How to remove a greasy stain from a down jacket at home

Rules for removing stains from down jackets made of different materials

To completely get rid of grease stains, it is important to consider what material the down jacket is made of:

down and feathers cannot be wetted;
synthetic fillers can be destroyed by exposure to caustic substances;
bologna, nylon, polyester, and other artificial fabrics will be damaged by solvents;
On light-colored fabrics, greasy marks and yellow stains may remain;
Bleaching agents should not be used on black or colored fabrics - the paint may fade.

General terms and Conditions:

carefully study the labels on the clothes - they indicate the composition of the fabric, care recommendations, prohibitions;
any product must first be tested on an inconspicuous area;
prompt action so that the fat does not have time to eat into the fabric and dry out; old stains are more difficult to remove;
if you rub hard, the dirt will be “pressed” even deeper into the threads;
It is better to start removing with a light wash with soapy water; simple stains can disappear immediately;
when processing, you need to move in a circle, from the edge to the middle, so that the greasy stain does not spread and there are no streaks left;
Down jackets are not recommended to be washed in a machine or at temperatures above 40°C.

The easiest way is if the top and lining are ordinary textiles.
Then you can use almost any method - soap, powder, dish soap, ammonia, stain removers. If the fat has not had time to be absorbed, it is enough to sprinkle it with an absorbent, and then shake it off, and wash away the remaining trace. A small spot can be covered with loose paper or thin cotton cloth and ironed with a hot iron. Do not use newspaper - the paint will print on the fabric and leave a stain.

A bologna jacket or down jacket should be cleaned carefully so as not to damage the fabric or spoil its water-repellent properties. Wipe off fat from light-colored clothes with a cut onion, with colored clothes - with lemon, or with a cotton pad dipped in juice. Dilute dry mustard with a small amount of water to a paste, spread on top of the dirt, wait a few hours, and rinse with a damp sponge. This cleaning is suitable for all raincoat fabrics and modern membrane fabrics.

Leather or leather substitutes can be cleaned with glycerin (apply, remove with a damp cloth after 30 minutes). To soften, they need to treat the problem area, even if another method was used.

Special care products are produced for natural and artificial suede, velor, and nubuck. A shiny collar and areas grabbed by your hands can be held over steam for a few minutes, then rubbed with an eraser. Sprinkle greasy stains with absorbent for 15–20 minutes, shake off, then clean with a stiff brush.

How to clean your collar

First you need to determine the type of fur, and then start cleaning:

Natural materials can be cleaned dry or wet. The first option uses starch or talc to cover the fur. Cleaning products will absorb all the dust and dirt, after which the fluff is shaken off and remains shiny and clean. When washing wet, you need to use shampoo. It is important to rinse the foam well at the end so that it does not remain flakes on the product.
Unnatural furs can be washed on a gentle cycle in a machine or by hand using liquid powder.

A fabric collar can be cleaned with all the products listed above. If there is natural or artificial fur on the collar, it must be unfastened and washed separately.

Handy products for removing grease stains

You can remove a greasy or oil stain from a down jacket using improvised means, the main thing is that they can break down its structure and absorb it. Salt, laundry soap, starch, and detergent are available in every apartment. These cheap recipes are effective, proven over the years, and the procedure does not require much effort.

Salt, soda

Salt and soda perfectly absorb any dirt and pull it out of the threads. Use together or each independently. When the fat is still wet, simply cover it with them for half an hour. You can get rid of dried marks using a soda-salt mixture: take equal parts, dilute thickly with water, spread, leave for a couple of hours, peel off, wipe with a damp cloth. The salt should be finely ground so that the crystals do not scratch the material.

Emergency help for fresh greasy stains on paper
Review of remedies for old greasy marks on a jacket
Preparing suede before removing grease stains

Soap

Classic laundry soap (72%) perfectly breaks down organic structures. It is enough to sprinkle a fresh greasy stain with soap shavings for 30 minutes. You can make an aqueous solution, wash the damaged area with it, and rinse with clean water. Using a sponge, you can easily remove oily shine from pockets, sleeves, and the collar of a down jacket.

Dishwashing liquid

Dishwashing detergents are originally designed to remove grease. With their help you can get rid of dirt from dishes and clothes. Just a few drops on a damp sponge, knead until strong foam appears, treat the surface of the down jacket, wait 5-10 minutes, wipe with clean water.

Starch, talc

Starch has high absorbent properties. The effect will be stronger if you combine it with the same amount of salt, add fresh lemon juice to the consistency of sour cream, cover the stain and let it dry. The lotion itself will come off along with the dirt; the remains can be wiped off with a damp cloth or sponge.

Talc and crushed chalk are good absorbents. Fill them with the mixture (1:1), cover the down jacket with a white paper sheet, press down with a weight, and leave for 8-10 hours.

Lemon juice

The fat can be lubricated with lemon juice, and after 30-40 minutes, washed with any detergent. Applying citric acid is strictly prohibited; it will ruin clothes.

