needs a lot of space.
Then put 4-6 balls into the machine and close it. Set the regulator to delicate mode. Set the temperature to 30 degrees. Pour liquid detergent into the powder hole and turn on the machine.
After the wash cycle, turn on the machine for an additional rinse. Do not remove the balls from the drum. After the product has been rinsed, wring it out at low speed.
When is the best time to dry clean it?
Some down jackets have a special water- and dirt-repellent impregnation, which can be washed off when washed in a washing machine.
You will find information about this on the product label along with a recommendation to dry clean this item only. If you don’t want to spoil the item, don’t neglect this rule. Here are the basic methods of how to quickly and efficiently restore a decent appearance to a down jacket at home. We hope that our advice will be useful to you and you will easily cope with the task.
What to wear with a faux fur coat?
How to remove a stain on a down jacket?
Handwash
If the manufacturer allows only manual cleaning of the product, wash the item by hand. Fill the bathtub with cool water and dilute a mild detergent in it.
Place the jacket in the bath until it is completely covered with water. If there are dirty stains on the surface of the clothing, wash them and leave for 15-20 minutes. Then wash the down jacket carefully.
Fill with clean water and rinse the product well several times, each time with new water. Next, gently wring out the item without twisting it and place it on a wire rack or other flat surface.
A vacuum cleaner will help
An ordinary household vacuum cleaner will also help to quickly whip up the padding polyester. If the padding polyester has become very tangled in your outerwear, then you don’t have to be sad over the damaged item. Using an ordinary vacuum cleaner you can solve the problem in a few minutes. Restoration of an item is carried out in the following sequence:
After washing, lay the jacket out on a flat surface and evaluate where the filling has become loose. Next, take a vacuum cleaner, set the suction mode to medium and go through all problem areas with a tube without a brush.
To ensure that the padding polyester spreads evenly over your outerwear, you should vacuum the entire item, paying special attention to the sleeves, collar and pocket areas. When all the matted filler has been straightened out, the item is left to dry on a horizontal surface. Using a vacuum cleaner, you can level the padding polyester even after the item has completely dried
To do this, you can vacuum your outerwear several times, and between this, shake the jacket thoroughly
Using a vacuum cleaner, you can level the padding polyester even after the product has completely dried. To do this, you can vacuum your outerwear several times, and between this, shake the jacket thoroughly.
It is advisable to vacuum outerwear over a layer of cotton fabric. This will help prevent contamination.
How to dry
The filling of a down jacket can clump during the drying process, so such a product must be dried correctly. This should be done at room temperature or in the fresh air during the warm season. At the same time, make sure that it is not exposed to direct sunlight.
If the item is shallowly quilted, you can hang it on wide hangers. Shake your jacket periodically and work out lumps with your hands if they begin to form. This must be done before the item is completely dry.
In the case where the stitch is large, the wrung out down jacket must be laid out on a wire rack so that the down does not fall down and roll up. The product must be ventilated from below. During the drying process, shake the item regularly and straighten the fluff with your hands. How often you do this will determine whether the product will regain its original appearance.
When drying your jacket, turn it over several times to ensure it dries evenly. Knead the filler with your hands until all the fluff is dry. At the end of drying, shake the item well again and hang it on a hanger.
Original fluffing method
When time-consuming and tedious actions do not bring the desired success, proprietary methods invented by users come to the rescue.
Combine drying and straightening down into one task. To do this, the item is straightened out on a wire dryer or hung. And here comes the main point - you need a professional compressor with a nozzle. A powerful air flow will create a pneumatic shock necessary for blowing and whipping the filler. The nozzle must be moved over the entire surface for uniform impact. A vacuum cleaner and a hair dryer cannot do this task.
Rip off the lining
If the insulation is very loose and no other methods help straighten it out, you can use a reliable, but somewhat labor-intensive method to bring the product into proper shape:
determine the place where the filler has strayed the most; turn the item inside out and carefully tear off the lining in the area where you need to break the padding polyester; having approached the insulation layer, you need to carefully distribute it with your hands throughout the entire cell, then take a thin needle and make small, invisible stitches in several places in order to secure the filler in place; sew the lining in place. In some cases, the insulation becomes very loose and almost completely rolls down.
This can happen both after washing and during intensive wear. The best solution to this problem would be to contact a professional seamstress, who will remove the lining completely and secure the insulation.
In some cases, the insulation gets knocked down very strongly and almost completely rolls down. This can happen both after washing and during intensive wear. The best solution to this problem would be to contact a professional seamstress, who will remove the lining completely and secure the insulation.
Temperature effect
If the down in your down jacket has become loose after washing, one of the following procedures will help.
- Using an iron and a dust blower. It will take about two hours to implement the method, but the result is guaranteed. Straighten the down jacket on a solid base and use a beater to go over all the knotted areas. Turn inside out. Prepare gauze or thin cotton fabric. The jacket is smoothed through it. The presence of steam will speed up and facilitate the process. Repeat the procedure 3-4 times. Between approaches, the item should have time to cool completely.
- You can restore a down jacket by changing the temperature regime. In winter, after drying, the jacket is placed in the cold. Then the item is brought into the room to warm up. After 3-4 hours, the procedure is repeated. Each time the jacket needs to be pinched, fluffed and shaken. The product must go through several cycles. The contrasting effect of temperatures helps soften and fluff the matted filler. Finish processing by kneading manually.
Video
Now you know how to help your favorite down jacket that was damaged during washing, make it beautiful again, restore its thermal insulation properties and completely restore its appearance. But it is better to avoid such situations, so as not to create additional problems for yourself.
Natural down is an excellent natural heat insulator, making down jackets well suited for use in severe cold weather - for this reason they are so common in Russia. Unfortunately, down jackets have not only advantages, but also disadvantages. So, they are quite difficult to care for. It often happens that when you wash a down jacket, the down gets lost, and it is very difficult to deal with this. Many people who cannot imagine winter without a down jacket are interested in the answer to the question of what to do if the down jacket has become thin after washing (the down inside has become clumped). Coping with the situation is difficult, but it is possible, and proper washing and drying of clothes can significantly reduce the damage caused during washing. What to do if the fluff has rolled up after washing? This guide will help you!
Steam treatment
Steam treatment successfully removes loose filler. For these purposes, use an iron with a steam function or a steam generator.
To steam, hang the down jacket on hangers and run a brush with steam over the surface on both sides. The distance from the brush to the product must be maintained at 15-20 cm. You should start from the top of the back, gradually moving to the sleeves and shoulders. The processing direction should be from top to bottom. Vertical steam will fluff up crumpled holofiber, fluff or padding polyester. Finally, the jacket should be wiped with a dry cloth.
If you don’t have a steam device, the traditional and simple method will help. To do this, fill the bathtub with hot water, and hang the jacket above the surface from which steam rises. The item must be kept like this for several hours, periodically shaking and straightening it with your hands. As a result, the filler will straighten and fluff up, and the upper fabric will get rid of folds and creases.
Steam exposure in any of the ways will give the down jacket a presentable appearance, refresh it and get rid of clumps.
