When cold weather sets in, each person takes out warmer outerwear from their wardrobe, which protects them from both moisture and the cold wind. Such a universal and most common outerwear is a jacket with “padding” made from natural or artificial materials.
But after wearing a jacket with down or holofiber for one season, you will certainly have to clean it, but how to wash a down jacket in a washing machine so that the down doesn’t tangle is a pressing question that can arise both during winter and after it.
Is it possible to wash a down jacket in a washing machine?
Of course, a yellowed collar, worn sleeves and a darkened hem are the main reasons why a jacket should be washed. And then the question arises: is it possible to wash it in a washing machine, especially if its “filling” is natural feathers and down.
The thing is that the exact answer is contained on the tag sewn into your jacket. If it indicates that such a product can be washed in an automatic machine, then feel free to put it in the drum.
But if you can only use delicate manual or dry cleaning, then you can forget about an automatic machine.
So, if you know about the upcoming cold snap and are aware that you will soon need outerwear, you can wash your down jacket, but only in the way indicated on the tag left by the manufacturer. If you find out whether it can be washed, then you need to follow some rules that will help keep your clothes in proper condition.
After all, when asking questions about the possibility of automatic cleaning, you probably assumed that a down jacket could be damaged, at least by soapy “drawings”, and at most by filler matted or knocked out of the seams.
Washing or cleaning
We often give in to difficulties and follow the path of least resistance: we simply take our clothes to the dry cleaner. But this option has several disadvantages:
- The people to whom you entrusted your down jacket are not responsible for the results of the work. It turns out that you cannot be indignant and demand compensation for damage caused to the item if they return to you something that only vaguely resembles a warm jacket. And this is the most compelling argument against this service.
- The second disadvantage is the high cost of dry cleaning. You are spending money on something you could do yourself for free. Naturally, we advise you to work a little, so that later you can confidently say that you have mastered all the intricacies of handling the most capricious detail of your wardrobe. But if you are not confident in your own abilities, it is better to trust the professionals and rely on their competence.
Preparing a down jacket for washing
If you find out that your jacket can be washed in a washing machine, then you need to prepare it properly. How to properly wash a down jacket depends on its further appearance after washing. The main problem that can await you when washing a down jacket is stray pieces of filler.
Therefore, for gentle and more efficient operation, automatic machines use special balls or ordinary tennis balls. Washing in an automatic machine, even on the most gentle mode, will certainly lead to the fact that the “stuffing” begins to fall off.
If you wash it in a washing machine with balls, you can avoid this.
Of course, washing without balls is also quite possible, but when washing in a machine with tennis balls, they will perform a kind of “massage” function. Spinning together with the jacket in the drum, they help wash without streaks due to additional pressure on the filler (as if squeezing the detergent out of the fluff), and each ball washes out the clumps, thereby “beating” and distributing them evenly.
Rules
Modern washing machines have many washing modes, so washing a down jacket in a washing machine is easy. There is no need to adjust mode settings. Just press the desired button to start the washing process. You can select additional settings, including water temperature, spin speed and extra rinse.
A down jacket will be washed in an automatic washing machine in about 2 hours. At the end of the wash, you will remove the item from the drum that will be semi-dry. Drying will take several hours. Select a mode based on the information printed on the down jacket label. Monitor the temperature and the speed at which things are squeezed out. More information on how to wash a jacket in a washing machine will be discussed below.
Temperature
In order for the product to retain its thermal insulation properties and appearance, you need to know at what temperature to wash your down jacket. If the jacket is made of synthetic fibers, feather or down fillings, the temperature should not be set above +40°C. Too high temperatures lead to deformation of the jacket and the formation of lumps from the filler.
It will take a lot of time and effort to straighten them. If the unpleasant situation is not corrected, the down jacket can be thrown away. Because it will no longer be suitable for everyday wear. If you want to straighten out the lumps and return the product to a beautiful appearance, you will have to use dry cleaning services.
Expensive and high-quality clothing contains examples of coating and filling, which are contained in compact bags. With the help of such samples, you can conduct tests to understand how to properly wash a jacket in a washing machine, i.e. how the material reacts to mechanical stress. Most often, down jackets are washed in a cycle from +30°C to +40°C.
This mode is enough to remove dirt from the jacket, as well as preserve the thermal insulation properties of the filler.
Program
When you start washing, study the composition of the down jacket to know whether the down jacket can be washed in a washing machine. Most modern jackets consist of synthetic fillers and a membrane layer.