Other

There are many other homemade recipes:

For light-colored fabrics, a mixture of equal parts of ammonia and hydrogen peroxide is suitable. Treat the greasy stain with a cotton swab or soft cloth soaked in it, and rinse thoroughly after 40 minutes. This method is best used before machine washing a down jacket.
An aqueous solution of ammonia works in a similar way (1 teaspoon: 0.5 cups of warm water).
A fresh stain can be sprinkled with dry wheat flour.
Grease can be easily removed with diluted hair shampoo.
You can spray shaving foam from a can on the collar and cuffs of a down jacket for a few minutes, then wash it.
Remove oily traces with a cotton swab soaked in a vinegar solution (1 part vinegar to 3 parts water), and finally rinse with clean water.
A radical remedy is purified gasoline “Galosha”. It even defeats machine oil, polyurethane foam, soot and burnt rubber. Follow the instructions on the package.

Review of popular stain removers

"Down Wash & Clean". A specialized product for cleaning down jackets in the form of a spray. Suitable for various stains, on any fabrics. The main advantage is that it does not damage the filler.

Amway PreWash Spray. Dry spray from a popular eco-company. It is effective, especially with food greasy stains, does not destroy the material of the down jacket, and contains a small amount of solvents and surfactants. It is better to apply it as first aid to clothing so that the contaminated area does not grow, then finally clean it with another product or wash it.

"Dr. Beckmann." It contains bile soap and plant components, which effectively destroys greasy marks and has a gentle effect on any material. Hypoallergenic.

"Woly Sport Down Wash" Shampoo, which was originally developed for cleaning and washing sleeping bags, sportswear and equipment. Effective, eliminates sweat and traces of deodorants. Using water, you need to prepare a stable foam, apply it to a dirty cloth, and then wipe it off with a dry cloth.

"Ecover Stain Remover". The composition includes detergents of plant and mineral origin. Effective, harmless to humans, decomposes into safe components.

Children's stain remover "Eared Nanny". Does not contain chlorine, does not wash out color, easily destroys fresh stains. This brand of washing powder has proven itself well.

Nikwax Leather Cleaner Spray. Another specialized aerosol for cleaning outerwear and removing grease stains.

"Heitmann". Active oxygen bleach, retains color, does not destroy fibers, can be used for different types of washing down jackets.

STK Sitil. A good product for caring for suede shoes, can be used for jackets and bags.

"Vanish" Popular due to advertising, easy to use, but contains chlorine. The best way to remove greasy stains from a down jacket is with a carpet cleaner of this brand.

Domestic stain removers “Antipyatnin” and “Minutka” cope with different problems. Use with caution, it may lighten the material and damage synthetics.

Store-bought products are easy to use: each one has instructions indicating the dosage, sequence of actions, and warnings. Specialized, environmentally friendly, natural products are expensive, they are not sold everywhere, and some can only be ordered via the Internet. Mass brands are cheaper, more accessible, but not always effective and safe for down jacket fabric.

In what cases is it better to dry clean a down jacket?

Winter clothing is an expensive necessity. If the area of contamination is significant, there are greasy old marks or of unknown origin, it is better to take the down jacket to the dry cleaner. Thin, delicate fabric is easy to ruin; combined items may require several different products. Down and other fillings require care and experience when handling. Sometimes it’s worth paying for a quality service rather than ruining the item yourself and regretting the loss for a long time.

Greasy marks from a down jacket can be removed at home using cheap folk methods or specialized products. But is it worth doing? Everyone decides for themselves what to do in such a situation.

The article has been verified by the editors

Drying rules

A common reason for the appearance of streaks on a down jacket is errors during drying. Drying winter clothes properly is almost more important than washing them properly. It's all about the “capricious” filler, which does not tolerate water well. Pooh can:

clump together in dense lumps;
start humming and “emitting” an unpleasant odor;
lead to the appearance of stains on the down jacket.

The choice of drying method depends on several conditions - the type of filler, the size of the “cells”, the fabric of the “top”, the washing method, the recommendations on the product label. As a rule, the manufacturer indicates the preferred drying method - horizontal or suspended. The following recommendations are general for any winter clothing:

You need to start drying your down jacket immediately after washing. Do not leave a wet product lying in the basin or drum of the machine.
Spinning in the washing machine (at minimum speed) will significantly speed up the drying process. You cannot wring out items with down filling by twisting them.
Good ventilation. The drying room should be well ventilated (the bathroom is not suitable, it is too damp there, so the drying process will be delayed).
It is correct to dry a down jacket in a straightened, unbuttoned position. Air must come from all sides. To do this, you can hang the product on hangers. If the manufacturer recommends drying a down jacket horizontally, it should be laid out on the dryer rack to ensure even drying.
Do not dry your down jacket on a radiator, heater, or in direct sunlight. The occurrence of divorces is almost inevitable.
During the drying process, the down jacket should be shaken and turned over frequently (for example, every hour). This is necessary to prevent the fluff from compacting and starting to fray. Alternatively, you can beat the fluff with blows from a carpet flapper or a stick.

In total, the drying process should take no more than two days, otherwise an unpleasant odor will appear. Only completely dried items can be put into the closet.