A down jacket is a very comfortable item. It protects you from the cold and keeps you warm in the winter. Many people wear down jackets. And with prolonged wear, any garment gets dirty. So the question arises: how to properly wash a down jacket in a washing machine? It's important to wash it correctly. After all, with proper washing, it will retain its beneficial properties for a long time. It's essential to use the right programs, set the correct spin cycle, and dry. Below, we'll discuss these and other issues related to washing this type of clothing.
It's quite strange that not everyone pays attention to the label when buying a down jacket. After all, it's on the label that we find the information that tells us how to wash it, whether it can be ironed, and so on.
It's important to read the care label attached to an item before purchasing it. You may learn that some items are machine washable and can only be hand washed or dry cleaned.
Light-colored fabrics tend to get dirty quite quickly. So, if you're buying a white down jacket, be sure to check that it's machine washable. After all, if manufacturers recommend hand washing, you'll waste a lot of time. And if they recommend dry cleaning only, you risk spending quite a bit of money.
A down jacket is a garment that uses down as insulation. The word "down" on the label tells us that this garment is highly insulated. It should be handled with care. It offers excellent protection from winter cold and is rarely found on the market. The next set of symbols, "50/50," tells us that the insulation is a blend of down and feathers. The ratio is fifty-fifty.
This product is suitable for moderately cold weather. A higher down filling level indicates a warmer jacket. Incidentally, down is indicated by the first number. Down is also quite lightweight. Therefore, down jackets with a high down filling level are not heavy. Down jackets that do not use down are also common. They are filled with wool, wadding, or synthetic padding. These are designated on the labels as follows:
Cotton (cotton) – cotton wool,
Wool – wool,
Polyester (polyester) – synthetic padding.
Preparing a down jacket before washing
When washing down jackets, it is advisable to use liquid washing powder rather than regular washing powder. You can also use a detergent specifically designed for this type of clothing. This is especially important if your down jacket is made of a material that's easily soiled, as you'll be washing it frequently.
We won't be promoting specific brands of similar detergents for washing down jackets here. To purchase one, please contact a hardware store or the household cleaning section of a hypermarket.
Before washing, remove all items from the down jacket's pockets. It's also a good idea to inspect it for stains or dirty areas. The following areas are often soiled:
Pocket area,
Cuff area,
Collar area.
If you find heavily soiled areas, it's a good idea to treat them (wipe them) with soap. Laundry soap is ideal, but not dark. Even better, replace it with a special stain-removing soap.
The zipper should be closed. All other closing elements, such as buttons, rivets, and fasteners, should also be fastened. Experts recommend turning your down jacket inside out before washing. It's best to wash one down jacket at a time. If you decide to wash more than one at a time, there's a risk that the garment won't be cleaned properly or that the rinse cycle won't remove the detergent from the fabric. It's also not recommended to wash your down jacket with other items of clothing.
Before washing, it's important to pay attention to the seams. If fluff is oozing out, there's a chance washing will ruin the item.
Washing
A down jacket needs to be washed properly. This will help it stay clean, beautiful, and wearable for a long time. To begin washing, we need to select a washing cycle. This type of clothing requires specific washing conditions. You shouldn't choose a temperature above 30 degrees. Thirty degrees is the optimal temperature. Next, select a wash cycle for delicate fabrics, such as wool, synthetics, or another similar option. These cycles produce gentle washing results, so no fluff should be coming out of the seams.
It's also important to choose a washing program that includes an extra rinse. Or add it using a separate function. A down jacket is a very dense item, so this precaution will help you thoroughly remove detergent. Excessive spinning can cause the down inside the jacket to bunch up, so avoid using it.
In addition, it is better to use special washing balls. They improve the washing quality of your down jacket. There are several different types of these balls. Which one to choose is up to you. These balls are usually inexpensive. If you want to save money and avoid buying them, you can use a couple of tennis balls (not to be confused with ping-pong balls). If the tennis balls are of poor quality, they may fade. Therefore, you may want to test the first wash without the down jacket, washing only the balls.
