How to wash a down jacket in a washing machine: what to wash, in what mode, so that the down does not get lost

How to find out if a down jacket can be washed in a washing machine

Not every down jacket can withstand machine washing. For some models, one such procedure will be enough to hopelessly ruin the item. To find out whether a down jacket can be washed in an automatic washing machine, you need to carefully study the labels on the product:

Machine washing of a down jacket is allowed if it has a conventional image of a basin with water on it.
If such an image exists, but is crossed out by two lines, the product cannot be washed at all, either by hand or in a machine. If such a jacket becomes dirty, it must be dry cleaned.

Some manufacturers place care information in text on the labels instead of symbols (for example, “Machine wash at 30 degrees” or “Dry clean only”).

In order for the item to last a long time and not lose its qualities, the manufacturer’s recommendations must be followed.

If feathers and fluff are noticeably coming out of a down jacket, you cannot wash it in the machine, regardless of the icons on the label.

Down jacket is the most popular winter clothing

Over the course of a long winter, you will have to resort to this service several times if you have a white or light-colored model, so how to wash a down jacket will be very valuable information for you.

Many housewives decided to wash them like ordinary things and were disappointed with the result, since the fashionable puffy coat turned into a raincoat, and fluff came out of the seams. You can avoid this if you know how to wash down jackets in a washing machine. And this knowledge will be better learned if you know how such winter things work.

The entire range of jackets, raincoats, coats, and overalls are sewn according to the same principle, which was developed by research institutes specifically for members of polar expeditions. Now not all down jackets are filled with down. This is how they began to call all winter things that have various insulation inside:

down – fluff;
feather – feather;
cotton – batting;
wool - wool;
polyester, hollow fiber, fiberteck – synthetics.

The manufacturers' labels contain information that under no circumstances should they be washed or ironed, but real life shows that our housewives have learned to wash a down jacket in a machine without harm, so all their useful advice can be easily applied by everyone.

Is it possible to wash a down jacket with different types of insulation using the same principle? Jackets that say down (waterfowl down) should be treated with the most thrifty treatment, so all tips on how to properly wash a down jacket will also apply to other types of down jackets.

What is better - washing or surface cleaning?

The answer to this question depends on the actual condition of the down jacket and the manufacturer's instructions. If the item is clean enough and you only need to get rid of a few stains on the fabric, you can get by with local treatment of the stains. There are many recipes for “dry” washing a down jacket using soda, salt, dishwashing detergent and even glass cleaner.

If the clothes are very dirty outside and inside, or smell unpleasant, you need to wash the entire down jacket.

After superficial cleaning of certain areas, detergent stains may appear, as well as color differences between treated and untreated fabric. Machine washing cleans the down jacket evenly.

How to wash a down jacket - choosing a product

You can wash things with down filling only with special detergents. As a rule, these are universal liquid gels that are suitable for hand and machine washing. The label must indicate that the composition is suitable for down jackets.

You cannot use regular gels or powders to wash a down jacket in an automatic washing machine. They spoil the natural filler and leave stains on the fabric.

The right product is half the success. Specialized balms and gels contain substances that preserve the structure and fatty coating of the down and feather filler inside the product. The stores offer a good selection of compositions for washing down jackets in an automatic washing machine.

Detergent for washing down products “ProfKhim”

This inexpensive domestic product has proven itself to be excellent for hand and machine washing of down jackets. The volume of the bottle is 200 ml, it is enough for an average of 3-4 washes. The composition copes with any degree of contamination, preserves the properties of down and the quality of the fabric. The downside is that this washing gel has a rather pungent odor.

Balm for washing sportswear Nordland

Another popular and affordable product for washing down jackets in a machine. The gel is made in Germany. Gently cleans the fabric without damaging the coloring and does not spoil the down filling. Volume – 750 ml, consumption is quite economical. One bottle is enough for 7-10 washes. To avoid streaks, it is important to adhere to the recommended dosage.

The product is suitable not only for winter jackets with bird down and feathers, but also with other fillings.

