5 most effective products for washing a down jacket in a washing machine

Synthetic, natural and membrane items, as well as colored and black linen, are different groups of fabrics that require separate detergents.
If you use the same powder to treat different types of clothing, you can cause a rapid deterioration in its quality. It is especially dangerous to use conventional detergents for washing things such as down jackets.

Let's figure out what powder to wash a down jacket in an automatic washing machine so as not to spoil the product.

Why can't you wash your down jacket with regular powder?

Winter clothes with natural filling (usually down and feathers of waterfowl) have their own characteristics. Therefore, washing a down jacket with the same detergent that is used for linen and other things usually leads to the following “side effects”:

1. White spots, stripes and stains appear on the surface of the fabric. The fact is that ordinary powders and gels contain bleaching components and also form a lot of foam. All this is poorly washed out from the loose fluff and dense “top” fabric. Therefore, if you wash a down jacket with powder, the appearance of “soap” stains is inevitable.
2. The fluff falls off and sticks together into clumps. Regular powders and gels contain special substances that destroy fat. Meanwhile, it is the fat component that allows the fluff and feathers in the filler to retain their shape and volume, as well as their moisture-repellent effect. Degreasing when washing with a simple powder hopelessly spoils the fluff.
3. The product loses its shape and changes color.

It is strictly not recommended to wash a down jacket with regular powder! In order for the item to last for a long time, you need to use special compounds for down clothes.

How to properly dry a down product?

Now you know which powder to wash a down jacket in a washing machine, which one to wash by hand, and how to carry out these procedures. But to get the perfect result, this is not enough. You also need to know how to properly dry the product. The main task of this process is to prevent synthetic fluff or natural feathers from falling into clumps.

Proper drying. Procedure:

• If after washing by any method a large amount of water remains on the product, then you need to let it drain freely. To do this, you can hang the product on hangers and leave it in the bathroom to drain.
• Place the product on hangers close to the heat source.

Important! You should not hang the down jacket directly on the radiator or expose it to direct sunlight. By doing this you can burn the surface of the material.

• Every 2-3 hours you need to remove the product and shake it, thus promoting uniform distribution of the filler.

Important! After such actions, you will soon feel how the down jacket becomes more and more voluminous and fluffy.

• If you notice that the synthetic fleece has become matted, then it can be easily restored. To do this, place the product on a flat surface and beat it with a stick. After this, you will need to work the filler with your fingers, separating the remaining small lumps.

Important! If such measures did not lead to the separation of matted fluff, then the coat will need to be washed again in a machine with balls, but without powder. Under the influence of the balls, wet feathers will straighten on their own.

• If you have started a thorough cleaning of your outerwear at the end of the season, also use the rules we described in a separate article on how to store a down jacket. This will help you avoid unpleasant surprises with stains and stains on the material when you take it out at the beginning of next winter.

What products can be used to wash a down jacket?

The use of special products intended for down products will help not spoil the item and preserve its properties. The choice of detergent compositions is quite large - they are available mainly in gel form. Each has its own characteristics, pros and cons. Powders for washing down jackets are, as a rule, not used. The fact is that dry compounds dissolve less well in water and are difficult to rinse out of fabric and down and feather filling.

Most often in stores you can find special gels for washing down jackets. Practice shows that the liquid form is the most convenient and effective - this applies to both hand and machine washing. Gels dissolve well in water and are easy to rinse. As a rule, down jacket washing liquids contain lanolin or another substance that preserves the fatty layer on natural down and feathers. Sometimes such a composition may be called “shampoo”, “balm”, “liquid soap” or “liquid powder”. But the prescription must indicate that the product is suitable for down jackets.

But there are a number of nuances - modern down jackets can differ in both the type of filler and the quality of the fabric. That is why choosing a detergent for washing a down jacket is a responsible task. To avoid mistakes, it is important to compare the information on the product and the recommendations on the gel packaging. Reviews of people who have already used this or that “shampoo” to wash their down jackets will also come to the rescue.

Heitmann

One of the best products is Heitmann Gel for washing down jackets and sleeping bags. It is made in Germany and is sold in 250 ml bottles.

The manufacturer indicates that when washing with this gel:

• the fabric retains its original color brightness;
• things acquire a pleasant smell;
• the quality of down, its breathability and heat-insulating properties are preserved;
• All types of stains are removed from the surface of the fabric.

