I usually take a soiled down jacket straight to the dry cleaner. I do this for two reasons. Firstly, my sister works in a dry cleaner, and this guarantees that the clothes will not be lost or damaged, and secondly, I simply do not know how to wash them.
One day, my sister and I were talking about her work, about the rising prices of everything around us, and about ways to save money. And she asked why I was spending money on tidying up my down jacket if I could wash it myself. Of course, I had no choice but to admit that washing such a thing simply scares me. I can’t imagine what product to use and what mode to wash, and I’m afraid to experiment.
But, as it turned out, putting a down jacket in order on your own is not at all that difficult.
How to dry clean down jackets.
The procedure for cleaning a down jacket in a dry cleaner is ideal; if you have such an opportunity, I would definitely advise you to use it. Modern dry cleaners have the most advanced equipment that can clean all types of clothing in the shortest possible time. When machine cleaning, all types of contaminants are removed, foreign odors disappear, the appearance is transformed, things will look like new.
Worth knowing! When you take your down jacket to the dry cleaner, specify how the cleaning will be done. Nowadays the “AquaClean” method, translated into Russian as “wet cleaning,” is very popular. This method is much more effective than dry cleaning; specially selected detergents are used that penetrate deeply into the fabric and filling without harming it.
Washing a down jacket at a dry cleaner can be divided into two stages. In the first, the cleaning itself is carried out, in the second, drying is performed. Some features of these processes:
- During cleaning, a special professional conditioner for down jackets is used; it prevents the filler from forming lumps.
- In the second stage, drying takes place; a lot depends on the correctness of its implementation; it is divided into two parts:
- The down jacket is passed through a drum in a special mode to dry the top fabric layer, preventing the formation of smudges.
- then the item is fixed with ties in the desired position, where natural drying occurs. As a rule, all processes are scheduled in time and you will know exactly when you can pick up your item and immediately start wearing it, or hang it in the closet until the next season.
Fillings for down jackets and their features, advantages and disadvantages
There is a certain classification of fillings for jackets.
The two main groups are natural insulation and artificial.
Natural fluff includes eider down, which is considered the most expensive, goose and swan down.
High modern technologies are used for the production of artificial fillers.
Sintepon is considered the cheapest and coldest.
Isosoft has improved thermal insulation properties; it provides an expanded range of options for insulating winter jackets.
There are other artificial fillers, such as polyfiber, holofiber and fiberskin.
These fillers look like a synthetic spiral. Synthetic fillers are universal, they retain their shape for a long time and retain heat. These fillers are affordable and do not require special care, which is why they are becoming increasingly popular.
Fillings for jackets
The disadvantages of such fillers are that frequent washing can lead to the filler becoming loose in several places. It also takes up a lot of volume, and spiral fillers are heavier than natural ones.
Now there are new fillers that do not require special care and have unique properties. Voltaire and primaloft. These fillers, even when wet, retain their shape, are hypoallergenic, antistatic, and have high thermal conductivity. Thanks to these properties, synthetic down jackets are gradually replacing natural ones.
Cleaning a down jacket at home.
Not everyone has the opportunity to use the services of professional dry cleaners; some may not be able to afford it; some may not have such establishments at all, with good equipment and special products. For those who are used to always doing everything with their own hands, we will tell and show how you can clean a down jacket at home. I would like to say right away that the process should be approached with great care, even to the smallest details, since such clothes can easily be ruined forever.
Choosing a cleaning method.
First, you should determine the fabric material used, the filler, and the nature of the contamination. Based on this data, you can choose the ideal method that is right for you. If your jacket consists of:
- Made from nylon, polyester filled with down and feathers, you can use dry dry cleaning, wet hand wash.
- If you have a Teflon coating or membrane, you absolutely cannot use a washing machine or hand wash. We also do not recommend using regular washing powders or soaps to remove stains.
- Often there are small leather elements on a down jacket; in these cases, washing is prohibited, as the leather can “shrink” or fade onto the fabric of the product.
- If you have a small stain, it is not at all necessary to clean and wash the product completely to remove it.
Worth knowing! All necessary information on the type of fabric and filler used is on the labels. Read it carefully before you start cleaning your down jacket at home.
How to prepare down clothes for washing
Follow these recommendations:
- Before you start washing your down jacket, it is important to pay attention to some important details. To prevent the jacket's fasteners, zippers and Velcro from being damaged in the washing machine, it is better to fasten them immediately.
- You should unfasten all fur items, if possible, and turn the item of clothing inside out so as not to cause any mechanical damage to the front side.
- If the item is noticeably dirty, then before thoroughly washing the down jacket in the machine, it is better to soak its most soiled places (collar, pockets, sleeves, hem) in a soap solution.
- Before putting your jacket in the washing machine, make sure there are no other items in it: it is better to wash your down jacket without other clothes.