Salton Sport washing shampoo

Perfect for washing down jackets made of membrane fabric. Preserves the insulating and ventilation properties of the material, carefully cares for the down filling, and eliminates unpleasant odors. Bottle volume – 250 ml. Depending on the degree of contamination of the item and the hardness of the water, it will be enough for 2-4 washes.

Gel Heitmann Daunen-Waschpflege

A reliable and proven composition for washing items with down filling. The product is made in Germany, the bottle volume is 250 ml, the cost is about 400 rubles. One package is enough for 5-6 washes.

This liquid product is suitable for hand and machine washing; it copes well with any stains and retains the properties of fluff. After using the Heitmann gel, the down filler does not even need additional whipping (of course, provided that the other rules are followed - delicate mode, low temperature and gentle spinning).

Gels "Laska"

The products in this line are designed for washing delicate items, so they will not spoil the bird fluff in the cells of a warm jacket. Such gels will help remove minor stains and “refresh” the down jacket, but they may not be able to cope with serious stains. Therefore, before washing, you should pre-treat the dirtiest places with a soft brush and laundry soap.

Domal Sport Fein Fashion

German gel for down products. Inexpensive, but it has proven itself to be excellent - it eliminates unpleasant odors, washes various types of stains and does not spoil the fluff at all. One bottle (750 ml) is enough for about 10 washes. The same product can be used to wash sports shoes and clothes, including those made of membrane fabric. It is also suitable for wool - hats, scarves, socks and mittens will become soft and fluffy.

All products for down jackets are universal, they are suitable for hand and machine washing. However, it is not recommended to use rinse aid and conditioner; they will leave streaks on the fabric.

Drying a down jacket when washing by hand or in a machine

After the principle of drying has been explained to you, you need to briefly familiarize yourself with the secrets of drying. Regardless of how the down products were washed, the recommendations here are standard. They can be combined into a simple sequence:

for drying, the product is given only a vertical direction;
the item is hung on hangers and straightened out;
The down jacket should be dried when it is given its original shape. It will be preserved after drying;
the item is placed outdoors. If this is not possible, at least a room with natural or artificial ventilation is required. To blow air over the item, you need a natural source - then drying will be faster and easier.

It is contraindicated to try to artificially speed up the drying procedure. It is prohibited to place the item near sources of fire and heat. Exposure to direct sunlight is very dangerous. Pooh does not perceive such factors well.

When drying, you need to steadily beat the down jacket, not forgetting to straighten the filler. This is difficult to do when figuring out how to wash a down jacket in the washing machine yourself. Anyone who does not do this runs the risk - the fluff begins to bunch up, and as a result, the expensive item loses its volume and attractive appearance.

How to properly wash a down jacket in a washing machine

It is convenient and easy to wash a down jacket at home using an automatic washing machine. In this way it is easy to get rid of dirt outside and inside the product, refresh the down and give the item a pleasant smell. However, you need to familiarize yourself with the rules for washing a down jacket in a washing machine in advance. Everything matters here. To wash a down jacket in a washing machine without streaks, you need to properly prepare the item, choose the right detergent and choose the right mode. Proper drying is no less important for the result.

Preparing a down jacket for washing

This is a very important step that you need to remember:

Remove all items from pockets – external, internal, on the sleeves (for some models).
Unfasten the fur parts of the down jacket, belt, hood, decorative details.
To avoid damaging the fittings, you can wrap them with tape or cling film.
The most contaminated areas should be pre-treated with detergent (or laundry soap) using a soft brush and left for 15-20 minutes.
To machine wash the down jacket, you need to button it up and turn it inside out. This will preserve the integrity of the fabric.

This preparation of the down jacket for washing will protect it from damage and increase the effectiveness of the procedure.

To wash a down jacket, you need to place it “alone” in the washing machine, without mixing it with other things. This will improve the quality of washing, as well as rinsing and spinning.

In what mode should you wash a down jacket?

