The correct selection of a down jacket at the purchase stage - according to your lifestyle and natural and climatic conditions - depends on how successfully you can wash it at home. When buying a light down jacket for daily wear, you should be prepared to wash it frequently, compared to dark models: in urban winter conditions, outerwear gets very dirty and requires almost weekly washing. Frequent washing also risks washing out the water-repellent layer, causing clothes to quickly become wet and dirty. It is better to ask the seller about acceptable washing methods before purchasing. It is also worth paying attention to the filling: jackets with down are more problematic to wash than with synthetic fillings (sintepon, Thinsulate). And down jackets with elements of genuine leather, suede or non-removable fur can only be washed by dry cleaning (to avoid deformation, shedding and shrinkage), and at home - wipe with a damp cloth. Below we will tell you step by step how to properly wash a down jacket in a household washing machine and not spoil its valuable filling, turning a bulky warm jacket into a thin windbreaker.
How to prepare for washing a down jacket
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- Study the information from the manufacturer on the down jacket label. Often there are recommendations for caring for the product.
- The label also indicates what the down jacket is made of. For the top covering, synthetic fabrics that are resistant to external influences are most often used: polyester, polyamide, nylon, eco-leather. Fillings can be either synthetic (sintepon, holofiber) or natural (down, feather, wool). The latter must be handled very carefully and not ignore the manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Regular powders are not suitable for washing down jackets. Use liquid products instead. And to clean products with natural filling, it is better to buy a special product that protects the fluff from damage.
- If the down jacket has real fur, remove it before washing. If the fur does not come off, it needs to be thoroughly combed with a wide-tooth comb immediately after washing and several times during the drying process.
- But if the fur is also dyed and is very different in color from the down jacket, it is still better to go to the dry cleaner. Fur can shed and ruin the product.
- Make sure the down jacket's pockets are empty and there are no holes. Be sure to sew up the holes, otherwise the filling may come out through them.
- Button up the down jacket and pockets and unfasten the hood. To prevent the product from becoming deformed, nothing should be loose when washing.
Features of natural soap
Laundry soap consists mainly of fatty acids obtained from plant products. For its production, vegetable oils and soda are used. It is used for washing different types of things. There is natural soap with the addition of birch tar. It is even used for medicinal purposes and in cosmetology.
Natural soap
Advantages:
- hypoallergenic, so you can wash baby clothes with laundry soap;
- destroys germs, so they are recommended to wash underwear, socks, bedding, and children's clothes;
- removes various difficult stains well without damaging the material;
- used for whitening;
- It's inexpensive.
How to get rid of stains on a down jacket
As a rule, the most contaminated places on a down jacket are the sleeves, collar and hem. Before washing, you can moisten them, soap them with laundry soap and rub them gently.
There are several ways to remove difficult stains. Whichever you choose, when brushing, work from the edges to the center of the stain.
- To make a universal stain remover, add 2 teaspoons of ammonia and liquid detergent to a glass of water. Beat the foam and distribute it over the contaminated areas. Wait a few minutes and then blot with a sponge.
- Grease stains can be dissolved with gasoline. Soak a cotton pad in it and treat problem areas. Sprinkle talc, salt, starch or any other adsorbent on top. Rub the stain and shake off any residue. If necessary, repeat the procedure several times. When finished, wipe the down jacket with a damp cloth.
- A mixture of salt and starch in a 1:1 ratio will also help in the fight against greasy stains. Add a little water to form a paste. Apply it to the stain, leave until completely dry and rinse with a damp sponge.
- Traces of cosmetics, such as foundation on the collar, are washed off with micellar water. Soak a cotton pad in it and wipe the problem area.
- If the stain is embedded in white fabric, it can be bleached. Mix ammonia and hydrogen peroxide in a 1:1 ratio and wipe problem areas with the resulting liquid. This method is not suitable for colored down jackets!
After getting rid of stains, it is better to wash the down jacket completely. Otherwise, streaks may remain on it.
It is not recommended to soak a down jacket, especially if it has natural insulation.
Bleaching of the product is also prohibited.
