How to care for a down jacket?

A down jacket is outerwear for the cold season. Its lining can be filled with goose or eider down. The effectiveness of natural down lies in the structure of the fluff. They do not have rigid elements, so they easily stick together, forming a spatial structure that holds air well. Therefore, the down jacket, despite its relatively small thickness, perfectly retains heat and is practically not felt on the body, which allows you to wear it comfortably even in the most adverse weather. It also breathes well (it’s impossible to get steamed in a down jacket), is very compact (when folded it takes up minimal space in luggage) and quickly restores its original volume after compression.

But, like any other outerwear, a down jacket is subject to contamination. In addition to external stains on pockets, collar, slats and cuffs, the lining itself gets dirty and accumulates unpleasant odors, and accordingly, the down. This has a negative impact not only on the aesthetic appearance of the product, but also on its thermal insulation properties. Conclusion: a down jacket, like any jacket, needs periodic cleaning or washing, even if it looks clean visually.

From this publication you will learn how to properly care for a down jacket, namely:

1. What is better: to wash a down jacket at home or to take it to the dry cleaner?
2. How often should I wash my down jacket?
3. What does the label on my down jacket say?
4. Washing and drying my down jacket.
   • How do I wash my down jacket by hand?
   • How to wash a down jacket in a washing machine?
   • How to dry a down jacket?
5. How to properly store a down jacket?

1. WHAT IS BETTER: WASHING A DOWN JACKET AT HOME OR DRY CLEANING?

With all its advantages, the down jacket also has disadvantages that are clearly visible against the background of its synthetic analogues. You can familiarize yourself with the main differences in six main characteristics here, and within the framework of this publication we will mention two of the most significant disadvantages from the consumer's point of view:

1. A down jacket is expensive. The production of clothes from down is a rather labor-intensive process, starting from the collection and processing of the down itself and ending with the sewing of the product, which requires the use of special technologies and fabrics that prevent the migration of down from clothes.
2. A down jacket is difficult to care for. The clothes are especially capricious in washing: they are demanding of washing powder, temperature, washing and drying mode. If something is wrong, consider that you have ruined the thing.

If you don’t know how to wash a down jacket correctly, you’re not confident in your own abilities, and especially you don’t want to bother with the process technology, give the item to a dry cleaner you trust - 5-7 days and your down jacket will be as good as new. But, in fact, the process of washing a down jacket at home is not complicated, if you know the technology (we will talk about it below). But an attempt to not comply with it (and this also applies to negligent dry cleaning) can lead to the following consequences:

• The fluff will clump together, and even if you “fluff” it up manually, you won’t be able to achieve the same volumetric structure.
• Streaks may appear, in particularly severe cases the item will lose its original appearance and color (incorrect powder selection).
• The item may develop an unpleasant odor (the washing and drying regimen was violated).

A reputable dry cleaner is equipped with special equipment for high-quality cleaning of outerwear, including down-based ones. The latest technology used is "aqua cleaning". This is the most gentle cleaning using a delicate mode and professional cleaning products. In general, the type of cleaning is selected in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations on the down jacket label. And if it is not available, the factory technologist independently determines the most suitable mode for your product.

Removable fittings will be removed from the clothes, and non-removable fittings (including labels, "gold" buttons and other decor) will be covered with special protection. Particularly dirty areas will be pre-treated to ensure that the dirt comes off. After cleaning and drying, to evaporate residual moisture and smooth out the down jacket fabric perfectly, the product is blown with cold air under pressure for several minutes on a special steam dummy. The advantages are obvious:

• Professional technologies and equipment that allow you to remove stains that cannot be removed at home.
• Special conditioners and powders that carefully preserve the structure of the fluff.
• Competent drying and a guarantee that the filler will not gather into lumps, and the item will not lose its aesthetic appearance.

But if you are not one of those who are afraid of difficulties, and the symbols on the down jacket label do not prohibit washing it at home, you can put the clothes in order yourself. Following our recommendations, rules for washing and drying a down jacket, this is not as difficult as it may seem at first glance.

2. HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU WASH A DOWN JACKET?

In the case of a down jacket, there is one unspoken rule: wash only in extreme cases. If you "live" in a down jacket, you will have to wash it once or twice a year. If the operating mode is gentle and not very active, one wash in two seasons is enough. And if you managed to get only a couple of stains, then it is not advisable to wash the entire product - spot cleaning is enough. Remember that excessive washing can damage not only the fluff, but also the fabric itself, so always pay attention to the care label of the garment.

3. WHAT DOES THE DOWN JACKET LABEL SAY?

Before washing, carefully study the label of the down jacket. It will tell you how to properly care for the clothes, whether it is possible to wash at home (if so, which of the two options) or whether it is better to immediately spend money on dry cleaning.

Here are the most common designations for a down jacket.

