Thanks to its excellent heat-saving properties, softness and lightness, holofiber is used to fill outerwear - down jackets, jackets, coats.
Products made with this synthetic material are in great demand among buyers today.
But what happens to it after washing? Do things lose their original appearance after contact with water and detergents, and how to wash them correctly?
How to properly wash a holofiber jacket in a washing machine? We will answer these questions in this article.
Washing a down jacket with this filling in an automatic washing machine
Outerwear with holofiber is comfortable to wear and has an attractive appearance.
To ensure that your favorite item does not lose its original qualities, you need to know what rules exist for caring for outerwear with this synthetic filler .
The advantage of holofiber lies not only in its heat-saving qualities and softness, but also in its unpretentiousness.
Therefore, jackets filled with such material can be safely washed in a washing machine. The main thing is to choose the right washing mode and temperature.
Since the material in question absorbs moisture very poorly, you will need to set a regime that involves pre-soaking the item.
For better washing (especially if the jacket is heavily soiled), it is recommended to perform the procedure in the following order:
- Pour warm water into a large basin and dissolve in it washing powder with a special liquid gel for washing delicate items.
- Immerse the jacket in the solution for at least 20-30 minutes.
- Then take a soft brush and treat sleeves, collars, pockets and other heavily soiled areas. If necessary, you can additionally rub these places with laundry soap.
- Now you should wring out the jacket and place it in the drum.
- Next, you will need to set the delicate mode, select the “double rinse” option and the enhanced spin mode.
- After removing the jacket from the drum, shake it gently to straighten the holofiber inside.
To prevent the filling from rolling off into the washing machine along with the jacket, it is recommended to load special polyvinyl chloride balls . If you don't have them, you can put a few regular tennis balls in the drum.
As for the temperature regime, holofiber can withstand temperatures up to 90 degrees. Despite this, there is no need to rush to set a high temperature, since the material from which the jacket itself is made may have certain care restrictions.
Thus, some materials are afraid of too high temperatures, others cannot tolerate intense spinning. Therefore, before washing , you must first of all carefully study the information on the label regarding washing and drying requirements .
The most common materials used when sewing jackets and down jackets are:
- polyester,
- raincoat fabric,
- bolognese,
- membrane tissues.
Polyester
Products made from polyester are quite unpretentious and are not prone to color fading or loss of shine. They dry quickly and are stain resistant. But it must be taken into account that the washing temperature of such material should not exceed 40 C.
It is recommended to wash it only with gel-like powders intended for delicate fabrics, while the use of any types of bleaches is strictly prohibited.
Raincoat
Outerwear made from raincoat fabric has good breathability and does not allow moisture to pass through.
It retains heat perfectly, does not lose color and is not prone to deformation. The washing temperature for raincoat fabric items should be 40-45 C.
It is not recommended to use intensive spinning, as this can lead to the formation of creases, which are very difficult to get rid of. It is also prohibited to use bleaches and other aggressive substances.
Bologna
Bologna is highly sensitive to any external influences , so jackets made from this fabric cannot be machine washed.
Twisting and squeezing the material is also strictly prohibited, as this can cause creases to form.
After washing, the product should be lightly wrung out by hand and hung over the bathtub so that all the water drains away. It is recommended to dry bologna jackets in a straightened position using a trempel.
Membrane fabric
Membrane jackets do not allow water to pass through, but at the same time breathe well, allowing steam to escape.
The outer side of the fabric is treated with water-repellent impregnations based on silicone or Teflon.
The main task when washing such products is to prevent damage to the water-repellent impregnation .
To do this, you need to wash on a delicate cycle at temperatures up to 40 ͦC. Spin and dry modes are not allowed.
It is recommended to use only liquid washing powders , since abrasive agents can clog the pores of the membranes.
Care
It’s easy to become the unlucky owner of a large lump of filling instead of a pillow, but it’s a little more difficult to avoid it. If you were hoping that periodically fluffing and turning the pillow would be enough, then, alas, not in our case. This will only help a pillow with feathers, which has a similar property. Holofiber will not be laid out magnificently due to mechanical stress, but, on the contrary, will become even thinner. It is necessary to create as little extra load as possible for the filler, do not fold or bend it, do not twist it inside.
It is necessary to create as little extra load as possible for the filler, do not fold or bend it, do not twist it inside.
It is enough to clean it in a dry cleaner or washing machine no more than 2 times a year (depending on the contamination), and more often it is undesirable. Proper care and careful handling will keep your favorite pillows and blanket in good condition for up to 10 years.
To extend their service life, it is recommended to lay out the pillows for ventilation during the warm season.
It is recommended to ventilate them more often and periodically keep them in the open sun, which will give them freshness and remove excess static stress. And it will even help reduce the number of washes to once a year. Products can be stored in a horizontal position and should not be crushed or thrown during transportation. It is advisable to completely avoid contact with animals. Let pets have their own personal supplies.
It is recommended to dry the pillow twice during the season - at the end of spring and beginning of autumn.
How to wash by hand?
When washing by hand, the most important thing is to rinse the holofiber detergent well. This is necessary to prevent the formation of soap stains on the fabric after it dries.
To ensure high-quality removal of dirt and detergents, it is recommended to wash the jacket in a large container, such as a bathtub.