Washing a down jacket in a washing machine
I would like to say right away that down jackets cannot be washed often, since the water-repellent impregnation is gradually washed out, after which the clothes quickly begin to get wet and dirty.
A few important rules before washing:
- Carefully inspect your jacket; if there are even small tears on it, you should sew them up first.
- If there is fur trim, it must be removed before washing. In the case where the fur elements are not removable, contact a dry cleaner; machine washing is prohibited for you.
- Unfasten the hood and hanging accessories from the jacket. If you cannot remove the accessories, tie them with a rag that will not fade onto the fabric of the product.
- The most susceptible to contamination are the sleeves, the inside of the hem, and the collar. Before washing, it is best to clean them with detergent and rub them with a special brush. Laundry soap is well suited for these purposes.
- Avoid powder stain remover; it foams a lot and is difficult to wash out of the product.
- Use dishwashing detergent to remove grease and sweat marks.
- If there is foundation on your clothes, you can wash it off with rubbing alcohol.
- If the down jacket is heavily soiled, it should first be soaked in detergent for two hours before washing.
- Before washing in the washing machine, fully fasten all zippers and buttons, check the pockets, and turn the jacket inside out.
- It is recommended to use a special bag for washing the jacket to avoid deformation and tearing of the fabric.
- For washing, use liquid detergent or a special detergent for washing down jackets.
- The maximum washing temperature should not exceed 30-40 degrees, in delicate mode.
- To ensure that the fluff accumulates evenly at all stages of washing, throw 3-4 special laundry balls into the washing machine along with the product; if you cannot find them on sale, you can use tennis balls instead. Before doing this, make sure that the paint on them does not fade and will not leave streaks on clothes.
- Do not put other items in the wash together with the down jacket; the jacket should hang freely so that the filling is cleaned during the washing process.
The down jacket should be dried as quickly as possible; due to slow drying, the ties on which the down is attached begin to rot. This process can lead to the appearance of yellow spots, a musty smell, and matting of fluff.
There are cases when the manufacturer allows the use of machine drying, although this must be done at a temperature not exceeding 30 degrees for 2-3 hours with the balls in the drum.
The down jacket should be dried by hand only in a vertical position. To do this, turn the jacket right side out, hang it on a hanger with wide shoulders, and be sure to fasten all the fasteners. Drying should be done in a dry, well-ventilated place; a balcony would be an ideal option. However, you should avoid direct sunlight.
During the drying process, periodically shake the down jacket, holding it by the hem so that the down is distributed evenly and the drying lumps can gradually straighten out, spreading out from the corners.
It is important to know! Do not use heating devices during drying, this will negatively affect the down.
If after drying the down has not fluffed up to its original state, put the already dry down jacket back into the washing machine along with the tennis balls and turn on the spin mode at minimum speed. This operation can be performed several times until the appearance of the product returns to normal.
Video material on the topic:
What to do if the item is damaged
If there is a hole in the product, the item has lost its previous appearance, is irretrievably deformed or faded, then, according to Article 35 of the Law “On the Protection of Consumer Rights”, the contractor is obliged to replace it with a similar one or reimburse double the cost, as well as the expenses incurred by the consumer. It is important to remember that the warranty period is five days. After this period, it will be much more difficult to prove anything.
One simple conclusion follows from all this: cleaning clothes with special products is much more profitable than buying new ones. This means there is no need to take risks.
Dry cleaning a down jacket at home.
Washing in a washing machine is not suitable for every down jacket, mainly for off-season models where the down filling is at a minimum. For real winter models, the dry cleaning method is suitable.
1 method
- Determine the area of work where local contamination is located, usually the sleeves and collar.
- Hang your jacket on a hanger.
- Prepare a cleaning product, it can be regular liquid laundry detergent or a solution of laundry soap.
- Soak a cotton pad with the cleaning product you are using and apply to the dirty area, making sure that the down filling does not get wet.
- Wait a few minutes, then wipe the stained area with a clean cloth or a new cotton pad.
Method 2
Now the fashion for various chemical kits for dry cleaning of fabrics is coming to us from Western countries. They are also suitable for down jackets. For example, on sale you can find aerosols that are sprayed onto the area of contamination, then after 30 minutes, this area is cleaned with a regular brush. In words, everything is perfect, however, such aerosols are not cheap and they are not able to cope with strong and old pollution.
Video of cleaning a down jacket:
How is the price for a service determined?
How much a dry cleaner will charge to get your winter coats and jackets in order depends on many factors. First of all, the receiver looks at the length of the product and classifies the down jacket as short, medium or long - more than 90 cm . It will cost less to clean an item without trim than with fashionable fur cuffs and a trim on the hood.