Heitmann gel can be used for hand and machine washing at a temperature of 30 degrees. Instructions for use:

1. Manual method. Dissolve 1 or 2 caps (this is 15-30 ml) of gel in 10 liters of warm water. The quantity depends on the degree of contamination of the item. Then wash the item in this solution, following the recommendations on the label. Heavily contaminated parts should be treated with gel in advance and left for a while.
2. Machine method. Load the down jacket into the drum, pour 4 caps of liquid gel (for soft water), or 5 caps if the water is hard, into the detergent tray. Select the delicate wash mode at 30 degrees, spin at minimum speed. Afterwards, dry the jacket thoroughly in a horizontal position, fluffing up the down if necessary. Important: colored and white items must be washed separately!

The product is suitable for any items filled with down and feathers, including outerwear, pillows, and sleeping bags.

Woly Sport Down & Wool Wash

This popular product can be purchased in Sportmaster stores. Despite the high price (about 500 rubles for a 250 ml bottle), the gel justifies its cost. It was made in Germany. The product is suitable for down jackets, jackets, sportswear made of membrane fabric, as well as for wool. Can be used for hand and machine wash. In any case, heavily contaminated areas must be pre-treated with the same gel.

For hand washing, you need to dissolve Woly Sport Down & Wool wash in warm water at the rate of 20 ml per 5 liters of water (if the water is hard or the item is heavily soiled, the amount of gel must be increased), then wash the product, following the manufacturer’s recommendations.

For a machine wash, you need to add from 20 to 40 ml of detergent to the powder tray, depending on the degree of contamination of the item. Wash on delicate cycle, spin at low speed. It is recommended to dry clothes in a vertical position, then, if necessary, break up the fluff. The quality of the fluff does not deteriorate after using the gel; the item acquires a pleasant smell. At the same time, no soap stains or streaks remain on the fabric.

Unipooh

A domestic product intended for washing down jackets and other products with down and feather filling (pillows, sleeping bags, duvets). Belongs to the middle price segment: the cost of a 250 ml bottle is about 280 rubles. You can purchase it on the manufacturer’s website and in some stores.

The product does not contain aggressive substances that can damage the fabric or change its color. At the same time, it efficiently removes any dirt and does not damage the fluff inside the product. One bottle is enough for 5 washes. The composition is universal - you can wash the item by hand or in a washing machine.

For hand washing, you need to dilute 50 ml of UNIPUKH in 10 liters of water at a temperature not exceeding 40 degrees. Wash the product in this water and rinse thoroughly.

To use in a washing machine, add 50 ml to the detergent compartment and run the wash on a delicate cycle. When drying, it is recommended to shake it from time to time to fluff up the fluff.

Domal Sport Fein Fashion

High-quality gel from Germany. Volume – 750 ml, cost – about 450 rubles. Designed for hand and machine washing of sportswear, shoes, down jackets, and clothes made of membrane fabric.

Gel "Laska"

From the “Laska” line of gels, “Balm Magic” is suitable for down jackets. The standard bottle volume is 1 liter. According to the instructions, the product is intended for washing wool, silk and delicate fabrics. However, practice shows that it can also be successfully used for washing items with down filling. The method of application is the same as for other gels. For hand washing, you need to dissolve the “Laski” cap in water; for machine washing, add it to the powder compartment of the washing machine.

If possible, it is better to choose another product specifically designed for washing down jackets.

Capsules

Sometimes even special detergents for down jackets leave whitish marks on the fabric. As a rule, this is due to incorrect dosage. To prevent this from happening, you can use special laundry capsules. They are the same gel, but sealed in bags made of soluble polymer material. Each capsule contains a small amount of active substance, which eliminates the need to manually measure the required volume.

Most machine washing capsules contain regular gel intended for laundry and clothing. Using them for down products is risky; you can ruin the item. Therefore, when choosing, you need to pay attention to the instructions - the product must be suitable for products with down filling or wool.

Useful tips

• Wash the item only with a suitable detergent. Do not use cheap and low-quality powders.
• Before using stain remover, perform a test on an inconspicuous area of ​​clothing. If the fabric does not fade, you can safely use the product.
• Do not use powders with bleaching ingredients to wash dark clothes; they may change the color of the fabric.
• Do not wash items at high temperatures.

• To prevent the lock from becoming deformed during washing, fasten it.
• Do not wash fur trim from outerwear, as this can cause it to deteriorate and clog the washing machine filter.
• The jacket should not dry for more than 48 hours, otherwise the down will begin to rot and the item will deteriorate.
• You cannot dry the product on a radiator or near a heater, as this may cause it to lose color and shape.
• Do not use a high speed setting for drying clothes in the washing machine. This will cause the filler to clump together a lot.