	Any washing is prohibited. The only way out is to dry clean your down jacket.
	Washing in a washing machine is prohibited. This does not exclude hand washing. Another option is the same dry cleaning.
	Hand wash only.
	Machine wash in water not higher than the specified temperature. If one horizontal line is indicated under the symbol, then this is a soft treatment, two - very delicate.
	Spinning in a centrifuge is prohibited.
	Only dry cleaning allowed.
	No dry cleaning.

In very rare cases, the tag may have two prohibitory signs - do not machine wash and do not dry clean. This means that such a product can only be dry cleaned using the "aqua cleaning" method. We mentioned it in the first point of this publication.

4. WASHING AND DRYING A DOWN JACKET

Make sure that the label on the down jacket does not prohibit machine washing. If so, you can wash the outerwear both in the washing machine and by hand.

How to wash a down jacket in a washing machine?

• Wash the down jacket separately from other items.
• Before loading the jacket into the drum of the washing machine, empty the outer and inner pockets of objects so that they do not affect the quality of the wash, do not damage the down jacket itself and the washing machine.
• Also remove everything that can be removed from the down jacket: the fur collar, the hood trim, the hood itself, the belt, and decorative elements.
• Soap the dirtiest areas (usually cuffs, bottom, wind flap, pocket flaps, collar, jacket hem) well and, if necessary, scrub with a soft brush.
• Fasten the central fastener and all pocket zippers.
• Turn the jacket inside out.
• Load the clothes into the drum, adding 2-3 special balls for washing down jackets and coats - they prevent the filler from clumping. The balls are sold in any supermarket in the detergent section. They are made of special rubber with a metal magnetic core inside, so they do not rattle in the washing machine as much as tennis balls. Using the latter is also allowed, but this is not the best option.
• Add detergent to the container. Do not use regular powder - only liquid detergent for washing down jackets.
• If there is no separate program for washing a down jacket, select a gentle or delicate wash cycle, manually setting the desired temperature (see the data on the label), additional rinsing (the total number of rinses should be at least 3 times) and spin speed (see the data on the label).
• Wash.
• Dry the product.

Recommendations:

1. The down jacket does not need pre-soaking.
2. The washing temperature, as a rule, does not exceed 30°C.
3. Turn off the automatic drying of the product after washing.
4. If you continue to see soap solution on the third rinse, run one or two more cycles. The criterion is clean water.
5. If the manufacturer does not prohibit spinning the product, but does not specify the number of revolutions, choose the lowest value.

How to hand wash a down jacket?

If the information on the tag allows machine washing, but you are worried about how your favorite jacket will handle it, hand wash the item. The process is not complicated and does not take much time.

• Prepare the down jacket as if you were washing it in a washing machine.
• Fill the bathtub or a wide basin with warm water. Its temperature should not exceed the value recommended by the manufacturer (see the label).
• Soap local dirt well and rub gently with a soft brush.
• Dissolve gel or liquid detergent for hand washing down jackets.
• Wash the down jacket delicately.
• Rinse it in several waters, getting rid of all the foam.
• Gently squeeze the jacket without twisting it.
• Hang it on a hanger over the bathtub and let the water drain completely.
• Dry the product.

How to dry a down jacket?

Pay attention to the product label to know exactly how the manufacturer recommends drying the down jacket. As a rule, the down jacket is dried horizontally.

• Remove the wet down jacket from the machine.
• Do not wring out the item, but hang it on a hanger over the bathtub for a while to allow the remaining water to drain.
• After this, shake the jacket several times, each time changing the position of the product (that is, when shaking the first time, hold the down jacket by the shoulders, and when shaking the second time, hold it by the hem.
• Lay the jacket out on a horizontal surface (a clothes dryer is ideal) and carefully straighten out all the details of the down jacket. In this position, dry it in a well-ventilated room. You can use a heat source, but not in direct contact.
• Do not dry the down jacket vertically - the fluff will fall to one side and dry poorly. It will be very difficult to straighten it out later. Also, do not dry the down jacket in the open sun, on a radiator or near other heat sources.

5. HOW TO PROPERLY STORE A DOWN JACKET?

Despite the fact that down has good elasticity and quickly restores volume after compression, long-term storage under excess pressure is not recommended. However, for a short time (for example, when traveling), the down jacket can be folded, rolled up into the most compact size for transportation.

There are two types of storage: summer preservation and daily storage in the cold season. In both cases, it is better to keep the down jacket on a wide hanger in the closet. Only in the case of preservation, pack the item on a hanger in a garment bag - a case for storing outerwear. Choose only the cotton version - it breathes well. Polyethylene ones are suitable for temporary storage (for example, when moving or if you are afraid that the item may get wet. Remove all items from your pockets - their weight can deform the item. It is better to close fasteners (buttons, Velcro and zippers) before storing. Lavender will help protect the item from moths. It can be used as a spray, perfume sample or fragrant bag.