If you like your winter clothes to be not only warm, but also comfortable, you will definitely have a down jacket in your wardrobe. This is a universal and very practical thing that everyone can choose according to their taste preferences and financial capabilities. At the same time, manufacturers provide a wide selection of not only colors and styles, but also different ratios of down to other filler components.
Of course, after purchasing such a necessary wardrobe item, we want it to warm us for a long time and delight us with its attractive appearance. To do this, you need to know how to properly care for the product, how to remove dirt, and what detergent you can use for washing down jackets in a washing machine.
Filler specifics
In order to understand why ordinary powders are not suitable for down jackets, you need to know about the specific properties of its filler.
For such clothing, waterfowl down is used. This natural component does not stick together and retains heat very well. It is rarely used in its pure form, so on the label of your product you can find indications of the percentage of down and feather in the filler.
The best proportions are 90/100 or 80/20. If the amount of fluff is less, it will negatively affect the ability to retain heat.
In terms of its performance properties, eiderdown is considered the leader among down jacket fillers. Swan and duck down are no less popular.
When buying a down jacket, give preference to models that are divided into small sections using stitching. In this case, you can afford to wash the product in the washing machine with regular detergent, since such jackets are quite easy to restore their shape.
Useful tips
Now you know how to wash winter jackets. Here are some more useful tips to help you keep your winter clothes clean.
If you find a greasy stain on your jacket, you can easily remove it with a vinegar solution. To do this, take one teaspoon each of vinegar and sea salt and dissolve them in a glass of warm water. After the salt has completely dissolved, moisten a cotton pad with the resulting liquid and wipe the resulting stain.
Another way to effectively remove grease stains, as well as traces of sweat, is to use a solution consisting of a glass of water, half a teaspoon of ammonia, and a teaspoon of salt. This method can also get rid of yellow spots formed due to improper drying.
If you need to iron your jacket after washing, do it with a warm iron, the temperature of which is no more than 110 degrees.
If you don’t know what tennis balls are used to replace when washing a down jacket, we will tell you. Some people are afraid to use them for fear of damaging the drum and shortening its life. Instead of felt tennis balls, you can use specially designed tourmaline and magnetic balls. These inventions are expensive, but their high technology makes it possible not only to preserve the integrity of the down jacket, but also to clean the washing machine from scale and various impurities.
For those who want to save money, we have come up with a popular way to replace tennis balls. Their role can be played by ordinary, cleanly washed potatoes in the same quantity. Every housewife who replaced balls with this product was satisfied with the result.
Cleaning methods
There are 2 ways to clean your favorite item from dirt: take it to the dry cleaner or wash it yourself.
The first method will save your time, but will require significant material costs. Moreover, dry cleaning involves the use of very strong reagents that will quickly abrade the fabric. In addition, no one will give you a guarantee that the down jacket will be cleaned efficiently or that it will not simply be ruined by inexperienced craftsmen.
That’s why it’s safer to handle washing your favorite item yourself. Moreover, doing this is not so difficult, the main thing is to choose the right detergent for washing down jackets.
How to dry a jacket after washing
Drying is one of the most important stages. In order not to spoil the item, remember:
- It is better to dry things with down filling on hangers;
- You should not hang your jacket on a clothesline, otherwise it will form a crease that is difficult to straighten;
- to dry your pockets, turn them inside out;
- To prevent the jacket from stretching and deforming, fasten the zipper or buttons when drying;
- Shake the jacket constantly so that the filling does not become crumpled;
- Do not dry items in direct sunlight, near heaters or radiators.
What not to do
You cannot use regular powder for down jackets! After such an experiment, you will receive the following defects, which will be very difficult to eliminate:
- A sharp change in the color of the product;
- The fluff will gather in clumps in different places;
- Whitish streaks will appear on the fabric.
Washing powder, intended for washing ordinary fabrics, contains dyes and bleaches, many enzymes and surfactants, which are harmful to outerwear.
Note!
Such powder destroys the ability of down to preserve heat. Therefore, after such an experiment, you risk ruining not only the appearance of your favorite thing, but also its protective qualities.
Therefore, you need to choose a product suitable for washing down jackets in a washing machine.
You need to make sure that it does not contain components that contain chlorine and destroy the impregnation of the top layer of fluff.
Making the right choice
Before deciding which product to wash your favorite down jacket, carefully examine the label on it. This small tag contains very important information about the washing features of your particular product:
- Temperature conditions;
- Type of washing (hand or machine);
- Drying features.
After this, start studying the composition of detergents: they should not only cope well with dirt, but also maintain the structure of the filler and fluff.
Note!
The down detergent must have the appropriate label on the packaging.
In addition, you should pay attention to the presence of lanolin in the powder. This is a special substance that softens and restores the properties of down.
