Uniqlo clothing is in high demand, especially among young people. Their outerwear is warm and comfortable, yet completely weightless, including their down jackets. Furthermore, Uniqlo down jackets are very affordable. However, to ensure such a wonderful item lasts a long time, it needs to be properly cared for. If you're careless about washing or drying, your down jacket can be ruined forever. Let's figure out how to properly machine wash and dry a Uniqlo down jacket.
Preliminary preparation
First, it's a good idea to check the product tag. It provides very clear and concise care instructions. Some people skip the process and dry-clean their down jackets, but two dry-cleaning sessions equal the price of a new jacket. Therefore, it's best to follow the manufacturer's recommendations and clean the item yourself, assuming the manufacturer allows for washing.
Choosing the right detergent is crucial. When choosing, be sure to keep a few things in mind.
Dry powders are absolutely not recommended, as they are difficult to wash out and leave streaks on the surface.
Do not use bleach.
You cannot use regular fabric softeners, as they will cause the down jacket's filling to stick together, which will deform its shape and reduce its heat retention.
As a primary detergent, you can purchase a special detergent for down jackets, which is now available at most major supermarkets. If you can't find one, use a liquid detergent for wool as an alternative.
Before washing outerwear, be sure to:
unfasten the hood, fur, collar, belt and other removable elements;
empty your pockets;
fasten the zippers and buttons.
Before washing your down jacket in the washing machine, we recommend turning it inside out. If there are heavy stains, pre-treat them locally with a stain remover.
Is it possible to use the "machine"?
For best stain removal, don't soak your down jacket in water before washing. Washing gels and capsules tackle any stain with maximum effectiveness and gentleness.
Important! Do not select a program that heats the water to more than 30 degrees!
Therefore, you can select the following modes: “Quick wash”, “Delicate mode”, “Down blanket”.
How do you preserve the filling's structure when machine washing? Use special laundry balls. You'll need six for each down jacket. Distribute them throughout the garment as follows:
one in each sleeve;
one in each pocket;
one inside the product;
Place one in the drum on top of the down jacket.
During the washing process, the balls actively come into contact with the filler and prevent it from clumping. If you don't have any balls on hand, you can replace them with tennis balls, which are sold at any sporting goods store. It's best to turn off the spin function, as it can damage the filling structure. However, rinsing is recommended, as it ensures no detergent residue remains on the item.
You'll need to wring out the down jacket by hand after the cycle is complete. First, gently press it with your hands to remove excess water, then shake it out a few times on the balcony or over the bathtub.
Vigorous wringing, twisting, or any other mechanical stress on a wet down jacket is not recommended (this is why we disable the spin cycle), as this will cause deformation and loss of the garment's attractive appearance. Washing two down jackets at the same time is not recommended, even if their combined load weight does not exceed the maximum allowable load. This will increase the risk of damage, and the cleaning performance will be reduced.
We wash it in the traditional way
When it comes to delicate items, hand washing is always better than machine washing. However, hand-cleaning a down jacket requires a lot of patience. For this procedure, you will need a large container in which you can place the down jacket without bending or crushing it. Typically a bath is used.
Generally, it's recommended to wash down jackets in cold water, but for your comfort, you can warm the water to room temperature to prevent your hands from freezing. Furthermore, any detergent dissolves better in warm water. This slight warming won't affect the garment.
Treat the dirtiest areas (usually cuffs, upper pockets, collar) with a solution of laundry soap or dishwashing liquid.
The procedure for manual cleaning of a down product is as follows:
Find out the required dosage of detergent and add this amount to the bath water, beat it with your hands to create foam;
carefully immerse the down jacket in water, making sure that the entire surface is saturated with water;
leave in this position for 15 minutes;
go over the surface of the product with a sponge or soft brush;
drain the water and squeeze the product using light pressure with your hands;
Rinse the down jacket several times, refreshing the water.
The rinsing process is no less important for the structure of the filling than the washing itself. The better the detergent is washed out of the fibers, the faster the down will straighten out inside the down jacket after drying. After rinsing, the down jacket should be wrung out again. This time, it's easier to do this by hanging the jacket vertically over the bathtub. This way, most of the excess water will drain off naturally.
The advantage of manual cleaning is that you can monitor the cleaning results at every stage. If you notice that a particular area hasn't been cleaned well, you can always perform a second round of cleaning or simply treat the problem areas with additional detergent.
How to remove moisture from a Uniqlo down jacket?
It's crucial to dry your down item properly after cleaning. After gently wringing out the product by hand, follow these steps:
unbutton your jacket;
turn it right side out again;
Take your pockets out.
Hang the down jacket on a hanger with wide shoulders, then zip it up again after a while. It's best to place it on a balcony for good air circulation. Avoid direct sunlight, however. Shake the jacket periodically. It is also useful to knead the product a little with your hands from time to time so that the filling fluffs up and the lumps dissolve.
To speed up drying, you can use a hairdryer. Make sure the air is warm, not hot! Ironing your down jacket is strictly prohibited.
Please note! You can only wear your down jacket once it's completely dry!
Otherwise, you risk the filler clumping, developing an unpleasant odor, and even mold.
Uniqlo clothing is in high demand, especially among young people. Their outerwear is warm and comfortable, yet completely weightless, including their down jackets. Furthermore, Uniqlo down jackets are very affordable. However, to ensure such a wonderful item lasts a long time, it needs to be properly cared for. If you're careless about washing or drying, your down jacket can be ruined forever. Let's figure out how to properly machine wash and dry a Uniqlo down jacket.
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