Such materials lose some of their physical properties with frequent drum rotations:
- thermal conductivity;
- form support.
It is better to wash down jackets manually or on a delicate cycle. If your machine has a mode for washing synthetic sports suits, it will work.
How to dry a down jacket correctly
It is known that washing a feather down jacket is only half the battle; the rest of the time is spent on proper drying. Naturally, it’s easier to use a special dryer and dry the down jacket on it using electricity. But not everyone has such a device, so you have to dry the item outside (balcony). But in damp weather this will be problematic, so many can try drying with a hairdryer or near a radiator.
How to dry a jacket
The first and most important rule is only vertically. A horizontal position will ruin the item, especially if the filler inside gets wet and forms clumps. Nothing good will come of it if you lay your clothes on a towel - they simply won’t dry.
Don’t think that the very next morning after washing you can go to work in your favorite down jacket - it will still be too damp. Wait two days. This time is enough for your jacket to take on its previous appearance.
Take the time to fluff up the insulation after contact with water. This can be done with a simple beater, which you use to rid the carpet of dust accumulated in it. Walk over all areas several times so that the insulation under the fabric does not turn into one sticky lump.
If the weather outside is damp and chilly, remove the item from the balcony and place it near the heating device. But do not forget that you cannot dry such clothes:
- directly on the radiator;
- near an open fire.
How to iron a dry jacket? Is it necessary to do this at all? Not all models require ironing. If there are wrinkled places that irritate you and spoil the appearance of the product, we recommend vertical steaming or ironing at 110 degrees.
Returning the down jacket to its original appearance
Of course, if you get your down jacket dirty, washing is inevitable, no matter what the weather is like outside. But if washing a down jacket ends with the formation of lumps from the filler, then do not despair and throw the item away.
The main steps are as follows:
- Try to distribute the “clumps” with your hands;
- Take a vacuum cleaner and with light chaotic movements (without stopping in one place), from the inside out, go over each “square” with a tube without a nozzle;
- Try beating the inside out with a carpet beater;
- If this does not help, re-wash the jacket with the tourmaline spheres.
How to refresh fur?
If it is artificial, then it is enough to rinse it in a solution of water and detergent . Do not apply excessive force, just rinse lightly.
After this, rinse under running water. Do not comb wet fur, but wait until it dries slightly.
The natural edge cannot be wetted under any circumstances . To refresh, you can treat it with table vinegar, after moistening a cotton swab with it.
You can find detailed instructions on cleaning fur on a down jacket at this link.
Washing a down jacket at home in a washing machine
Naturally, do not wear down jackets, they will still get dirty over time and will need cleaning.
Therefore, to wash down jackets at home without unnecessary delays, follow the basic rules:
- When washing, use high-quality (preferably liquid) household chemicals;
- When washing any down jackets, turn on the gentle (gentle) mode with a temperature no higher than 30-40°.
- Set the spin speed to low (no more than 400-600 rpm).
- After the washing unit has washed and wrung out, repeat the rinsing and squeezing procedure.
- Dry on the back of a chair or on a hanger (hanging on the door) in a ventilated place.
Traditional methods
In addition to traditional washing, traditional cleaning methods are used to care for bedding.
Soaking with lemon juice
Dissolve the juice of five large lemons, strained from the seeds, in 3 liters of warm water. Place covers with filler in the solution. After two hours, the down and feathers will become much whiter, acquire a pleasant smell, and be cleansed of dirt and germs.
Dry cleaning with baking soda and tea tree essential oil
A good cleaning and disinfecting effect is achieved by dry treating a feather or down pillow with baking soda (100 g), lightly moistened with tea oil (10-15 drops). Cleaning is carried out as follows:
- Place the powder on the bottom of the basin;
- Place a pillow in it, clean the cover on all sides, rubbing it with soda;
- Leave for 1 hour;
- Vacuuming.
Thanks to the procedures, washing a pillow or dry cleaning is delayed for 2-3 months.
How to wash a down jacket by hand
If you do not find a machine wash permit on the tag, then you need to know how to wash a down jacket at home without using equipment. If washing a down jacket is only allowed by hand, you can wash it in the bath. The same rules apply for water and detergent temperatures as for automatic washing.
First, you fill your outerwear with a bath of diluted product and then soak it for a while. The most problematic areas can be washed separately, and then using a shower (after hanging it on a hanger) rinse off the detergent.
