Winter outerwear filled with feathers or down is the best option for the cold season, providing excellent protection from wind, snow and frost. Today, down jackets are widely popular and in demand due to their comfort, functionality and stylish appearance. During wear, the product may become dirty and lose its attractiveness, so it is important to provide it with proper care.
There are several cleaning options: dry cleaning, washing the down jacket in a washing machine or by hand. Most housewives choose the last two methods, which allow them to save money, clean the product efficiently and maintain its original appearance.
Is it possible to wash a down jacket at home?
To get rid of dirt on winter outerwear, it is not necessary to turn to dry cleaning services. If you know how to wash down jackets and down jackets correctly, you can successfully clean warm clothes at home. This will not affect their functionality or attractiveness in any way.
Before you start washing at home, carefully study the information that the manufacturer has placed on the label of your product. Usually it indicates the optimal way to care for a down jacket, which is not recommended to be neglected so as not to lose the aesthetic and warming qualities of your outerwear.
Washing is strictly contraindicated for some products, as indicated by the corresponding icon on the tag. In this case, you will have to use dry chemical cleaning. The manufacturer also necessarily indicates whether it needs to be washed by hand or you can use an automatic washing machine; what modes to choose; at what temperature; Is it possible to iron the product afterwards?
Partial cleaning of the down jacket
In some cases, a bulky down jacket with a lot of filling can be difficult to wash at home, especially if it must be done by hand. But that doesn't mean you need to spend money on dry cleaning. After all, knowing some secrets, you can perform partial cleaning, which allows you to get rid of stains and refresh particularly dirty areas.
Depending on the degree of contamination, this pre-treatment may be enough to restore your product to its aesthetically pleasing appearance. If it is very dirty, such a procedure will be a good preparation for further washing.
How to get rid of stains
The most problematic places that get dirty most often are the sleeves, hem and collar. Before washing, it is recommended to inspect them for heavy contamination and treat any stains found. To do this, you can use laundry soap: moisten the desired area with water, soap it and rub gently.
There are several more ways to remove stains, which we will be happy to share with you.
Hydrogen peroxide
If you own a light-colored product, a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and ammonia will help remove even old stubborn stains on it. They need to be combined in equal parts and wipe the stain with the resulting mixture. After forty minutes, the item must be washed to eliminate the ammonia smell. This can be done manually or using a machine. When working with ammonia, ensure good ventilation.
Pure hydrogen peroxide will help get rid of blood stains that accidentally get on the fabric of your jacket. You just need to soak a cotton pad in it and wipe the stained area. Then wait 10-15 minutes and rinse off the residue under running water.
When using ammonia to remove stains, it is advisable to wear gloves and a respirator.
Vinegar
Regular 9% table vinegar will help save your down jacket from various kinds of stains. To combat greasy stains, soak a cotton pad in it and wipe the stain several times before the main wash. You can also get rid of rust by wiping it with vinegar, waiting a few minutes, then removing the residue with a damp cloth.
To get rid of dirt stains, you need to prepare a solution of 1 tablespoon of vinegar and 500 ml of water. Moisten a cloth with the resulting liquid and wipe the dirty area with it. If the contamination is severe, the solution can be left for 15-20 minutes, then remove the residue with a damp sponge.
Dishwashing liquid
Another universal remedy for greasy stains that is found in every kitchen is dishwashing detergent. A teaspoon of this liquid should be dissolved in a glass of water, foamed well and the resulting solution applied with a sponge to the problem area. You should wait about 5 minutes, then remove the remaining detergent with a damp cloth.
Soap solution
If you are wondering how to properly wash a down jacket by hand, try doing it with a soap solution. It removes greasy stains perfectly. They can be used for pre-cleaning before the main wash.
To prepare such a solution, you should take liquid or laundry soap, grated, dilute it with warm water and treat the stain well from the edges to the middle with the resulting mixture. Afterwards, rinse the cleaned area with clean water.
How to get rid of unpleasant odor
If your down jacket has an unpleasant odor, most likely the drying rules were violated. Therefore, it is important not only to know how to wash a winter jacket, but also how to dry it properly.
To correct the situation, you will have to re-wash the product and dry it in accordance with the basic rules. Remember that after washing you must turn it out, beat and fluff the filling. During the drying process, fresh air should circulate around the down jacket.