A down jacket is a delicate thing and requires delicate washing. It’s difficult, but you can wash a down jacket in a washing machine so that the down does not bunch up. To do this, you need to choose the right program. Some models of washing machines have a special washing mode for down jackets. If there is no such program, you need to choose the most gentle method - for example, the “Wool”, “Silk”, “Delicate Wash” mode.

The water temperature when machine washing down products should not exceed 30-40 degrees.
The number of revolutions for spinning is minimal.
Add 1-2 additional rinses to the standard number of rinses (or use the “Super Rinse” program).

When washing a down jacket with down or other filling, you need to follow these recommendations. Then the fabric will not stretch or deform, and the product will retain its original appearance.

Using Balls

To prevent fluff from forming clumps, it is recommended to add 2-4 special laundry balls to the washing machine drum. These can be either tennis balls or rubber or silicone balls (sold in hardware stores). One ball at a time should be placed in the side pockets of the down jacket, and a couple more should simply be thrown into the drum of the machine along with the down jacket before starting the wash. They will have an additional effect on the product, breaking up fluff balls.

Do not use hard plastic laundry balls. They can damage the fabric of the down jacket and even tear it.

How to wash if there are no balls

Practice shows that there is no critical difference in washing a down jacket with or without balls. The “clumping” of down is largely determined by the composition of the filler, the quantity and quality of the detergent, and the mode of the washing machine.

Therefore, subject to all other rules, a down jacket can be safely washed in an automatic washing machine without balls. If the fluff sticks together, it can be fluffed in other ways.

Is it possible to spin a down jacket in the washing machine?

You can and should wring out a down jacket in a machine. The reason is simple - it is almost impossible to wring out such a thing by hand, and if you hang the down jacket, the water will drain for a very long time. In this case, the fabric will be deformed, and the fluff will acquire an unpleasant odor. Machine spinning allows you to speed up the drying of your down jacket and avoid the appearance of stains and mustiness.

The only condition is that the spin speed must be set to the minimum. Typically this figure is around 400 rpm. This is important for both the down jacket and the machine, since the item is heavy and requires careful handling.
Spinning at high speeds destroys the structure of the down and breaks the feathers. It is quite possible that after such a load it will no longer be possible to restore the filler.

Machine washable

Products made from padding polyester and holofiber can be machine washed. What program to wash on and how many degrees to set:

If your machine has a program for outerwear, choose it.
You can also install delicate and hand wash. These modes wash at a temperature of 30-40 degrees.
When washing natural fillers, to prevent fluff from getting lost, turn off the spin cycle or set the speed to minimum.
Also, to prevent the filler from clumping, wash with tennis balls. They allow you not only to wash clothes better, but also to break down fluff while the drum rotates.
To avoid white streaks, add 30-35 ml of liquid detergent or follow the instructions on the bottle.

Once you have taken the down jacket out of the machine, you can start drying it.

Additional recommendations

The final quality of washing a down jacket in an automatic washing machine depends on compliance with several conditions. This list includes not only the correct preparation of the product for the procedure, the selection of the appropriate washing mode, but also subsequent drying. To wash down jackets efficiently and safely, you need to follow all the recommendations.

How not to wash a down jacket

To wash a down jacket in a washing machine, you absolutely cannot use simple powder. There are 3 reasons for this:

Active bleaches and aggressive substances in the composition can damage the color of the fabric.
The powder is difficult to rinse out of the fluff, so soapy stains remain on things.
Components that break down fat destroy the protective layer of down and feathers. This leads to their deformation and damage.

For the same reasons, you cannot wash your down jacket with regular washing gel. One such procedure is enough to ruin a thing forever.

It is prohibited to use bleaching compounds for washing down jackets. They will ruin both the down and the fabric of the product.

