Light, warm and practical clothing for the winter is, of course, a down jacket. Such jackets have firmly entered modern fashion and every year in stores you can find an increasing number of their variations in different styles and colors. But how to wash a down jacket in a washing machine? Can this be done without tennis balls? Is it possible to wash a down jacket by hand? What should I do if the down jacket has lost its way after washing?
About down jackets
A good down jacket can be worn in severe frosts. Some of them are able to keep warm even at -40 ˚С! They are not afraid of rain and snow, and also weigh no more than a kilogram, which cannot be said about fur coats and sheepskin coats.
Down jackets and coats are made of durable materials and filled with natural down. Due to improper washing, this very fluff begins to break through the membrane or folds into clods. As a result, the down jacket after washing goes astray, leaves behind feathers everywhere and is not able to fulfill its purpose.
When should I wash my down jacket?
Fashion is good, but it is never dirtywon't look attractive. And this is the first reason why washing may be required - the usual pollution that appeared during the process of wearing.
The second reason is the ability of down to absorb dust and odors. Often people themselves notice that the jacket does not have the most pleasant aroma, for example, of cigarettes. In this case, the use of perfumes is not recommended. It mixes with an unpleasant odor and the situation only gets worse.
It is recommended to wash the down jacket at the end of the season. This kills several "hares" at once:
- Dust and dirt accumulated during the cold season is easier to remove immediately after pollution.
- Cold snaps always come unexpectedly and there is no need to freeze until the jacket dries after washing.
That is why it is recommended to clean the down jacket before it goes into the closet for several months.
Do it yourself or take it to the dry cleaner?
Obviously, like any wardrobe item, a down jacket needs regular washing. But as soon as such a need arises, people face a dilemma: take it to the dry cleaner or wash it yourself? The label that is on any fabric product will help solve this issue.
There are a number of different icons. They all tell you how to take care of your clothes. There are four main icons that will tell you if the down jacket can be washed:
- Hand in a trapezoid. Hand wash only.
- Crossed trapezoid. Laundry is strictly prohibited.
- Drawing of a washing machine or a rectangle in a circle. Can't use washing machinemachine.
- Crossed triangle with or without an inscription. Prohibits the use of certain cleaning chemicals during washing. May be a contraindication for dry cleaning.
In the second case, it is better to take your jacket to a dry cleaner, where a special detergent is used for washing down jackets, and the product itself is cleaned using apparatus, not a machine. The first and third cases allow you to do laundry at home. The fourth one directly indicates home washing.
Physical preparation for washing
It doesn't matter how the down jacket is washed, it needs to be properly prepared for it. The condition of the product after washing depends on this.
First of all, you need to take everything out of your pockets. This will not only protect what is found in them, but also the washing machine, because pebbles and coins can damage the drum and other important parts of the apparatus. The contents of the pockets can also affect the down jacket, because various advertising leaflets can leave colored spots and ruin the jacket.
Before washing the down jacket, remove all fur parts from it. They need separate care and hand wash only. It is believed that in order to maintain the original appearance of the fur, it should be rinsed in warm water with hair shampoo.
If the jacket is quilted, some stitch it again. This allows the down to be firmly fixed so that it does not move around the jacket during the washing process.
All locks, fasteners, Velcro must be fastened. This will keep them safe while washing. BUTthe jacket itself must be turned inside out. But before you can do that, there are a few steps you need to take.
Chemical preparation
Just pulling and removing everything from the jacket is just the beginning of the preparation for washing. Experts recommend carefully inspecting the down jacket for stains. Often they can be found on sleeves, collars, pockets, zippers and on the chest. These places should be pre-treated with soapy water. To do this, use a soft brush or foam rubber sponge. Intensive friction is unacceptable.
For the washing itself, you need to choose the appropriate chemistry. Some prudently purchase a detergent for washing down jackets. If there is none, do not use regular powder. A small amount of liquid detergent is better. But why not the usual powder?
Fluff has one huge drawback - it absorbs everything perfectly, but gives it away badly. Thus, it is necessary to rinse the jacket after the powder several times, which negatively affects the quality of the fluff. Moreover, the foam from the classic powder is very plentiful and glues the feathers together quite well. Breaking such clods the first time is such a challenge.
