Washing camel hair

Camel wool down jacket: reviews, models and manufacturers

Every time the temperature drops, you want to wrap yourself in warm, stylish, high-quality and at the same time luxurious outerwear. The solution is simple and obvious! New collections of outerwear for 2021 introduced another fashion trend - a down jacket made of camel hair, reviews of which are of genuine interest to new buyers who have not encountered such models before. This type of insulation has been tested for several seasons and is gaining increasing popularity.

Thermal qualities of camel wool

Women's down jacket made of camel hair (reviews leave no doubt about this) is in constant demand. All this is thanks to the excellent thermal properties of the material. Camel wool is an insulation gift from nature itself. Even ancient nomadic peoples used camel hair to maintain body temperature. It accumulated heat and treated many diseases. The material does not provoke sweating. It is also a source of dry heat. Wool has hygroscopic properties and relieves static tension. It is hypoallergenic and even soothes irritated skin.

A distinctive feature of camel wool is the hollow structure of the hairs, as a result of which it protects from cold, gives off excess heat and “breathes”. Clothes made from this fiber are very light and warm. Camel wool does not electrify, protects against electromagnetic radiation and has the properties of repelling dust. What other qualities are needed for an ideal outerwear filler? Reviewed for its thermal properties as a priority for many, the camel wool down jacket has all the necessary characteristics to provide you with a comfortable and fashionable look this winter.

Features of insulation

Camel hair or down belongs to the category of quite expensive insulation materials. In this capacity, they are used mainly for the manufacture of jackets, coats, and down jackets. Every year technology goes further and further. New fashion: down jackets made of camel hair (reviews greatly increase the popularity of the trend) are considered the most optimal option for outerwear for cold winters. And that is why we will talk about them.

Camel wool is an ideal non-woven material with natural properties. Externally, it does not allow moisture to pass through, but inside it has the ability to absorb 33% of liquid in relation to its own weight. In general, camel wool is half the weight of sheep wool. It is also more durable to use. Wool is made from the hair of the Bactrian camel. This animal lives in Africa, Western, Central and Eastern Asia. These countries are the world's suppliers of camel wool to the market.

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.

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

1. Active bleaches and aggressive substances in the composition can damage the color of the fabric.
2. The powder is difficult to rinse out of the fluff, so soapy stains remain on things.
3. 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.

How to properly wash a down jacket.
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.

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.

Impregnation for down.

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.

We suggest you read: Is it possible to wash a cloth for wiping glasses?

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

1. 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.
2. If this does not help, you can re-immerse the down jacket in the washing machine and rinse the product 1-2 times additionally.
3. A more reliable method is to wash again, but using less detergent.
4. 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.

Stains on a down jacket after an unsuccessful wash.

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. If this does not help, the lumps of natural filler can be “fluffed” with your hands, pulling them through the fabric into smaller fragments.
4. 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.
5. 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.

After washing the down jacket, the down became clumps.

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

1. The item was soaked for too long before washing.
2. Didn't wash well.
3. 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.

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.

A little about camels

According to world standards, the highest quality is Bactrian fluff and wool from Mongolia. This is a camel weighing about half a ton with two humps on its back. They are covered with thick, dense hair that protects the animal from wind, temperature changes and dust. The coat is heterogeneous and consists of coarse outer hairs and a layer of warm inner fluff, which is called undercoat and is much more valuable. Its percentage of the total wool weight is 85%. From one Bactrian camel you can get 8-10 kg of finished material per year.

Recommendations for selection

A high-quality down jacket is characterized by light weight, which can range from one and a half to two kilograms. The materials from which the product is made must “breathe” and not “suffocate” from the heat in the room, and then “freeze” from moisture vapor outside. A high-quality down jacket should keep you warm outside even in severe frosts down to -20 or -30 degrees, comfortable in the car and for a short time in a public room, despite temperature changes.

A down jacket made of camel wool (reviews on how to choose a down jacket, along with recommendations, are extremely in demand in the winter season) must meet several simple criteria:

— The quality of the upper texture. — The quality of seams and joints, their tensile strength.

— The presence of a demonstration slot or pocket, through which you can immediately check the compliance of the inner filling of the down jacket with the declared option.

— The presence of fur or other decorative trim, which will add luxury and exclusivity to the style, since the base down jacket itself can look ordinary.

— A practical shade that will eliminate the need for frequent washing and extend the life of clothing.

— The compatibility of the shape, design and color of the down jacket with most outfits in your winter wardrobe, because you are buying a practical item for almost every day and it should meet your expectations without causing discomfort in styling.

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.

We suggest you read How to wash a fur vest

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Camel hair filler: reviews

A down jacket is an indispensable element of a women's seasonal wardrobe. It should be warm, beautiful and practical. These are three criteria of primary importance. The beauty of a product can be assessed by its appearance, practicality is checked when worn, and warmth can only be calculated based on an analysis of the constituent materials, as well as during the first fitting. That is why you should immediately study reviews of high-quality down jacket insulation and rely on them when choosing your own model.

Modern manufacturers of products lined with camel wool no longer use coarse top pile, but fabrics made from the downy underfur of valuable varieties. This down jacket will have less volume compared to traditional models, and it is also extremely light and warm, which can be felt from the first try on.

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.

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.

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).

If there is no special program for fluff, it is recommended to select one of the delicate modes.

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.

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.

We suggest you read: Can sneakers be washed in a washing machine?

Special balls for washing.

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.

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.

Down jacket finishing elements

One of the most important components of down jacket models is the decoration with fur inserts. They are present in the collar area, along the edge of the hood and cuffs. Most often, a down jacket made of camel hair (reviews from the female audience focus on this almost the main attention) is decorated with mink, arctic fox, silver fox, rabbit or faux fur.

Additional finishing includes leather belts, inserts, lacing, buttons, zippers and other fasteners. You can find models trimmed with shiny rhinestones or with antique-worn iron elements (this nuance is popular in winter 2021).