Drying a down jacket
After washing, remove the down jacket and open all the fasteners. Unzip it. Then, notice how the down is arranged. It usually clumps in its compartments. Try to straighten it out, so it's evenly distributed throughout the compartments. Then hang it on a hanger. This is how it should dry.
Some people believe it's best to dry a down jacket lying flat on towels. Unfortunately, this method can damage the jacket. The down may not dry completely and may begin to rot. This will cause an unpleasant odor. The down's insulating properties will also be impaired.
Do not dry a down jacket using hot air. This means you shouldn't use a radiator, heater, or other devices to dry your down jacket. This will damage the feathers. The best drying option is to create free air circulation and a warm temperature in the area where the down jacket is located.
While drying, you can gently shake the down jacket to distribute the down evenly throughout the cells. If the item is wrinkled, use a steamer instead of an iron.
The fluff has gone astray!
If your washing isn't successful and all the down has turned into clumps, and despite your best efforts, you can't get it back into shape, you've violated one of the washing instructions. Or, for some reason, your washing machine may have run the wrong program. In this case, we recommend rewashing the down jacket with special laundry balls. If necessary, you can repeat the process 2-3 times.
I want to share my joy. My favorite down jacket washed perfectly without any creases! I was worried: it was a brand-name down jacket, expensive. It turned out to be very simple: Wash at 30 degrees Celsius with liquid sportswear detergent, which I placed in a special container directly into the machine. Set the cycle to sportswear. Spin at 800 rpm. Dry on a gentle cycle at a low temperature. The result: 40 minutes of washing and 40 minutes of drying. That's it: the down jacket is as good as new. You can put it on and go right away!
A down jacket is a very comfortable item. It protects you from the cold and keeps you warm in the winter. Many people wear down jackets. And with prolonged wear, any garment gets dirty. So the question arises: how to properly wash a down jacket in a washing machine? It's important to wash it correctly. After all, with proper washing, it will retain its beneficial properties for a long time. It's essential to use the right programs, set the correct spin cycle, and dry. Below, we'll discuss these and other issues related to washing this type of clothing.
A down jacket is a garment that uses down as insulation. The word "down" on the label tells us that this garment is highly insulated. It should be handled with care. It offers excellent protection from winter cold and is rarely found on the market. The next set of symbols, "50/50," tells us that the insulation is a blend of down and feathers. The ratio is fifty-fifty.
When washing down jackets, it is advisable to use liquid washing powder rather than regular washing powder. You can also use a detergent specifically designed for this type of clothing. This is especially important if your down jacket is made of a material that's easily soiled, as you'll be washing it frequently.
A down jacket needs to be washed properly. This will help it stay clean, beautiful, and wearable for a long time. To begin washing, we need to select a washing cycle. This type of clothing requires specific washing conditions. You shouldn't choose a temperature above 30 degrees. Thirty degrees is the optimal temperature. Next, select a wash cycle for delicate fabrics, such as wool, synthetics, or another similar option. These cycles produce gentle washing results, so no fluff should be coming out of the seams.
After washing, remove the down jacket and open all the fasteners. Unzip it. Then, notice how the down is arranged. It usually clumps in its compartments. Try to straighten it out, so it's evenly distributed throughout the compartments. Then hang it on a hanger. This is how it should dry.
I want to share my joy. My favorite down jacket washed perfectly without any creases! I was worried: it was a brand-name down jacket, expensive. It turned out to be very simple: Wash at 30 degrees Celsius with liquid sportswear detergent, which I placed in a special container directly into the machine. Set the cycle to sportswear. Spin at 800 rpm. Dry on a gentle cycle at a low temperature. The result: 40 minutes of washing and 40 minutes of drying. That's it: the down jacket is as good as new. You can put it on and go right away!
I forgot to add an important detail: I washed and dried it with tennis balls (6 tennis balls).