Instead of a stain remover, it is better to use good old laundry soap. Chemicals, along with the stain, can also take away the color of the down jacket, making the fabric less dense in this place.
Bleach is strictly prohibited. If you want to return a light jacket to its former color, it is better to wash it several times.
Machine wash
Only one jacket should be placed in the drum. You can add balls for washing down jackets in the washing machine to it. And that's it. Nothing else is put into the drum. Detergent is poured into a special section of the machine, but not into the drum.
You need to choose a delicate washing program, and choose the temperature in accordance with the label - 30-40 ˚С.
On the same label, you need to make sure that the down jacket can be wrung out. To do this, find a square with an inscribed circle, if it is not crossed out, set the minimum spin speed. If crossed out, turn off spin. Otherwise, you will need to follow the tips on how to fluff a down jacket after washing.
Hand wash
The principle of hand washing differs little from machine washing. Washing a down jacket in the washing machine just takes less time and effort.
Start with a set of warm water in a basin or bath. Its temperature should not exceed 40 ˚С. It is worth diluting the detergent in it and only then immerse the jacket.
With minimal contamination, it is enough to soak the jacket for about half an hour. Otherwise, the time is doubled. Longer soaking will have a negative effect on the quality of down.
When washing, it is better to keep the jacket upright. All movements should be fast, but accurate. The fabric must not be twisted.
It is worth noting that the jacket will become much heavier, but the first rinse of foam and detergent should only take place under running water. Thus, the feathers will not remainsoap and a second rinse with a small amount of conditioner will gently break up clumps and soften the material.
Drying
The most difficult thing when washing a down jacket at home is to dry it properly. When doing manual work, it is important not to wring out the jacket. Otherwise, drying is the same for both washing methods.
Everything should go according to a simple scenario:
- Let the down jacket drain.
- Hang on hangers.
- As it dries, constantly beat the fluff with your hands.
How can you not dry your jacket then?
Drying errors
Usually, it takes two days to completely dry after washing a down jacket in a washing machine or by hand. But there are a number of mistakes that can ruin the jacket, although they will reduce the drying time.
This is a battery or a heater. It is forbidden to dry a down jacket next to them. With this method of drying, the feather dries out and loses its properties. Moreover, you can get yellow or gray streaks and stains, which can not always be removed later.
It is not recommended to dry the jacket in the bathroom or on the balcony. High dampness or direct sunlight during drying will adversely affect both the external condition of the jacket and the feathers.
You need to dry the down jacket completely. If even a little moisture remains in it, it can begin to rot. And this is not only an unpleasant smell, but a direct path to the trash can.
The down jacket should be dried only in a vertical state on a coat hanger. Otherwise lumps and uneven dryingguaranteed.
Correct mistakes
Few people get to wash their jacket right away. All comes with experience. But one wrong wash does not give a reason to part with your favorite down jacket. Consider the most common problems and how to solve them.
So, how to fluff a down jacket after washing? If the jacket is still damp, shake it roughly a few times. This will loosen the fluff joints. Next - knead the lumps with your hands.
You can do the same with a dry jacket. Kneading with your fingers will help to get rid of lumps and return the jacket to its former appearance.
If none of the above methods worked, wash the jacket again in the washing machine with tennis balls. In an advanced case, turn on the re-rinse and dry the jacket properly. Take it to the dry cleaners as a last resort.
What should I do if there are stains on the down jacket after washing? There are at least three reasons for their appearance:
- Incorrect drying. The radiator may have left stains.
- Wrong detergent.
- Bad rinse.
All three cases are treated by repeated washing. In the second case, you only need to change the detergent.
Summing the line
Based on the foregoing, we can conclude how to wash a down jacket correctly. To do this, it is worth considering only four rules:
- Get it ready - check pockets, wash, remove fur, zip all pockets and turn jacket inside out.
- Use the information on the label to determinewash type and spin type.
- Choose your detergent carefully.
- Dry properly by whisking constantly.
Every time you need to wash your down jacket, update these simple rules in your memory and you will succeed!