You will have to pay much more for models combined from different materials, for example, with inserts of leather, suede, richly decorated with various fittings, sparkles and other decorative elements. Before cleaning, all removable accessories such as buttons and buckles are removed and then manually returned to their place.
Fixed decorative elements are sheathed with protective materials . Naturally, all additional work is also included in the price of the service. Areas of special contamination and shiny collars and sleeves are also manually cleaned. The degree of contamination of an item has a direct impact on the cost.
Partial cleaning
The appearance of a small stain on a still completely new product is not a reason to take it to the dry cleaner or wash it in the washing machine. At home, using only available means, you can easily cope with local contamination. There are several quite effective methods that we will tell you about.
1 method
If the collar of your down jacket looks greasy, you can fix it by following a number of simple steps:
- Pour 100 ml. clean water, add a few drops and 1 large spoon of ammonia.
- Mix everything thoroughly to form a fairly thick foam.
- Using a sponge or cotton pad, apply the solution to greasy areas and rub slightly.
- Try not to let the down get too wet.
- Remove the foam solution using a clean and dry sponge or cotton pads.
Method 2
Mix ammonia and hydrogen peroxide in equal parts. Soak a cotton pad or sponge in the resulting solution and lightly rub the stained areas, wait a while, then clean the surface with a dry, clean cloth.
Method 3
I can also recommend melamine sponges, which are popular among modern housewives; they are not expensive, but they are very effective in removing stains on fabric from foundation, grease, etc. Sponges are disposable, so cut a small piece with scissors, moisten it with water and rub the stained area several times. Worth knowing! Before using any of the cleaning products presented here, try it on the back side first to see how the fabric reacts to it.
Removing stains
It is better to clean a down jacket from stains immediately after these stains appear. Then the chances of success increase many times over. Let's look at ways to remove the most common types of contaminants:
You can remove stains from a down jacket using simple improvised means.
- Yellow marks can be removed with lemon juice. You need to moisten the stain with juice. Leave for half an hour. Then wipe the stain with a damp sponge;
- Greasy streaks are removed using ammonia. Pour 150 ml of clean cold water into a suitable container, add 20 ml of ammonia and a few drops of dishwashing detergent. Apply the prepared composition to the stains with a soft cloth, and after a quarter of an hour, carefully rinse with water;
- Acetic acid removes greasy stains well. Add 20 ml of table vinegar and 30 g of table salt to 500 ml of clean, chilled water. Stir until the ingredients are completely dissolved. Soak a cotton pad in the prepared solution, then wipe the problem areas. For severe stains, apply a cotton pad to the stain and leave for a quarter of an hour. Wash the clean area with a foam sponge. Take clothes to a well-ventilated area to eliminate the strong odor.
Cleaning a fur collar
Fur collars in most cases are found on women's down jackets, less often on men's products. Over time, any collar becomes dirty, losing its presentation. To clean it, you must determine what it is made of. There are only two types of fur, natural and artificial.
Natural fur
Cleaning it is the most difficult; with wrong actions it is very easy to ruin the appearance forever. There are several gentle cleaning methods:
- Clean the fur with a cotton pad soaked in a vinegar solution.
- Prepare a solution of laundry soap and warm water, moisten a cloth or sponge with it, and wipe the fur so that it does not get completely wet.
- Over time, a natural fur collar begins to turn yellow; to get rid of yellowness, dissolve a large spoonful of salt and exactly the same spoonful of 10% ammonia in a glass of warm water. Mix thoroughly so that there are no lumps left. We wet a clean white cloth in the resulting solution, wring it out and manually clean the “yellow” stains.
Artificial fur
You can safely wash this fur by hand, using either hand or machine washing. However, difficulties may arise with a white faux fur collar. To clean it, it is recommended to use 100 ml. hydrogen peroxide and 100 gr. talc. Spray peroxide on the fur, then sprinkle everything with talcum powder and thoroughly clean it with a regular brush.
Example of calculating the cost of cleaning services
Depending on the length it looks like this:
- Down jacket – from 800 .
- Down coat – from 900 .
- Long coat - 1000.
- Reversible down jacket – 1150.
Manual or exclusive cleaning with supervision and control of a personal technologist at each stage is at least twice as expensive. Faux fur trim will add an average of 350 rubles to the price. Natural fur, depending on the type of animal, is a plus of 500-600 . Applying a water-repellent coating to clothing is an additional 30 percent to the cost. The premium for urgency can reach 50-100% .
Down jacket - wash at home or take it to the dry cleaner
We examined in detail all possible methods of cleaning a down jacket. I think that many people haven’t fully decided whether to choose dry cleaning or wash it at home. Let's look at all the strengths and weaknesses.
Advantages
Dry cleaning: you do not waste your time and effort, you get 100% maximum results, if the item is damaged, your money will be returned. At home: saving money, you can quickly clean up local contamination, it all depends on you.