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Additional recommendations
The final quality of washing a down jacket in an automatic washing machine depends on compliance with several conditions. This list includes not only the correct preparation of the product for the procedure, the selection of the appropriate washing mode, but also subsequent drying. To wash down jackets efficiently and safely, you need to follow all the recommendations.
How not to wash a down jacket
To wash a down jacket in a washing machine, you absolutely cannot use simple powder. There are 3 reasons for this:
- Active bleaches and aggressive substances in the composition can damage the color of the fabric.
- The powder is difficult to rinse out of the fluff, so soapy stains remain on things.
- Components that break down fat destroy the protective layer of down and feathers. This leads to their deformation and damage.
For the same reasons, you cannot wash your down jacket with regular washing gel. One such procedure is enough to ruin a thing forever.
It is prohibited to use bleaching compounds for washing down jackets. They will ruin both the down and the fabric of the product.
How to dry it properly
It is important to finish washing a down jacket at home with proper drying (usually the manufacturer prohibits doing this in a machine). Standard recommendations look like this:
- After spinning, the product can either be hung on hangers in a well-ventilated area, or laid out horizontally on a dryer rack (so that air enters from all sides).
- You should not dry your down jacket in the bathroom, because the air in this room is too humid.
- In the cold season, it is useless to dry a warm jacket outside, and in the summer it can be placed in the fresh air, but in a shaded place with good ventilation (Therefore, it is better and easier to wash winter clothes in the summer - they dry faster).
- You cannot dry a down jacket by laying it on a blanket or any “solid” surface. It is important that air reaches the item from all sides, otherwise the drying process may be delayed.
- Due to prolonged drying, the fluff becomes rotten and begins to smell unpleasant, and uneven drying can leave stains and streaks on the surface. The maximum acceptable drying time is 2 days.
- If necessary, you can speed up the process using a hairdryer.
- While drying, the down jacket should be shaken periodically and its position changed (hanged sideways or upside down). This promotes more uniform drying and prevents fluff from caking.
It is strictly forbidden to dry down jackets on radiators or heating devices. This causes stains on the fabric and is harmful to the down.
After drying, it is useful to treat the surface of the down jacket with a water-repellent impregnation (sold in the form of sprays). Such a protective layer will protect the jacket from getting wet in wet weather, from the appearance of streaks and deeply ingrained stains.
Impregnation for down.
What to do if stains appear
If, after drying, stains and streaks still appear on the fabric, you can try to get rid of them. This is not always possible. Stains cannot be removed if they are the result of damage to the fabric and the “paint layer”. This can happen if you choose the wrong detergent (for example, with chlorine), or use the “aggressive” mode of the washing machine.
If stains and stains are caused by excess detergent and poor rinsing, they can be dealt with. To do this you need:
- Wipe the surface of the fabric with a cloth soaked in a solution of dishwashing detergent. Sometimes this simple action is enough to make the stains disappear.
- If this does not help, you can re-immerse the down jacket in the washing machine and rinse the product 1-2 times additionally.
- A more reliable method is to wash again, but using less detergent.
- As a last resort, you can use dry cleaning services, but if the paint is damaged, this will not help.
It is easier to prevent such stains than to get rid of them. The machine will wash a down jacket without streaks if you use only special detergents in the correct dosage.
Stains on a down jacket after an unsuccessful wash.
What to do if the fluff is lost
It is very difficult to wash a down jacket without the fluff bunching up. But if the filler is not spoiled, but simply stuck together in lumps, it can be straightened out. The following methods are used for this:
- Periodically shaking and turning the item while drying. At the same time, the down balls in the cells become looser and dry out better. This must be done after washing the down jacket at home.
- The dried down jacket can be “flapped” with a stick or a carpet flapper. To do this, the jacket (dry!) must be hung on a hanger or laid out on a horizontal surface.
- If this does not help, the lumps of natural filler can be “fluffed” with your hands, pulling them through the fabric into smaller fragments.
- Another way to restore the volume of a winter down jacket is to “vacuum” it. To do this, use a narrow nozzle for carpets. Each cell with down must be treated with an air flow from the inside, from the side of the lining. This method will help distribute the natural filler more evenly throughout the tissue cell.