As you can see, choosing the right product for clothes with down filling is not difficult, you just need to study the necessary care information.

Recommendations for machine washing

The easiest way to wash a down jacket is to use an automatic washing machine. The procedure is simple, but requires compliance with a number of rules:

1. You need to study the labels on your clothes. If the manufacturer prohibits washing an item in a machine, it’s not worth the risk.
2. The down jacket must be washed separately from other items.
3. If the down and feathers from the filler “climb” out, you should refuse to wash it in a machine.
4. The most contaminated areas must be treated with detergent in advance and allowed to sit for some time.
5. Before washing, you need to empty the pockets, fasten all zippers and buttons and turn the product inside out.
6. You cannot use regular powders to wash a down jacket - only special products.
7. When choosing a program, you must use the delicate mode at low temperatures (25-30 degrees).
8. Add a few extra rinses to the standard regimen.
9. For spinning, you can add several tennis balls or special balls to the drum of the machine. They will help break up clumps of wet fluff.

Reliable and proven products for washing down jackets in a washing machine can be bought in hardware stores or on the Internet. Some washing machines have a special mode for down jackets. If there is no such setting, you need to follow the recommendations on the product label.

Reviews

Maria, 38 years old

The manufacturer of my jacket recommends washing it at 30 degrees. But how to wash off dirt in cold water? Each time I had to briefly soak the down jacket in laundry soap. I recently discovered Eco Nordland Sport. The manufacturer promised results at 20 degrees and did not deceive. Now my problem is solved.

Alexandra, 44 years old

At home there are a lot of tourist clothes and down jackets, but there is no way to constantly buy expensive products for membrane fabrics and down. They recommended the domestic “Detergent for washing down and feather products.” First I washed my old down jacket and was not disappointed. The down did not crumple, after drying, the jacket retained its appearance, no streaks or changes in color. Now my husband’s sleeping bag can be washed.

Recommendations for hand washing

Hand washing a down jacket is not the best solution. When wet, a voluminous product becomes very heavy and difficult to handle. It is almost impossible to squeeze such a thing by hand. However, there are situations when there is no choice. Rules to follow:

• Treat the most contaminated areas in advance with detergent or laundry soap (using a sponge or brush), and leave it like that for a while.
• Any liquid detergents for washing down jackets must first be dissolved in water and then immersed in the item.
• To prevent fluff balls from settling to the bottom of the cells, it is advisable to keep the product in a horizontal position at all times.
• Washed clothes should be rinsed thoroughly several times.
• Down jackets cannot be wrung out by twisting! Just a light squeeze.

If during washing the fluff still sticks together into clumps, you can “fluff” it with your hands, but it will not be possible to completely restore the heat-insulating properties of the clothing.

Washing down jackets “at home” (manually or using an automatic machine) has long been successfully practiced by Russian housewives. By following all the rules and using specialized detergents, you can achieve good results. However, if doubts remain or the manufacturer recommends dry cleaning only, it is safer to use the services of professionals. Dry cleaning staff will be able to remove stains from even the most delicate down jacket without ruining it.

What to do if the fluff still gets lost

Even before final drying, vigorously fluff the jacket, as if it were a pillow or a dusty carpet. You can use a carpet beater. Make sure that the fluff does not get stuck in the corners of the sleeves, pockets and hem, but is evenly distributed under the lining.

If the fluff still gathers in sloppy lumps, and beating by hand does not help, do the following. Take the vacuum cleaner hose tube without an attachment and run it along the underside of the down jacket at low suction power. Pay special attention to thickened areas (that's where the loose fluff is located). After completing the procedure, hang the down jacket on the hanger again, carefully holding it by the hem.

Priority measures

If suddenly for some reason you cannot buy the necessary product, then there is an inexpensive and worthy replacement. To wash winter clothes you can use the following products:

• for cleaning baby clothes, which perfectly removes stains;
• for silk and woolen items;
• laundry soap.

What do you need to pay special attention to?

Before using soap, you need to wet it and beat the foam on a bar. It can be applied to stains. Whatever product you use to wash your down jacket, be sure to follow the dosage indicated on the package.

Don't forget about water hardness. Also put two special balls or balls in the drum with clothes to avoid the formation of downed fluff.

If you follow all the rules and purchase a special detergent, your down jacket will last you more than one winter.

Also on our website you can read: proven ways to get rid of greasy stains on clothes.