How to Wash Down Jacket? 3 Most Effective Methods!
Washing down jackets can be a headache. Incorrect cleaning methods may result in lumpy down, faded fabrics, and even damage. Therefore, knowing the correct way to clean your down jacket is vital.
In this article, we'll explain how to wash your down jacket correctly so it stays fluffy, warm, and tidy after washing.
What Is a Down Jacket?
Down jackets are popular in colder months due to their excellent warmth and lightweight texture. They are usually filled with high-quality down, which locks in large amounts of air and creates an insulating layer against the cold.
How warm a down jacket is depends on the down itself, how much of it is used, and how it is spread out. High-quality down has better fluffiness and insulating properties, locking in air and heat more effectively. At the same time, the fill level of a down jacket also affects its warmth; the higher the fill level, the better the warmth is usually. It is also important that the down jacket is spread out in a way that keeps the heat in and makes sure it is properly distributed.
What Is Down in Down Jacket？
The term "down" refers to the fine, soft feathers that cover a bird's body, especially the down that grows on the belly of a duck or goose. These feathers have excellent thermal properties because their structure locks in large amounts of air, forming an insulating layer that effectively blocks the intrusion of cold air from the outside while keeping the heat inside the body from being lost.
Therefore, down is used as a filler in down jackets to provide warmth and comfort to the wearer.
How to Wash Down Jacket? - Hand Washing
When washing down jackets, care needs to be taken to protect the warmth of the down and avoid damaging the fabric. Here are some steps and precautions for washing down jackets:
Materials to be prepared for wash down jacket:
- Use a neutral detergent (avoid using alkaline detergents such as soap, washing powder, etc., to avoid damaging the down and fabrics).
- Warm water around 30℃ (the water temperature should not be too high to not damage the warmth of the down).
- Soft bristle brush or bath ball (for brushing stains on the surface of the down jacket).
- A large towel or washcloth (to absorb excess water from the down coat).
Steps for washing your down jacket:
- First, completely immerse the down coat in cold water and soak it for 20 minutes to fully moist the inside and outside.
- Take warm water at about 30°C, add an appropriate amount of neutral detergent, mix thoroughly, and soak the jacket for about 15 minutes.
- Use a soft brush or shower ball to gently brush the surface of the down coat stains, paying attention to the inside and outside. Gently brush to avoid damage to the fabric and down.
- After brushing, soak the down jacket again in clean water while gently scrunching the jacket, especially the stained areas, to ensure the detergent is thoroughly rinsed out.
- If desired, add two tablespoons of vinegar to warm water and soak the duvet for a while to help remove detergent residue.
Dewatering and drying of down jackets:
- Down jackets should not be dehydrated in a washing machine; the water should be squeezed out along the down downwards to avoid deformation.
- Wrap the down coat in a large bath towel and gently press it to absorb excess water.
- Dry the down coat in a ventilated and cool place, avoiding direct sunlight and exposure to the sun so as not to damage the fabric and down.
- After drying, gently pat the jacket with a hanger to restore its fluffiness and softness.
How to Wash Down Jacket? - Machine Washable (Use with Caution)
Do not machine wash your jacket unless you have to. Machine washing can cause the down in your jacket to become uneven.
Choose a washing machine with a down washing function.
Use a neutral detergent
- Place the down jacket in a laundry bag to minimize damage.
- Set the washing machine:
- Select a gentle wash mode.
- Avoid hot water and high-speed spin function.
Hang to dry:
- After machine washing, the down jacket must also be dried in a ventilated and cool place, avoiding direct sunlight.
- After drying, gently pat the jacket with a hanger to restore its fluffiness.
How to Wash Down Jacket? - Dry Clean
If your down coat gets dirty after only one or two wears, you can opt for dry cleaning. Dry cleaning prevents your down jacket from being exposed to a lot of water, keeps it warm, and prevents it from becoming deformed due to the amount of water that enters it.
Prepare the detergent: For down jackets, choose a dry cleaner or neutral detergent. These detergents gently remove stains while protecting the down and fabric.
Lay it out evenly: Lay the down coat flat on a clean table, out of direct sunlight. Ensure that the down is evenly dispersed to prevent any compression.
Apply the cleaning agent: Use a small brush or sponge to gently apply the cleaning agent to the surface of the down jacket, especially to heavily stained areas. Avoid excessive force, as this may damage the fabric.
Brushing: Gently brush the surface of the down jacket with a soft-bristled brush to remove stains and detergent residues. Use moderate force to avoid damaging the down and fabric.
Absorb excess detergent: Gently pat the down coat with a clean towel to absorb excess detergent.
Drying: Lay the down jacket flat to dry in a ventilated, cool place, avoiding direct sunlight and exposure to the sun. After drying, gently pat the jacket with your hands to restore its fluffiness and softness.
How to Dry Down Jacket?
- Dry your down coat in a ventilated, cool, and dry place. Avoid direct sunlight, as strong sunlight may discolor the fabric or damage the structure of the down.
- Hang your down coat on a hanger or clothesline to dry. Ensure the down jacket is fully unfolded to avoid wrinkles or deformation during drying.
- When the down coat is drying, don't stack or fold it to squeeze it. This will help it dry evenly and regain its fluffiness.
- Once the duvet is largely dry, gently pat it with your hands to redistribute the down inside and restore its fluffiness.
- Check the dryness of your down jacket regularly. Make sure it is completely dry before storing it to prevent mold and mildew.
⚠ Avoid using the dryer. It's dangerous to use this method, and it could hurt the down and cloth.
How Do You Fix a Tear in a Down Jacket?
You can sew the tear directly with a needle and thread if it is small. Thread the needle through one side of the tear and out the other, keeping the stitches even and tight.
If the rip is larger, consider repairing it with a patch. Cut the patch slightly larger than the rip and place it underneath the rip. Then, use a needle and thread to sew the patch to the bed fabric. Make sure the stitches are tight and straight.
You can also buy down jacket-specific stickers to patch up the rip.
Conclusion
Following these steps, we can clean a down jacket well while keeping the cloth and down in good shape. Remember that the down jacket should dry naturally in a cool, well-ventilated area. It should not be dried in full sunlight or at high temperatures, as this could damage the down and fabric.
In addition, regular cleaning down coats can keep their appearance neat and extend their service life. We hope that the introduction of this article can help you take better care of your down coat so that it accompanies you through one after another warm winter.