How to dry it properly

It is important to finish washing a down jacket at home with proper drying (usually the manufacturer prohibits doing this in a machine). Standard recommendations look like this:

After spinning, the product can either be hung on hangers in a well-ventilated area, or laid out horizontally on a dryer rack (so that air enters from all sides).
You should not dry your down jacket in the bathroom, because the air in this room is too humid.
In the cold season, it is useless to dry a warm jacket outside, and in the summer it can be placed in the fresh air, but in a shaded place with good ventilation (Therefore, it is better and easier to wash winter clothes in the summer - they dry faster).
You cannot dry a down jacket by laying it on a blanket or any “solid” surface. It is important that air reaches the item from all sides, otherwise the drying process may be delayed.
Due to prolonged drying, the fluff becomes rotten and begins to smell unpleasant, and uneven drying can leave stains and streaks on the surface. The maximum acceptable drying time is 2 days.
If necessary, you can speed up the process using a hairdryer.
While drying, the down jacket should be shaken periodically and its position changed (hanged sideways or upside down). This promotes more uniform drying and prevents fluff from caking.

It is strictly forbidden to dry down jackets on radiators or heating devices. This causes stains on the fabric and is harmful to the down.

After drying, it is useful to treat the surface of the down jacket with a water-repellent impregnation (sold in the form of sprays). Such a protective layer will protect the jacket from getting wet in wet weather, from the appearance of streaks and deeply ingrained stains.

What to do if stains appear

If, after drying, stains and streaks still appear on the fabric, you can try to get rid of them. This is not always possible. Stains cannot be removed if they are the result of damage to the fabric and the “paint layer”. This can happen if you choose the wrong detergent (for example, with chlorine), or use the “aggressive” mode of the washing machine.

If stains and stains are caused by excess detergent and poor rinsing, they can be dealt with. To do this you need:

Wipe the surface of the fabric with a cloth soaked in a solution of dishwashing detergent. Sometimes this simple action is enough to make the stains disappear.
If this does not help, you can re-immerse the down jacket in the washing machine and rinse the product 1-2 times additionally.
A more reliable method is to wash again, but using less detergent.
As a last resort, you can use dry cleaning services, but if the paint is damaged, this will not help.

It is easier to prevent such stains than to get rid of them. The machine will wash a down jacket without streaks if you use only special detergents in the correct dosage.

What to do if the fluff is lost

It is very difficult to wash a down jacket without the fluff bunching up. But if the filler is not spoiled, but simply stuck together in lumps, it can be straightened out. The following methods are used for this:

Periodically shaking and turning the item while drying. At the same time, the down balls in the cells become looser and dry out better. This must be done after washing the down jacket at home.
The dried down jacket can be “flapped” with a stick or a carpet flapper. To do this, the jacket (dry!) must be hung on a hanger or laid out on a horizontal surface.
If this does not help, the lumps of natural filler can be “fluffed” with your hands, pulling them through the fabric into smaller fragments.
Another way to restore the volume of a winter down jacket is to “vacuum” it. To do this, use a narrow nozzle for carpets. Each cell with down must be treated with an air flow from the inside, from the side of the lining. This method will help distribute the natural filler more evenly throughout the tissue cell.
The most exotic method is to place the damp jacket in the freezer after washing. After this, the fluff balls will easily break and the filler will return to its original state.

If the down jacket is light, the final condition of the filling can be assessed by looking at the product against the light. If the item is made of very dense or dark fabric, you can check the “fluffiness” only by touch.

How to get rid of unpleasant odor

If after washing the item has a musty or sour smell, there are 3 reasons for this:

The item was soaked for too long before washing.
Didn't wash well.
It took too long to dry, and the fluff inside began to rot and deteriorate.

To get rid of the unpleasant odor, in any case, you will need to re-wash in compliance with all the rules. It is allowed to use conditioner, but in small quantities - literally half a teaspoon will be enough to improve the smell of the item after washing.

To give your down jacket a pleasant aroma, you can add a pinch of salt to the conditioner compartment by dropping a few drops of essential oil on it (salt is needed so that the oil dissolves better in water during rinsing).

There is nothing scary or difficult about washing a down jacket at home; it is enough to follow the rules and adhere to the manufacturer’s recommendations. This procedure will not take much time, but at the same time it will save on dry cleaning and bring the down jacket into decent shape. However, if there are serious fears of ruining your favorite item, it is better to entrust it to professionals.