The Ultimate Guide To Washing Your Insulated Down Coat

Washing your insulated down coat is important not only to keep it visibly clean but also to increase its lifespan and maintain its insulation properties. When down is dirty, it holds moisture more easily, which means the jacket will lose its fluffiness, and you will be less warm. To wash your down coat, you can use a washing machine or wash it by hand. If using a washing machine, use a front-loading machine, a low/cold temperature setting, and a down-specific detergent. If washing by hand, use room-temperature water and a down-specific detergent. After washing, dry your coat in a dryer on a low heat setting with dryer balls or tennis balls to help the coat dry faster and restore its loft.

Use a front-loading machine

If you have a front-loading washing machine, you can use it to wash your insulated down coat. Here's what you need to do:

Firstly, check the pockets of your coat and remove any items. Next, brush off any loose dirt or mud. Then, zip up the zippers and fasten any buttons. If there are any flaps, close them, and turn the coat inside out. If there are any tough stains, you can spot treat them with a small amount of gentle laundry detergent.

Now, it's time to prepare the washing machine. Clean the detergent compartment of any residues and make sure there is no detergent or softener left inside. Set the machine to a cold wash on a delicate or wool cycle, or the equivalent gentle setting. Do not use a top-loading machine as the agitator could damage the coat.

Once the machine is ready, place the coat inside and add a down-specific detergent such as Nikwax Down Wash Direct, Grangers Down Care Kit, or Gear Aid Revivex Down Cleaner. These detergents are specially formulated to clean down items without compromising the loft and natural oils of the feathers. Avoid using regular laundry detergent as it can strip away the natural oils, making the feathers more susceptible to moisture.

After adding the detergent, start the wash cycle and let the machine do its work. When the cycle is complete, it is recommended to run an extra rinse cycle to ensure that all the soap is removed.

When the washing is done, take the coat out of the machine. At this point, it might feel wet and clumpy, but that's normal. Put the coat into the dryer with 4-6 tennis balls or dryer balls. The tennis balls will help restore the fluffiness of the coat by breaking up the clumps. Set the dryer to a low heat setting and let it run for one to three hours, or until the coat is completely dry.

And that's it! Your insulated down coat is now clean and ready to be stored on a hanger until its next use.

Wash with cold water

When it comes to washing an insulated down coat, using cold water is a must. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it effectively:

Step 1: Pre-treating Stains

Before washing your down coat, it's important to address any stains or heavy build-ups of sweat and body oils, especially around the chin and neck areas. Use a laundry soap or stain-removing product to soak and brush these areas. Remember to thoroughly rinse before putting the coat in the washing machine.

Step 2: Prepare the Washing Machine

Ensure your washing machine is set to a low/cold temperature suitable for delicates or wool. Clean any residual detergent from the machine, as regular detergent can strip away the natural oils from down feathers, making them more susceptible to moisture. Use a down-specific detergent, such as Nikwax Down Wash Direct, Grangers Down Wash, or Granger's Down Care Kit.

Step 3: Washing the Coat

Zip up any zippers and fasten buttons before washing. It is recommended to turn the coat inside out. Place the coat in the washing machine, preferably a front-loading machine, as top-loading machines with agitators can damage the jacket material. Set the machine to rinse a few times on the slowest/longest cycle to ensure no detergent residue is left on the down coat.

Step 4: Drying the Coat

After washing, the down coat will be damp and clumpy. Use a dryer with a large drum to ensure proper air circulation. Set the dryer to low heat and add 3-4 tennis balls or dryer balls. The balls will help break up the clumps and restore loft to the down. Be patient, as drying may take one to three hours or several cycles. Keep resetting the timer until the coat is completely dry.

Step 5: Storage

Until your next use, store your down coat on a hanger, not in a tight stuff sack. Squishing down feathers over time will make them more resistant to returning to their original air-trapping loft.

By following these steps, you can effectively wash your insulated down coat with cold water, ensuring it stays clean, fluffy, and insulating.

Use a down-specific detergent

When washing an insulated down coat, it is important to use a down-specific detergent. Regular detergents can strip the down feathers of their natural oils, making them more susceptible to moisture. This will cause the feathers to become brittle and break down, resulting in a loss of fluffiness.

There are several down-specific detergents available on the market, such as Nikwax Down Wash Direct, Granger's Down Wash Concentrate, and ReviveX Down Cleaner Concentrate. These products are specifically formulated to preserve the natural oils in the down feathers while effectively cleaning the coat and restoring its loft.

It is important to note that the use of bleach, bleach-alternatives, and fabric softeners should be avoided when washing down coats, as these products can damage the fabric. Additionally, the use of regular laundry detergent should be avoided, as it can strip away the natural oils from the down feathers.

By using a down-specific detergent, you can effectively clean your insulated down coat while maintaining its fluffiness and protecting it from moisture. This will help to extend the lifespan of your coat and ensure that it continues to provide effective insulation.

Dry on low heat

Drying your insulated down jacket is best done with a dryer. Hang-drying a down jacket can take a long time and will cause the down to dry in clumps. Set the dryer to low heat and add a few dryer balls or clean tennis balls to keep the item tumbling and prevent the down from clumping. You can also use wool dryer balls or clean shoes such as Converse sneakers. Additionally, adding 2-3 dry towels to the dryer cycle can help absorb extra moisture.

The drying process can take several hours and multiple cycles. Remove the jacket from the dryer every so often, break up any clumps, shake it out to redistribute the down, and put it back in the dryer. It is important to make sure that the jacket is completely dry before removing it from the dryer. If you take it out too soon, the down inside the baffling can still be clumped with moisture, resulting in a flat-looking garment that will need to be washed and dried again.

Use dryer balls or tennis balls

To wash an insulated down coat, dryer balls or tennis balls are essential to the drying process. They are used to keep the coat tumbling and prevent the down from clumping together. This will help to restore the fluffiness of the down. It is recommended to use 3-4 dryer or tennis balls.

Dryer balls or tennis balls are added to the tumble dryer when drying a down coat. It is important to ensure that the coat is dried on a low heat setting or air dry setting. The coat will need to be dried for several hours and will likely take multiple cycles. It is important to check on the coat regularly and break up any clumps that have formed with your fingers. This can be done by removing the coat from the dryer when it is still damp, shaking it out, and then placing it back in the dryer.

It is important to note that the coat should be fully dried before removing it from the dryer. If the down is still damp, it can cause the coat to look flat. In addition, anything heavier than a dryer ball or tennis ball should be avoided as it could damage the delicate down feathers.

Using dryer balls or tennis balls in the tumble dryer is an effective way to restore the fluffiness of a down coat and ensure even drying. By keeping the coat tumbling, the balls help to prevent the down from clumping and distribute it evenly throughout the coat. This method is preferred over air drying, as air drying can compromise the loft of the down and take a significant amount of time to fully dry.

Frequently asked questions