Machine washing method
If you want to wash your down outerwear yourself in an automatic machine, you need to follow certain rules so that the down jacket does not get confused and lose its attractiveness and functionality. By following the recommendations, you can easily wash your down jacket at home and maintain its original appearance.
Preparing the down jacket for washing
Many people want to know how to wash down jackets so that there are no streaks, the filling does not get lost, and winter items look like new. To do this, it is important to follow simple instructions that will help you clean your favorite winter clothes at home without any problems.
Anyone interested in how to properly wash a down jacket at home should first of all carefully read the information on the label, where the manufacturer indicates the preferred cleaning method, mode, temperature and other parameters.
After this, carefully inspect the pockets and remove all small items from them. Make sure that there are no holes in the down jacket and that all seams are strong and secure. If you find damage, it must be stitched up. If your down jacket has real fur trim, remove it. Treat stubborn stains if present.
If the product contains metal decorative elements, it is better to wrap them with tape or plastic wrap before washing. This is necessary to protect it from moisture, so that when it comes into contact with water and the detergent used, a reaction does not occur and marks do not remain on the fabric.
At the last stage of preparation, you need to fasten all the buttons, snaps, zippers, Velcro and turn the jacket inside out.
Selecting a detergent
In order to avoid streaks, it is better to choose a detergent with a liquid consistency. It is not recommended to use regular powder for this. Today, special formulations are produced that are suitable for washing down jackets, have a gentle formula and do not damage either the material or the filling. They wash well and are suitable for washing no matter which method you choose: hand or machine.
If you don’t have such a detergent on hand, you can use liquid soap or shampoo. It is better to avoid various rinses or conditioners; they can lead to the appearance of unwanted stains and gluing of fluff particles in the filler.
Tennis balls
When washing a down jacket at home, there is one secret that helps to guarantee the beautiful appearance and functionality of the product. Add three tennis balls to the drum to prevent lint from forming.
The idea is that when spinning, the balls will constantly bounce, preventing the clothes from creasing under their own weight. With their help, the product will be cleaned much better and will not get confused. It is worth noting that this method is safe for your machine; the balls will not damage the mechanism in any way.
Selecting mode and temperature
If the label does not contain recommendations regarding the washing mode and temperature, and you are wondering whether a down jacket can be washed in one mode or another, remember that this type of clothing should be washed on a delicate program. The answer to the question of how many degrees to do this at will be: no higher than 30-40 °C.
Wash and spin time
Washing time usually depends on the selected mode. It is recommended to set the extra rinse program to completely remove any detergent residue.
As for spinning, it should occur at low speeds, maximum 400 or 600 per minute. At higher speeds, synthetic fluff and other fillers may become confused and begin to come out of the seams.
Prepare properly!
Before washing, be sure to do certain manipulations.
- Unfasten all removable clothing parts: hood, jewelry, etc. Be sure to remove the fur!
Advice! If the product has decorative elements that cannot be removed, but may leave stains and marks during the washing process, then these decorations should be wrapped in waterproof material (cling film, tape).
- Fasten all zippers, snaps and buttons.
- Inspect the down jacket for stains (typical places: collar, pockets and sleeve cuffs). If there are any, then you should wash them with a soft brush and ordinary laundry soap.
To remove stains on a down jacket, do not use powder, as it is less easily washed out of clothing and may leave white or yellow marks.
How to wash a down jacket by hand
Some products are contraindicated for machine washing, so it is important to know how to wash down jackets by hand so as not to damage the filling. Fill the bath with warm water, the temperature of which is no higher than 30 degrees, and carefully dissolve a delicate detergent in it. You should then soak the clothes for no more than 15 minutes, then wash them carefully using a sponge or soft brush. Here's how to wash a down jacket by hand. It is not recommended to rub it as with normal hand washing.
Finish washing the down jacket by hand by rinsing in clean water. You need to do this several times to finally get rid of any remaining detergent. Do not wring out the down jacket too much to avoid deforming it. Now you know how to wash a jacket by hand, and you can put this method into practice.
Features of natural soap
Laundry soap consists mainly of fatty acids obtained from plant products. For its production, vegetable oils and soda are used. It is used for washing different types of things. There is natural soap with the addition of birch tar. It is even used for medicinal purposes and in cosmetology.