Another important factor that will affect the quality of the washed product: you only need to purchase machine washable detergent. Hand washing powders will produce a lot of foam, which will leave unpleasant white marks on the fabric.
So, special products for cleaning down jackets should have the following characteristics:
- Carefully clean the outerwear fabric without damaging the down structure;
- Maintain the color of the product;
- Remove persistent odors that have been absorbed into the fluff.
Regular powder: why is it not suitable?
Due to frequent wear and vagaries of weather, a down jacket may require washing even several times in one season. One of the main points is choosing the right detergent.
The filling, which consists of feathers and down, allows you to retain heat. To do this, it must be evenly distributed, and the feathers must remain fluffy.
It should be borne in mind that feathers, which serve as insulation, have a natural fat layer . If you use regular laundry detergent for care, this important fatty layer will be destroyed, which will lead to loss of volume and disruption of the shape of the filler.
Deprived of a protective fat layer, feathers fall off as a result of improper processing, forming lumps and leading to uneven distribution of the filler.
Another disadvantage of using conventional powder is that it is very difficult to rinse out of natural insulation. This leads to unsightly stains on the material after the item dries.
The following are prohibited:
- ordinary washing powders;
- universal gels.
Only a special product can ensure high-quality removal of dirt and careful handling of the filling when washing down jackets.
Assortment of detergents
Manufacturers of household chemicals have provided consumers with a wide selection of powders for washing down jackets. They are available in liquid and powder form.
Since powder is a common laundry detergent, many housewives choose it, considering it inappropriate to pay more for a liquid detergent.
However, washing liquid is actually most often more effective than regular powder. This is due to the fact that it contains natural ingredients that can remove dirt even at 20 degrees. Thus, the chances of damaging soft or delicate material during washing are reduced to zero.
There are the following types of liquid detergents:
- Gel;
- Capsules;
- Shampoo;
- Balm.
Let's consider their advantages over washing powder.
Do you need rinse aids for down jackets?
Some people use rinse aids, but this practice is undesirable, since natural fluff has the property of absorbing all odors and some components that make up such household chemicals.
In addition, the special detergents used, intended for down items, contain all the necessary components for their high-quality cleaning. Independent conditioners and rinses can give down jackets such an odor that they will then have to be aired for a long time before they can be worn again.
Gels
Gels intended for washing outerwear are an excellent choice, because they are water-based and therefore can dissolve quickly. In addition, they are very economical.
If your favorite down jacket has difficult stains, before washing you need to apply gel to them, and only then put the product in the washing machine.
The gel is poured into a tank intended for washing powder, the mode is set to no more than 40 degrees and washing begins.
Note!
The dosage should be calculated taking into account the hardness of the water. More product needs to be added to hard water.
If your washing machine has a delicate or hand wash mode, you can choose one of them. This way you will ensure careful care for your favorite item.
Shampoos and conditioners
Most often, these products contain special substances that prevent fluff from sticking together, so the formation of lumps after washing is completely excluded.
They will perfectly refresh the color of the product and remove even old stains.
Note!
Carefully study the composition of the detergent on the label. It should only be intended for washing items containing fluff.
Dry cleaning
If the owner of a down jacket is very worried about its safety after washing, and has doubts about the choice of detergent, then it is recommended to use dry cleaning services.
In dry cleaning, down outer clothing is cleaned with professional products.
They use chemicals that perfectly break down various pollutants, without destroying the structure of the materials from which the down jacket is made.
These substances have low humidity, so the down after their use does not swell and does not lose its properties.
Capsules
The only disadvantage of this modern detergent is the high price.
The capsules are convenient and easy to use, quickly dissolve in water and help eliminate dirt on the fabric and in the filler as much as possible.
The capsule begins to work instantly, because it is placed together with the item directly into the drum of the machine.
Note!
The use of rinsing agents and conditioners for regular fabrics is strictly prohibited! The washing machine will not be able to rinse them properly and white stains will remain on the down jacket.
Features of use
Taking into account all the nuances of the composition of the filling of clothes with down and feather filling, you should carefully follow the cleaning procedure:
- Do not exceed the amount of detergent per wash.
- The heating temperature must be adjusted to that recommended by the clothing manufacturer. In most cases - +30°С. This will provide the best conditions for high-quality cleaning of the item without the threat of damage to the insulation.
- Despite the fact that special gels rinse well, it is advisable to set the “extra rinse” mode.
- The amount of gel is poured according to the instructions, taking into account the hardness of the tap water.
- A gel with a thick consistency can be poured directly into the drum.
- After finishing washing, the item must be immediately removed from the drum.
- The optimal automatic washing modes are “bulky items”, “delicate wash”.
Gel special products do not require the use of fabric softener.
