How to wash a coat in a washing machine?

washing a coat in a machine Can I wash my coat in the washing machine? This is a question often asked by homeowners after their favorite piece of outerwear gets so dirty that they can't wear it in public. The general recommendation from manufacturers of such clothing is not to wash coats in an automatic washing machine.

However, experience tells us otherwise. If you take all the nuances into account, in some cases, a coat can still be washed in a washing machine. Read this article to learn how.

Is it prohibited to wash a coat in a washing machine?

Whether or not a coat can be washed in a washing machine depends on the item itself. Specifically, it depends on the fabric it's made from, the quality of the stitching, the quality of the dyeing, and much more. Few people understand the quality of coat making, so for most, an accurate assessment of this factor is impossible.

You can assess the quality of the fabric's dyeing by soaking an inconspicuous area of the coat in warm water for an hour and observing the color. If the fabric has faded and the water has turned a characteristic color, then washing the item is definitely out of the question. The most important thing to consider is the type of fabric your coat is made of.

It's best not to machine wash a wool coat, or more specifically, one with a high wool content, even if your machine has a hand wash option and you have special wool washing powder. It's best to hand wash such a coat very gently in lukewarm water, and it's even better to dry it. You can read more about washing wool items in this article. How to wash woolen items?
This coat is made of synthetic fabrics (polyester). This coat is machine washable. Simply select any gentle cycle, turn off the spin cycle, and set the temperature to no higher than 40°C. ⁰C – the wash will go perfectly and the result will be excellent.
A cashmere coat should definitely not be machine washed. In 99% of cases, even with the utmost care, it will be ruined. Moreover, hand washing is contraindicated for cashmere clothing, not just machine washing. Furthermore, getting such a coat wet is a death sentence, so try to dry clean it.
A drape coat is slightly more resistant to washing, so you can risk hand washing it. And, of course, don't use a washing machine. Machine washing will ruin the item. It's best to wash a drape coat in batches, avoiding getting it completely wet. Dry cleaning is even better.

Important! If your coat is heavily soiled and you don't want to risk washing it, take it to a dry cleaner and trust the professionals.

Preparing to wash your coat

You should prepare your coat for washing carefully, because the final result depends on the quality of preparation. First of all, you need to study the information label that the manufacturer sewed onto the item.You'll likely see a basin symbol with two lines through it—this means the manufacturer strictly prohibits washing coats. If you don't see this symbol or are willing to take the risk, consider the following expert advice.

Before washing, check the percentage of natural fibers in your coat. If the percentage is higher than 65%, avoid machine washing and hand wash only locally, as getting the coat wet will cause shrinkage, pilling, and other problems.
The detergent must be machine washable, liquid, and suitable for the type of fabric and color of the item.
Before washing, inspect your coat for any bonded elements. If there are any, keep in mind that they will likely fall off during washing.
Before washing, coat pockets should be cleared of small change and any other items.
Before washing, test the coat fabric for dye fastness, as described above.
Take into account any information contained on the coat label (washing temperature, drying options, spin dry, etc.).

Please note! When preparing to wash your coat automatically, consider the machine's specifications. First, consider the drum capacity and maximum load capacity, as well as the washing programs available.

Machine Washing a Coat: A Step-by-Step Guide

washing a synthetic coat in a washing machine Once you've decided to machine wash your coat and thoroughly prepared for the process, you're ready to begin. Experts have prepared a brief step-by-step guide on how to wash a coat in an automatic washing machine; let's take a look.

Empty the washing machine drum of any other dirty laundry. Washing an item like a coat should only be done in splendid isolation.
Pour liquid detergent for delicate fabrics into the detergent drawer. It is not recommended to pour the detergent into the drum. Fabric softener or dry detergent should also not be used.
Turn the coat inside out and then carefully place it in the washing machine drum. Do not twist or roll the coat.
Close the washing machine drawer and door, and select one of the available delicate wash cycles at low speed. Disable the automatic spin and dry cycles; these functions cannot be used on any coat.
Adjust the default temperature setting of your washing machine. If you're washing a polyester coat, set it to 40°C. ⁰C, if the item is made of other materials, then the temperature should be set lower.
Start the wash cycle and wait until it's finished. Then, remove the coat from the drum and hang it on a hanger over a basin to remove excess moisture.

Important! After washing, it's crucial to rinse your coat thoroughly (to prevent detergent stains). To do this, you'll need to enable the extra rinse cycle.

How to dry a coat without ruining it?

Experts working in the best dry cleaners in the country claim: "...washing a coat properly is only half the battle; to prevent it from getting ruined, you also need to dry it properly..." Indeed, improper drying can create unsightly creases and dents in coats, which even a steamer can't remove. Therefore, it's better to do everything right the first time than to rack your brains later on how to iron a clean coat.

So, to avoid ruining your coat, you need to “take three successful steps”:

wash the item correctly;
remove water without wringing the item;
dry the item.

As noted above, first remove excess water from the coat by letting it drain. Next, lay the coat flat (preferably on a drying rack) and dry it until damp. The coat should be dried directly on a hanger, away from heat sources and direct sunlight. During the drying process, the coat must be straightened every 3-4 hours to prevent creases and wrinkles from appearing.

Removing stains from coats without washing

coat cleaning If washing a coat by hand or machine is not an option, you'll need to take steps to clean it. Whether you wash a coat or not, you'll need to remove dirt somehow. That's why wet or dry cleaning can be very effective.

Dry cleaning is excellent for removing surface dirt. It involves methodical mechanical action on the fabric, which helps remove dried-on dirt from its surface. Dry cleaning a coat this way requires a soft brush and patience. With due diligence, all surface dirt will be removed.

If there's ingrained dirt on the coat's fabric, it will need to be removed by wet cleaning. Wet cleaning utilizes the dissolving properties of the foam in cleaning products and mechanical action. Vanish carpet cleaner is often used to clean coats; according to housewives, it is non-aggressive and does not damage the fabric. How to wet clean with this product?

Dissolve two capfuls of the product in a few liters of warm water and lather thoroughly. Next, take a sponge, collect the foam, and apply it to the coat. Let the foam sit for 10 minutes to allow the product to adhere to the dirt, then remove it and the dirt with a soft brush. After this procedure, most of the dirt will be removed, and the coat will be slightly damp.

Please note! After wet cleaning, the coat must be dried on a hanger, shaking and adjusting it periodically during drying to prevent creasing.

To summarize, any coat made from natural fabrics cannot be machine washed. In fact, such an item cannot be washed at all, but can be thoroughly cleaned. As for coats made from synthetic fabrics, they can be machine washed, but certain rules must still be followed. For information on how to wash a synthetic-lined coat or down jacket, watch the video.