With the onset of cool weather, many people look into their closet and realize that something needs to be done with their coat. Of course, it is better to entrust such a matter to specialists, that is, take it to dry cleaning.
But on the other hand, if the cost of a coat is not much higher than the cost of dry cleaning services, then you can take a risk and get it in order at home. Is it possible to wash a coat in a washing machine? The main thing is to determine exactly what material the item is made of and choose a cleaning method from this. Find a special label on the product; if there is a sign with a crossed out basin, then it is necessary to do an exclusively dry wash. If there are no restrictions, then you need to figure out how to wash a coat in a washing machine correctly.
General rules for preparing for washing
- You will need to rip or unfasten all fur accessories. If such manipulations cannot be carried out without damaging the overall appearance of the coat, then it is better to refuse washing.
- Remove all metal elements, especially if washing will take place in an automatic machine. This way you can avoid not only rusty streaks on the material, but also damage to the entire product.
- Washing, no matter how it happens, should be at a temperature of no more than 40 degrees.
- For some types of materials, only special and delicate detergents or baby shampoo are suitable.
- Rinsing should occur more than once. So there will be no yellow stains on light material, and white stains on dark material.
- Drying can be done only in one of two ways and selected according to the type of material, on hangers or on a horizontal surface.
- Do not overdry; ironing should be done using gauze or thin cotton cloth. An ironed and slightly damp coat can be hung up to dry.
- If the washing machine does not have a “hand wash” mode, you must use the “delicate” mode.
- Under no circumstances should the spin mode be turned on. Under no circumstances should you squeeze it in a machine, as the shape may be deformed beyond recognition.
- Always choose a product that is recommended for a specific color.
- If the coat has locks and fasteners, then they should all be closed.
Proper washing of denim: how to prolong life
Additional recommendations
To make your coat pleasing to the eye longer, you need to properly care for it after washing.
How to dry it properly
Drying a coat also requires a meticulous approach, because it is not enough to wash off the dirt; you need to consolidate the results obtained without harming the product in the final cycle.
Rules:
- Only natural drying without the use of hair dryers or electrical appliances.
- Exclusively horizontal position at the beginning of the process for both natural and artificial coats. When excess water has drained, natural products should be dried by constantly changing towels, and artificial ones should be hung on soft hangers and taken out to a ventilated room.
- When drying horizontally, it is necessary to check the fabric for creases and bends in order to minimize the possibility of ironing.
Any product must be completely dry after washing. Operating while wet may result in a musty odor.
How to pet
Ironing coats made from 100% natural fibers is only permissible under the influence of steam from an iron or steam generator. Mixed and faux coats can be ironed through a damp cloth.
Features of ironing some types of coats:
- Only on the inside - tweed, suede.
- In a slightly damp, but already noticeably dry state through gauze - wool, polyester.
The permitted temperature range is indicated on the label: range 110–200 °C. If the “iron” sign is crossed out, ironing is not allowed. If it does not have points inside, there are no temperature restrictions.
What to do if stains appear
Stains are the result of poor rinsing of detergent from fabric fibers or the use of detergent that is not suitable for the fabric.
For example, a coat made of camel hair is available for any wash, but allows the use of only liquid products. Neglecting this requirement will inevitably lead to divorce.
Unfortunately, the problem can only be solved by repeated rinsing in a large volume of water.
What to do if your coat cannot be washed
The following home methods can be alternatives to hand and machine washing if they are unavailable:
- cleaning with steam cleaners - ideal for delicate fabrics (cashmere, drape, silk, satin, chiffon);
- cleaning with environmental products containing organic components and carbon dioxide.
A coat made of textured bouclé fabric is exactly the case when home washing and cleaning is unacceptable. Dry cleaning only.
If you find it difficult to choose a product, have doubts or are afraid of ruining the fabric, then it is better to turn to professionals. Dry cleaning is available for all types of coats, including those that cannot be washed.
Washing a wool coat
Such an item can only be washed with a special powder intended for woolen products. The automatic machine mode must be “manual” or “delicate”, with the “spin” mode disabled. If the wool content is more than 90%, then you can wash only at 30 degrees. The spin and dry modes must be turned off, as well as the rinse mode. It is better to wash in a special bag, thereby avoiding damage to the surface by the buttons on the product.
A woolen coat should be dried on hangers, straightening out all the folds. Ironing is done when the product is still damp at a low temperature of the iron, after which it is again ordered to dry, but you must not stretch it, deformation will certainly occur.
Many manufacturers of wool coats, and even more so tweed coats, do not recommend using wet washing at all, but exclusively dry washing. Therefore, if a tweed item has a fairly high price, for careful care and long-term wear it is better to take it to the dry cleaner.