So we’ve figured out how you can wash your outerwear yourself, without resorting to dry cleaning services. It’s better to clean the down jacket yourself and not pay a lot of money for almost the same procedure. The main thing is to follow the basic rules.
- Replacing the hatch cuff of a Samsung washing machine
- Replacing heating element in a Bosch washing machine
Removing stains
The first thing to do is inspect the down jacket. In some cases, it turns out that washing a down jacket is not necessary, but superficial cleaning is sufficient. To combat stains, use special detergents. Those who doubt their relevance first test using an inconspicuous area of the jacket.
If there is no particular contamination, the item is wiped with a sponge. Stains containing a greasy component can be dissolved using gasoline. A soft swab is processed in it, and then the dirt is impregnated with it. Talc, salt, starch - a substance that is an absorbent - are poured over the stain. The stain must be rubbed, and then the remaining substances must be removed. If the need arises, they repeat everything. Then the item is wiped with a damp cloth.
The stain remover removes all kinds of stains. To a glass of water you need to add two teaspoons of the components - ammonia and liquid detergent. The foam is whipped and distributed over the surfaces of contaminated areas. After a few minutes, it is blotted with a sponge.
If the stain has become embedded in the fabric, it can be discolored (the method is not suitable for brightly colored down jackets). Mix ammonia and hydrogen peroxide in half and wipe problem areas with the resulting liquid.
What to do with defects that arise after the procedure?
It happens that after wet cleaning, the jacket changes for the worse - it becomes shapeless or with fluff sticking out. This is possible if the washing rules are not followed or the wrong mode on the machine is selected.
There is a way out of this situation. If the filler is very crumpled, knead it with your hands and try to distribute it evenly. If this does not help, then wash the product, but according to all the rules and using balls.
It happens that conspicuous whitish stains remain on the fabric (detergent that has not been completely washed off). They are easy to remove after rinsing again.
For productivity, you can additionally go over them with a cleaning brush. Yellow streaks remain from improper drying.
Find out about proper washing of down jackets without streaks and lumps in this article.
If you have difficulty straightening out the fluff, you can read this article, or padding polyester - this publication.
How and with what to clean a down jacket from greasy conditions without washing and streaks
If you need to remove stains in certain areas or there is a symbol on the label that prohibits washing, you can use special or folk remedies. The main thing is to choose compounds that indicate that they are suitable for down jackets. It is best to use the following options:
- Sprays. Apply to a dry or slightly damp cloth and leave for the time recommended by the manufacturer. Remove any residue with a damp cloth or soft brush.
- Powders. Rub into areas with stains, then rinse gently with water or another method, if indicated.
- Pastes and gels. Apply according to the instructions, wait for the prescribed time, and then treat with a damp cloth or brush.
- Mix starch and fine salt in equal proportions. Add a little water to make the mixture moist. Rub into stains, leave for a while, then remove with a damp sponge.
- Aviation gasoline. It removes greasy stains well, you need to moisten a napkin in it, treat the stains, and leave for 10-15 minutes. Wipe with a damp sponge, hang in fresh air, the smell will disappear.
- Add a teaspoon of ammonia and the same amount of dishwashing detergent to 100 ml of water. Beat for 2-3 minutes, apply foam to the stains. Leave for a while, remove the remains with a damp cloth.
Advice! All products should first be tried on an inconspicuous area on the inside to make sure that they do not damage or discolor the fabric.
Some stains can be easily removed with water and dishwashing detergent. Another option is a solution of a glass of water and a spoon of vinegar; it should be used for natural fabrics; it can be harmful to synthetics. If possible, it is better to use special formulations; when they are not available, try folk remedies.
Absolutely forbidden
- soaking a down jacket, except for items filled with padding polyester;
- use water above 30 degrees for washing;
- use laundry detergents that contain bleaching or coloring ingredients;
- never use regular powder that is not intended for washing a down jacket, as this can completely ruin the item;
- neglect thorough rinsing;
- dry things for more than two days, it is better to use a heat source, but just do not hang the down jacket, for example, on a heating radiator, it is better to hang it nearby;
- dry in a horizontal position, on a blanket, towel or other materials that retain moisture, as the process of rotting may begin in the fluff;
- store in compressed or damp form;
- Ironing should be done at temperatures above 110 degrees;
- If you steam a product, do it only in a gentle mode.
