Why wash a down jacket?
Down jackets are great for keeping you warm in cold weather, but they need to be washed regularly to keep them in good condition. Dirty down loses its heat-insulating properties, so it’s important to wash your down jacket at least once a year, or more often if you use it frequently.
What you need:
- A front-load washing machine and a dryer (top-load machines are not recommended)
- 50ml per jacket of special detergent for washing down products
- A bucket
- A new sponge
- A clean toothbrush (or something similar)
- 3-4 new tennis balls or dryer balls
- About 3 hours of free time
- Optional: DWR (durable water repellent) restoration spray
STEPS
01
Inspect
Inspect the jacket and find any especially dirty spots. Close all pockets, velcro, and zippers, and turn the jacket inside out.
02
Scrub
Soak the jacket in a clean bucket of cold water. Drip a bit of detergent on the sponge to create some foam. Apply the foam to the wet, dirty areas and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Brush the dirty areas with the toothbrush and let it soak for another 20 minutes.
03
Prepare
Pull out the detergent tray of the washing machine and clean it thoroughly. Even a small amount of the wrong detergent or fabric softener can damage the down.
04
Load
Put the bucket right next to the washer and gently dump the jacket inside. Add 3-4 new tennis balls or reusable dryer balls. (Hint: If you don’t have any balls, roll up some heavy cotton socks, wet them, and throw them in the drum.)
05
Wash
Fill one cap of the detergent (unless recommended otherwise in the instructions) into the liquid soap tray. Set the washer to the lowest temperature, the slowest speed, and the longest time (1 hour or more). Press the start button and relax!
06
Check
After the machine stops, check the contaminated zones again. If the result is unsatisfactory, repeat steps 2-5.
07
Dry
Set the dryer to the lowest temperature, the lowest speed, and the longest time (1.5 hours or more). Click the start button and enjoy some more free time! Once the jacket is clean and dry, give it a shake to distribute the down evenly. Then, hang it on a wide hanger.
08
Coat
To restore the jacket’s water-repellent coating, purchase a product for DWR restoration (typically in spray). Apply it according to the instructions and let it dry.
Tips:
Don’t use bleach or fabric softener when washing your down jacket.
If your jacket has a hood, remove it before washing.
Wash your down jacket separately from other items.
Don’t overload the washing machine.
If your jacket is still wet after the dryer cycle, run it through again on a low heat setting.
Store your down jacket in a cool, dry place.
Following these simple steps will help you keep your down jacket in good condition for years to come.
SNOHOW 
Leave a comment