Eco-down, which has recently become popular, is used as a warm and environmentally friendly filler in winter clothing. The properties of the material allow you to feel comfortable at low air temperatures, not inferior to products made from natural fur. To extend the life of down jackets, jackets and warm trousers, you need to know how to wash bio-down in a washing machine and manually, how to choose the right detergent and how to dry clothes without changing the appearance and quality.
Rules for washing bio fluff in a washing machine
Most down jackets with eco-down can be washed in an automatic machine, following simple recommendations:
- Pre-cleaning of the most contaminated areas of the jacket.
- Using liquid detergent.
- Mandatory selection of the delicate wash program.
- Installing an additional rinse and reducing the speed in the spin mode to 400-600 per minute.
Compliance with these rules will allow you to wash the item efficiently and not spoil it.
Mode selection
Modern washing machines allow you to choose the optimal washing mode for any type of fabric. The peculiarity of winter outerwear is that the dense covering material is combined with a delicate filler. When washing a down jacket with eco-down in an automatic washing machine, you need to choose the mode recommended for caring for delicate fabrics or an analogue of the manual method. The difference between a soft washing program is a decrease in the intensity of the main cycle, as well as a decrease in the number of revolutions during the spin cycle.
Temperature selection
Bio fluff should be washed at a temperature of 30 to 40 degrees. It is impossible to overheat the filler, as it will lose the necessary qualities, and too cold water will not remove contaminants. The housewife should know whether it is possible to wash an item with bio-down in a washing machine if the model of the equipment does not provide automatic programs. In this case, the temperature regulator should be set to no higher than 40 degrees, and for washing, select a program with the lowest spin speed.
Reviews
Julia “I spent a long time looking for stories from those who washed coats with artificial synthetic padding; I was afraid myself. But the child completely stained his jacket, so I had to resort to machine technology. I can say that the excitement was in vain - I followed the instructions, everything worked out! The item is clean, the filler has expanded, the structure has not changed.”
“If you, like me, bought a warm jacket with such filling, remember my advice! I threw it into the machine - in the end the filler crumpled up so much that I couldn’t straighten it out. The mistake is that I chose the mode for standard washing of outerwear. I advise everyone to stick to the most gentle setting with a temperature of 40 degrees and carefully read reviews of bio-down after machine washing.”
“I don’t know why everyone is so afraid to wash these clothes - after all, everything is written on the label. I wash according to the instructions, select the delicate mode, temperature 30-40, do not forget to turn off the spin. As a result, a clean product needs to be hung on a hanger in a ventilated room without shaking - everything will be fine, there will be no lumps.”
Eva “I’ll give you a little advice - before starting cleansing, you can rub the dirty places with a soft brush, using water and soap. I prefer the manual version, I don’t soak it. I use liquid gel - the whole process takes about 10 minutes. The main thing is not to put pressure on the item when spinning! So I already ruined the first overalls, strong twisting is harmful.”
We told you about how to wash things correctly so as not to spoil the quality of the item and preserve the insulation. You can study the features of the material, its properties, advantages and disadvantages in another detailed review on our website. There are no more questions and secrets left - we figured out what bio-fluff is and how to wash it by hand or using technology. Now the products will delight you for more than one or two seasons. Next, you can find out everything about washing a feather pillow.
Washing jackets with eco-down filling by hand
Due to the lightness of the filler, washing clothes by hand is much easier than clothes with natural feather. The outer covering of the jacket is usually made of dense but hygroscopic fabrics, which makes it easier for the cleaning solution to penetrate to the inside.
How to hand wash a down jacket made from bio down:
- The jacket must be shaken well before washing to distribute the filler evenly.
- The most heavily soiled areas are washed first; for this purpose, a washing solution is prepared and the fabric is treated with a soft sponge.
- Washing is carried out without pre-soaking, since eco-down easily absorbs moisture and the basic washing cycle is sufficient for cleaning.
- It is very important to rinse your jacket thoroughly to remove any soapy water and avoid streaks.
- After washing, the down jacket is gently wrung out without twisting or squeezing to reduce the likelihood of deformation of the product.
The washed item is laid out or hung on hangers to dry.
What products are suitable
When hand washing outerwear, preference should be given to liquid detergents. Conventional powders do not dissolve well at low temperatures and do not rinse well, so soapy streaks and stains remain on the fabric. When using the gel, the down jacket washes evenly and is easy to rinse.
General recommendations
The optimal temperature for washing the product is 30-40 °C. If you set the temperature lower, you won’t be able to get rid of dirt, and if you set it higher, the filler will roll off.
A suitable product is gel powder, since standard dry powder leads to white spots and unsightly streaks. Special detergents for washing down and wool products are suitable, since they do not contain sodium perborate, which provides a more acidic environment, since an alkaline environment risks destroying bio-down fibers.
Bleach and conditioner should not be used.
Be sure to read the information on the product label. The manufacturer indicates the maximum water temperature for washing, the ability to machine wash the product and use an iron. So, if the label shows an image of a basin with a palm, then such a product can only be washed by hand, but if the basin is crossed out, then you will have to be content with dry cleaning or dry cleaning.
