How to Wash a Down Jacket – 8 simple steps
How do you actually wash a down jacket? Freeride guides you through eight simple steps.
Can you machine wash a down jacket? And can you tumble dry it? The fear of ruining a jacket in the wash is often significant. However, washing a down jacket is actually not as complicated as many believe, even though it can be time-consuming.
First and foremost, the best advice is to avoid washing a down jacket as much as possible. Air it out and spot treat stains to start with. But eventually, you will reach a point where your down jacket simply must be washed. But don’t worry, it’s not particularly difficult; just follow these steps, and it will go smoothly:
1. Read the care instructions
Read through and follow the washing instructions found on the label of your down jacket. There is important information there, especially regarding the temperature at which you can wash the jacket. If you no longer have the care instructions on your jacket, you can often find them on the brand’s website.
2. Prepare the jacket
Zip up all zippers and Velcro straps and turn the jacket inside out. If the jacket has a removable fur collar, it should be removed before washing.
3. Clean the detergent drawer
For safety, it’s a good idea to check if you need to clean the detergent drawer of your washing machine. Sometimes, residues from fabric softener or detergent can remain, which could damage the jacket.
4. Detergent and fabric softener
Preferably, use detergent specifically designed for down. Otherwise, choose a gentle detergent and use only one-third of the recommended amount of liquid detergent. Avoid fabric softeners, as they can damage the down and impair the garment’s functionality.
5. Extra rinse
After washing the down jacket on the recommended cycle, it’s good to run an extra rinse to ensure all detergent is completely removed.
6. Tumble dry
Yes, it’s good to tumble dry the down jacket unless otherwise stated in the care instructions. Remove the jacket immediately when the wash is done, keep it inside out, and place about three tennis balls in the dryer along with the jacket. The balls help prevent the down from clumping together. If you want to be extra thorough, take the garment out every half hour and shake it by hand to further prevent clumping. Tumble dry the jacket on low heat until it is completely dry; note that this may take several hours. Keep in mind that the jacket may feel dry on the outside even if the down is not fully dry. When the down is dry, the jacket should have regained its original shape.
7. Gently pat the jacket
By gently patting the outside of the jacket with the inside of your hand, you separate the down in the dry jacket, allowing it to distribute better.
8. Re-waterproof if necessary
If the down jacket has lost its water-repellent properties after washing, it may be a good idea to spray the jacket with waterproofing designed for down garments.
Note that this is a general recommendation. Always refer to the care instructions on your garment. Good luck!