Dry cleaning at home
This method of cleaning a coat is suitable for those housewives who, in addition to a washing machine, have a clothes dryer.
The store sells special kits for washing wool coats. The kits are cheaper than dry cleaning services.
This includes:
- 1 bottle of liquid (spray) to remove dirt;
- 2 moistened laundry wipes;
- 1 ziplock bag;
- instructions for use.
The tool is easy to use:
- Heavily soiled areas are sprayed with a spray.
- They put the item in a laundry bag, put in napkins, and lock it.
- Place in the clothes dryer for half an hour at medium temperature.
After 30 minutes things are unloaded. The coat took on the appearance of being washed, it even became fluffier, the pile straightened out. The smell is amazing, fresh.
Washing a Cashmere Coat
Cashmere is very demanding not only to wear, but also to wash. It rolls up a lot and sits down very quickly. If you can only wash away dirt stains, then it is better to do so. You can also use special stain removers and then rinse them off with cold water.
If there is a need to do a full wash, you should look at the information on the label. Automatic machine washing is suitable for items that have a large percentage of synthetic additives. Items made from 100% cashmere should not be washed this way.
The coat can be machine washed at a temperature not exceeding 30 degrees and using very mild detergents. It is also not recommended to grout stains before washing. The drum spin should be set to no more than 800 rpm.
We learn how to care for coats made of drape, cashmere, and wool.
Drying is carried out in a vertical position, changing the fabric as it gets wet. Once the coat is slightly damp, you can hang it on hangers.
Getting ready for the process
In order to wash your coat at home and not spoil it, you need to thoroughly prepare for the washing procedure. The first step is to familiarize yourself with the manufacturer's recommendations. We find the label at the collar or on the seam of the lining and look at what is shown on it.
Decoding the icons that can be found on coat labels
When you see on the tag an image of a container crossed out with two lines crosswise, this means that the product can only be dry cleaned.
If the tag shows a container crossed out with two lines crosswise, this means that the product cannot be washed.
The second step is to clarify the name of the material from which the coat is made. Modern models are made from drape, polyester, cashmere or wool. Your further actions depend on the type of fabric and its quality. If you see the abbreviations of the following fibers on the tag, you can safely wash your coat without fear of damage:
- PAN – acrylic;
- MA – modified acrylic;
- PL – polyester;
- PA – polyamide;
- NY – nylon;
- LY – lycra;
- EL – elastane;
- PU – polyurethane fiber.
Other materials must be handled with caution.
Washing a polyester coat
Polyester tolerates any washing well, both in a machine (it’s still better to choose the “delicate” mode) and in hand mode. Under the influence of very hot water, polyester threads are easily deformed and creases may appear on the fabric, which are almost impossible to smooth out. Therefore, the water temperature should not exceed 40 degrees. Drying can be done on hangers, making sure to straighten out all the bends and folds.
To reduce the mechanical impact inside the drum of the machine, you can use special laundry bags.
Choice of product
The choice of detergents should be treated no less pickily than the cleaning process itself. It is necessary to choose a washing powder that is suitable in composition for the type of fabric and its color.
To wash outerwear by hand, use a soap solution - liquid powder or soap shavings diluted in water. If you decide to machine wash, liquid and gel-like detergent powders with a mild action are suitable. For example, the Clean Home line of products for white and colored linen, BiMax or the Laska series of gels, etc., as well as conditioners for delicate items (if the material is not impregnated with moisture-repellent protection).
Washing powder in granules may not completely dissolve in water or become clogged with fabric fibers and leave streaks.
Attention! You can minimize the risk of coat damage during washing if you use hypoallergenic gentle products for children's clothes.
Chemicals with a delicate effect without chlorine, for example, the Dr. line, will help remove stubborn stains. Beckmann.
Washing a drape coat
Drape is also very demanding when it comes to washing conditions. Therefore, if only the sleeves and collar are shiny, then it would be more rational to wet clean these parts. To do this, prepare a special product for drape products and apply it to problem areas with a brush. After this, you can treat the item with a damp sponge and hang it on a hanger to dry.
If this procedure does not give the desired result, then you can proceed to a full wash. It is produced in the same way as a cashmere coat. But if there are glued areas, then it is better to abandon the procedure. Or you can wash areas where there are no taped areas.
Washing a drape coat should occur at a temperature no higher than 30 degrees, and in some cases it will have to be at 15; usually such information is placed on the label. The “spin” mode must be disabled.
How to choose a clothes dryer for your home
Velor outerwear is pure wool drape. Such items are not usually worn every day, but they also require personal care. If a velor coat is washed by hand, it is better not to wring it. You can use a gentle spin mode in the machine. Often, velor products do not require ironing, and drying is done on hangers. It is best to treat them with hot steam.