How to wash something made from bio fluff without ruining it
The main condition for proper care of filled outerwear is following the recommendations for washing and drying. During use, it is impossible to avoid contamination of winter jackets and down jackets, but due to quick drying, such items can be washed several times a season. In addition, the areas most susceptible to dirt - collars, sleeves, pockets - can be washed locally, without completely soaking the jacket. To remove dirt, simply apply a small amount of cleaning solution with a sponge to the stain and rub lightly, then dry.
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Important! Things should not be exposed to excessively hot water or dried near a hot radiator. This leads to severe deformation of the product and destroys the structure of the filler, which loses its properties.
Selecting a detergent
To preserve the properties of synthetic material, you need to choose the right detergent for washing:
- Liquid or gel form is best suited for this. It washes out easily and leaves no streaks.
- To give the product lightness and airiness during rinsing, you can use conditioner.
Washing powders are not suitable for this purpose, especially those with granules. They will linger in the fibers and will take a very long time to rinse out.
After washing with powder, white streaks will remain on the jacket. If there are granules left in the filler, then streaks will appear on the down jacket even after rain.
If there is an urgent need to wash a down jacket, but there is no liquid product on hand, you can dissolve a small amount of powder in hot water. When washing by hand, you can use shampoo instead. But it is not suitable for serious pollution.
How to dry clothes correctly
One of the advantages of clothing is quick drying. In this case, you should follow simple rules that help dry things without losing thermal characteristics and attractive appearance:
- Down jackets filled with eco-down should be dried unfolded, laid out on a horizontal surface. This method avoids the bio-fluff from falling off and helps preserve the appearance of the product. Lightweight jacket models can be hung on wide hangers.
- It is important to ensure good ventilation during drying. In winter, when drying things outdoors is problematic, clothes should be placed in a warm, well-ventilated room. If several jackets have been washed and there is little space for drying, then hangers with down jackets should be positioned so that there is enough space between them.
At room temperature and good ventilation, down jackets dry overnight.
Important! To speed up the drying of clothes, do not hang jackets filled with bio-down near heat sources.
Clothes filled with bio-down are practical, beautiful, comfortable and durable. By following the recommendations for caring for products, you can significantly extend their service life, as well as preserve the beneficial properties of the material.
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What is bio-fluff?
According to experts, this material can change your understanding of modern insulation for outerwear. It combines the properties of natural down and modern synthetic materials. Bio-down (what is it, reviews about it - see below) is just as light and warm, but clothes made from it do not cause absolutely any difficulties in care. Thanks to this, things do not lose their properties after washing, which is confirmed by numerous reviews.
What is this - bio-fluff? This modern high-tech material was developed jointly by specialists from Dupont and Haixing Material Technology back in the second half of the last century. Bio-fluff is a polymer or synthetic material that is made from constantly renewable plant materials using a proprietary fermentation process. The invention of bio-fluff is a breakthrough in green chemistry. As a result of obtaining this material, it was possible to reduce the use of natural raw materials, reduce energy saving costs and obtain a new environmentally friendly insulation.
Drying rules
After the wash is finished, the jacket needs to be dried. But just hanging it up is not enough; there are also a number of nuances here.
You need to immediately unfasten the zippers and turn out the pockets so that they dry thoroughly. In this case, there is no need to turn the down jacket right side out; it will dry inside out. Shake it a little so that the fluff is evenly distributed over the surface.
The optimal position for drying is vertically, on a regular hanger. This way the water will drain faster. Once you have removed the jacket from the drum, wrap it in a terry towel for half an hour, it will absorb the water.
Under no circumstances should you use a hair dryer for drying. Also, do not hang the product near the battery or leave it in a place exposed to direct sunlight. The fluff from such manipulations will most likely mat and harden, so it will be almost impossible to restore and break it.
Wash ball
If you want to speed up the process, simply place the jacket in a well-ventilated area. Whisk it occasionally to distribute the filling.
Most often, cleaning and drying lasts for several days, but there is no need to rush. The optimal period is no more than two days. You need to let the fluff dry completely, otherwise it will smell damp and may even begin to rot.
If the machine has a special drying function, it is not advisable to use it. During such manipulations, the structure of the feather and down is often disrupted, so that the down jacket becomes thin and unsuitable for use in cold weather.
Preparing for cleaning
Before you wash your down jacket in the washing machine, you need to properly prepare it. To do this, do the following.
Check the pockets, there should be no things inside: checks, candy wrappers, coins and bills, it is advisable to clean out all the garbage such as pellets and small crumbs. Inspect the item for local contamination, especially if it is light-colored. The most worn out are the pockets, the lower part, the collar area and, of course, the cuffs. If the stains are minor, they can be washed off with laundry soap. To remove difficult stains, you will need a stain remover. Cosmetics, such as foundation or powder, can be removed with micellar water or toothpaste, and white fabric can be bleached with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and ammonia in equal quantities.
But be careful with the amount of bleach, it also does not have the best effect on the natural filler. All pockets with zippers and buttons must be fastened, otherwise you risk losing small accessories. Turn the item inside out - this is important. The basic rule is very simple: one washing session - one item. Even if you have two dirty jackets of the same color, it is not recommended to wash them together
At a minimum, both will be poorly cleaned; at maximum, they will be spoiled.