Natural soap
Advantages:
- hypoallergenic, so you can wash baby clothes with laundry soap;
- destroys germs, so they are recommended to wash underwear, socks, bedding, and children's clothes;
- removes various difficult stains well without damaging the material;
- used for whitening;
- It's inexpensive.
What to do to avoid divorces
Anyone who cleans outerwear at home is interested in how to wash down jackets without streaks. The cause of this problem may be an excessive amount of detergent or an incorrectly selected product. Unwanted stains appear if you use ordinary washing powder instead of liquid detergent.
To prevent such a nuisance from happening, you need to properly wash and dry your down jacket. If you turn on the rinse mode several times, the streaks will disappear and the item will return to its previous appearance.
To avoid streaking, do not use laundry detergent, softener or softener.
Powder, shampoo or gel
The result of home dry cleaning directly depends on the choice of detergent for washing down jackets in the washing machine. The best option would be a special shampoo for downy items, which can be found on the shelves of outerwear stores or in standard departments with powders and gels.
If it is not possible to purchase such a special bottle, use liquid laundry detergents in gel form, which are currently produced by many well-known brands (Ariel, Tide, Persil). They are sold in plastic bottles or capsules. You can also use liquid gel for woolen items such as “Weasel” or “Vorsinka”.
How to dry the product
You should dry your down jacket at home in a vertical position. Turn the product right side out and hang it on suitable hangers. It is best to place it in a place with good air circulation, while ensuring that there is no direct sunlight.
If you know how to properly wash and dry a down jacket, it will last a long time without losing its aesthetic appeal and warming functions. A washed down jacket should not be placed near radiators or other heating devices. High temperatures destroy the structure of down and lead to loss of heat-preserving properties.
To ensure against the formation of lumps in the filler, periodically shake the product and knead it by hand until completely dry.
Secrets of proper drying
How to dry a down jacket after washing in order to fluff up the clumped filler and restore its former shape? We suggest using one of the proposed methods.
- The highest quality drying of a down product is horizontal drying on a towel or blanket. After the water has drained from the down jacket (to do this, place it horizontally over the bathtub), place the jacket on a blanket or terry towel. Horizontal drying will prevent the fluff from clumping and it will dry evenly. Shake the down jacket periodically during the drying process, replace damp towels with dry ones. You can hang the product on hangers only at the end of drying.
- For owners of a washing machine and dryer, the problem of how to fluff a down jacket after washing can be solved without much hassle. Set the gentle drying mode with a low temperature and be patient - the jacket will take a long time to dry, about 3 hours. Taking out the down jacket of their drum, shake it. You can even beat the product using a carpet beater.
- You can speed up the drying process by blowing the down jacket with a hairdryer from the reverse side.
- While drying, it is better not to place the down jacket too close to heating devices, as this may cause streaks to form on the fabric. If such a problem does occur, try cleaning the desired areas with a damp cloth, dropping a little dishwashing detergent on it, and then dry the wet areas with a hairdryer.
What to do if the fluff gets lost after washing
To prevent the down from becoming crumpled, it must be periodically straightened out during drying: how to straighten the filling in a jacket after washing if it does get tangled is a primary question. There are two known ways to correct the situation. You can use a regular beater to beat the filling.
The second method is to use a vacuum cleaner. You need to remove the brush (you can install a narrow nozzle), turn on the vacuum cleaner and sweep it along the down jacket from the inside from bottom to top. This way the fluff will be evenly distributed inside and the jacket will take its previous shape.
Some people think: no matter how you wash it, it will get lost, but to prevent the fluff from getting tangled, use the recommendations given in this article and feel comfortable in your favorite clothes for more than one season.
In what cases is it better to dry clean a down jacket?
If you do not have the opportunity to wash your jacket at home, it is better to take it to the dry cleaner. You will also have to entrust the cleaning function to professionals, provided that the product label contains appropriate recommendations. Using dry cleaning services will be more expensive than removing dirt at home, but you won’t have to deal with streaks and stains yourself, and will receive a clean down jacket, ready for use.
Today, a down jacket is one of the most popular and sought-after types of outerwear, which reliably protects the owner from bad weather. With proper care, this comfortable item will last a long time and look stylish and beautiful.