The washing process is performed in the following order:
- Fill the bath with warm water (approximately 30-35 ͦC).
Dissolve washing powder in water.
The more dirty the item is, the more powder you will need. Manufacturers of washing powders always indicate on the packaging how much detergent needs to be added to a certain amount of water.- Then you should immerse the jacket in a bath of soapy water until it is completely saturated with water.
- After 20-30 minutes you can start washing the product. This can be done with a brush or regular sponge.
- Next, you need to rinse the jacket at least 2-3 times in clean water, gently wring it out with your hands and shake it lightly.
When washing clothes made of membrane fabric, you should use a powder specifically designed for such fabrics. It is recommended to wash items made from raincoat fabric, bologna and polyester with delicate washing powder. In this case, it is advisable to use the drug in the form of a gel.
If there is a stubborn stain on the jacket that cannot be removed with other detergents, you can use a high-quality stain remover.
However, you should first read the information on the tag and make sure that this product can be cleaned with a stain remover. Otherwise, it is better to use a dry cleaning service to remove the stain .
Holofiber has become matted - how to restore the fluffiness and update the pillow
The method is suitable for reviving pillows made of padding polyester or holofiber. After several washes or even without washing, the pads cake. The filler falls into lumps or into one large pancake. Pillows can be updated at home and restored to their former splendor.
The difficulty of restoring pillows is easy. Even a child can cope with the task. Materials - any fabric, scissors, needle and thread, cover for delicate washing.
If the pillow is large, open one of the seams and separate the matted holofiber. Wash the filling in a special laundry bag at a temperature of at least 40 degrees. For washing you can use a washing machine. Small pillow sizes fit entirely into the washing machine and there is no need to remove the insides.
Let the filler dry. After drying, take the holofiber in small pieces and, as if tearing it apart, fluff it up. Stretch the fibers on each piece several times until fluffy.
Please pay attention to the photo below. On the left side the holofiber is caked, on the right side there is a bunch of fluffy filler
As you can see, the volume has increased significantly and the holofiber has become fluffy. I admit that I was lazy. The other pad came out with more fluffy fiber.
Children can be involved in the process. Tell each other stories while you work. Children, especially girls, enjoy fiddling with the fluffy pieces. The kids will be relieved because they can throw homemade snowballs. When will such an opportunity arise again? Combine business with pleasure. You get authority from the kids and benefit for your home.
Restoring the splendor of padding polyester from a pillowcase measuring 40 by 40 took one day.
Proper drying and ironing
The washed and wrung out item can be hung to dry on a trempel, or in the usual way, on a clothesline.
Using a radiator or electric radiator for drying is strictly prohibited , as this can lead to damage to clothing.
It is better to dry down jackets and jackets made of membrane fabric by laying them out on a special clothes dryer - this will prevent deformation of the product.
The room in which the item is dried must be well ventilated . Otherwise, it may acquire an unpleasant odor, which will require repeated washing to eliminate.
If clothes after washing look very wrinkled and require ironing, you should carefully iron them with an iron, turning on the steam mode. The choice of ironing temperature depends on the material from which the jacket is made.
A little about the properties
This filler is easy to care for, easily restores its shape after any mechanical stress, and serves faithfully for a very long time. What is holofiber? This material consists of synthetic fibers that have a spiral shape and a hollow structure. Therefore, it is also very light, elastic and has excellent thermal insulation.
Since this is a completely synthetic material, mites or fungi do not like it at all. The fibers are connected to each other without glue using a special thermal method, so holofiber is environmentally friendly and hypoallergenic.
What to do if the filler has lost its shape?
Despite excellent wear resistance and good performance properties, over time, after repeated washings, holofiber can still cake and deform.
You can return your favorite clothes to their former attractive appearance using several methods:
Wash the item in the washing machine, loading at least 6-10 tennis balls into the drum.
As the drum rotates, they will beat the filler well and make it more voluminous.Please note that this method is not suitable for very large jackets with a thick layer of insulation.
- Using nail scissors or a special sewing tool, carefully rip the seams, separating the lining from the top of the down jacket.
Then remove the insulation and brush it with a pet brush. If you don’t have such a brush, you can fluff up the holofiber with your hands.Afterwards you will need to put it back and sew up the ripped seams using a sewing machine.
- If, after removing the filler, it turns out that it has completely lost its shape and cannot be restored, you can purchase a new holofiber at a craft store. The procedure for replacing insulation can also be performed by experienced craftsmen in any sewing studio.
Features of the material
This material is completely synthetic, but does not contain formaldehyde. This puts it an order of magnitude higher than other fillers. It combines the environmental friendliness and safety of natural materials with the strength and versatility of synthetics. In recent years, holofiber has been widely used as a filling for pillows and blankets, as well as as insulation for women's and men's jackets. Sooner or later, the question arises of how to wash a thing with holofiber and not spoil it. First, let's figure out why this filler is so popular.
Main characteristics:
- holds its shape well (this is especially important for pillows and blankets),
- has high thermal insulation (much greater than that of synthetic winterizer),
- hypoallergenic material (therefore it is often used in the sewing of children's clothing and the production of soft toys),
- unlike other fillers, it allows air to pass through well,
- it does not harbor ticks and other parasites,
- with proper care it will last a very long time,
- soft and not bulky,
- easy to wash