- The most exotic method is to place the damp jacket in the freezer after washing. After this, the fluff balls will easily break and the filler will return to its original state.
If the down jacket is light, the final condition of the filling can be assessed by looking at the product against the light. If the item is made of very dense or dark fabric, you can check the “fluffiness” only by touch.
After washing the down jacket, the down became clumps.
How to get rid of unpleasant odor
If after washing the item has a musty or sour smell, there are 3 reasons for this:
- The item was soaked for too long before washing.
- Didn't wash well.
- It took too long to dry, and the fluff inside began to rot and deteriorate.
To get rid of the unpleasant odor, in any case, you will need to re-wash in compliance with all the rules. It is allowed to use conditioner, but in small quantities - literally half a teaspoon will be enough to improve the smell of the item after washing.
To give your down jacket a pleasant aroma, you can add a pinch of salt to the conditioner compartment by dropping a few drops of essential oil on it (salt is needed so that the oil dissolves better in water during rinsing).
There is nothing scary or difficult about washing a down jacket at home; it is enough to follow the rules and adhere to the manufacturer’s recommendations. This procedure will not take much time, but at the same time it will save on dry cleaning and bring the down jacket into decent shape. However, if there are serious fears of ruining your favorite item, it is better to entrust it to professionals.
How to wash a down jacket in a washing machine
Turn the down jacket inside out before washing.
Put it in the washing machine. To prevent the filler from clumping, add 2-3 special laundry balls or regular tennis balls to the drum.
Pour detergent into the special compartment. Calculate its quantity using the instructions on the package. Additionally, you can use fabric conditioner.
Some machines have a mode for washing down jackets or outerwear. Modes for delicate items, wool or silk are also suitable. The water temperature should be no more than 30 °C.
If possible, turn on the extra rinse function or run it yourself at the end of the wash. This is necessary so that there is no detergent left in the down jacket.
The spin should not be too strong - 400–600 rpm.
At higher speeds, the filling of the down jacket may become loose or even come out of the seams.
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A jacket, like a down jacket, is not the easiest thing to wash in a washing machine. The fact is that the jacket can be made of various materials, have padding polyester filling or consist of a membrane.
These and other characteristics influence the choice of machine washing conditions and drying rules.
To wash the jacket yourself and not spoil its appearance, be sure to follow proven recommendations and do not forget to look at the care icons on the item, which are drawn on the factory label.
How to wash a down jacket by hand
Fill a large basin or bathtub with lukewarm water. The temperature should not exceed 30 °C. Dissolve detergent in water. Calculate its quantity using the instructions on the package.
Soak the down jacket for 15–30 minutes. Then gently wash it with a soft brush or sponge. It is not recommended to rub parts of the down jacket against each other, as when washing regular clothes.
Lightly wring out the product and rinse several times in clean water. You can also add a little fabric conditioner. You cannot twist the down jacket, otherwise it will become deformed.
How to dry a down jacket
Unfasten all fasteners, turn the product inside out, take out the pockets.
Hang the down jacket on a hanger. If you washed by hand, place it over the bathtub for a while to let the water drain. To speed up the process, you can periodically lightly squeeze individual parts of the product with your hands.
Hang the down jacket in a dry room away from direct sunlight and heating devices.
Under no circumstances should you place your jacket on a radiator or dry it with a hairdryer, especially if the filling is natural.
High temperatures destroy the structure of down, it becomes brittle and loses its thermal insulation properties.
Leave the down jacket to dry completely. Periodically whisk the filling and distribute it evenly by hand so that it does not clump.
What not to do
It is strictly forbidden to wash in hot water. Do not use powder. No need to pre-soak. Do not spin in an automatic machine at a high number of revolutions (above 600-800).
Consider the color of the top of the product if you wash it with others. Do not add bleach to colored clothing.
Be sure to remove fur parts.
Do not place to dry on a heater or use hot air (hair dryer). And keep in mind that many down jackets cannot be ironed.
Yes, what if you don’t have an automatic machine, but an old “Malyutka”, “Fairy” or another washing machine, don’t even try to wash your down jacket in it.
