In the winter season, you cannot do without such a wardrobe item as a jacket. It reliably protects from cold, wind, snow and other types of precipitation. But in addition to keeping warm, outerwear should have an attractive appearance. Therefore, you should pay special attention to such a process as washing your jacket so that it looks well-groomed and lasts for more than one season.
The modern outerwear market offers a wide selection of different options: padding polyester, Bolognese, ski jackets, parkas, down jackets. Each of these products requires certain care. In order to efficiently remove dirt and not spoil the filling, you should follow some rules when washing a winter jacket.
In this article, we have collected for you the best recommendations that will help you properly care for your outerwear and maintain its original appearance.
When can you wash jackets at home?
During the season, outerwear often gets dirty, and it is not always possible to have it dry cleaned. Knowing how to properly wash a jacket at home, you can easily return it to its previous appearance without losing its attractiveness and functionality.
Many people wonder whether it is possible to wash a jacket in a washing machine; whether this will damage the product. Before you start cleaning at home, read the tag carefully. The icons on it will tell you exactly how to care for the product. You will find out the acceptable washing option - hand, dry cleaning or automatic machine, the temperature regime that must be adhered to, the ability to use an iron, etc.
When washing at home, there are certain secrets that help avoid the formation of lumps. To do this, wash your down jacket with tennis balls. They beat the filling perfectly and it does not lose its airiness. Don't be afraid to wash your winter clothes at home in the washing machine. Compliance with basic care rules will allow you to maintain the functionality and appearance of your clothing in excellent condition.
Is it possible to wash an item by hand?
Washing a jacket by hand is quite a troublesome task. Bulky winter clothes, when wet, become heavy and clumsy.
Hand washing is used in cases where there is a risk of damaging the product by machine washing.
Knowing some secrets will make this task much easier:
- For washing, you should choose a large container.
- Add detergent to warm water and foam it with sharp movements.
- First inspect the jacket for the presence of foreign objects in the pockets, unfasten the fur, and shake it several times.
- Immerse the clothing in water, pressing down with your hands so that the fabric is well saturated with water.
- Using your hand or a soft brush, go over all surfaces of the jacket, pressing lightly, and rub gently, without applying much effort.
- You need to rinse at least twice in warm water, pressing on the product to remove any remaining detergent.
Do not rub the surfaces of the jacket against each other. This will lead to deterioration in the appearance of the clothing and deformation of the filling.
Preparing and removing stains
Before you wash your jackets, you need to properly prepare them for the upcoming process. After studying the information on the label, you should check the pockets and remove unnecessary items from them. Then you need to fasten all the buttons, zippers or zippers, remove the fur trim if there is one, and turn the jacket inside out.
To wash your down jacket without ruining it, carefully check it for damage. If there are holes, poorly sewn buttons, or you find weak seams, they should be sewn up. Correcting minor problems before washing will keep your item safe and sound.
As a rule, sleeves and collars are the most heavily soiled. You can remove stubborn stains by hand before putting your clothes in the drum. They can be removed using regular dishwashing detergent. You just need to apply it to a kitchen sponge and rub the dirty stains, watching them gradually disappear. After this, you can start washing in the machine.
If the collar or sleeves of your jacket are shiny, use ordinary laundry soap. After soaping the problem areas and rubbing them a little, put the jacket in this form in the washing machine. Never use bleach to remove such stains, as this will damage the product.
Features of caring for Columbia Omni-Heat jackets
Such products are one of the varieties of membrane jackets sewn using Omni-Heat technology developed by Columbia. Contact of this material with water should be minimized, so it is better to wash such products by hand. Hang the jacket over the bathtub on hangers, treat the stains with soapy water, and then rinse with a shower.
Ski membrane jackets Columbia
Wash in an automatic machine at a water temperature of no more than +30 ℃. Choose a manual or delicate wash program with an additional rinse, at a minimum drum speed during spinning.
Dry your jacket on hangers in an upright position.
General rules for cleaning jackets of all types
If the label does not contain specific recommendations for caring for the product, and you do not know what mode to wash the jacket on, follow the generally accepted rules. It is imperative to select a gentle mode at a temperature not exceeding 40 degrees. Modern automatic machines may have special programs designed for washing jackets, down jackets and other types of outerwear. If they are not available, select the delicate or hand wash mode.
A good result is impossible without the correct selection of detergent. Ideally, it should be proven, of high quality and have a gel consistency. If you decide to use powder, be prepared for the appearance of white streaks and spots. Therefore, it is better to choose a professional product, which will help save money on buying a new jacket. Detergent residues after the main wash can be easily removed by re-rinsing.
Make sure that there is no too intense spinning, which can damage not only the fabric, but also the filling when you wash the jacket in the machine. The more delicate it is, the better for the product. 400-500 rpm will be optimal. It is also recommended to wash down jackets with tennis balls to keep the airiness of the filling in its original condition.
In what mode and at what temperature should you wash?
When washing any outerwear, including jackets, do not use washing powder - choose only liquid detergent. It is recommended to use special compositions for jackets, such as Sodasan Active Sport, Cotico, Holmenkol Natural Wash and others. The washing mode and water temperature are selected depending on the insulation material and outer fabric.
Cotico – detergent for washing jackets made of membrane fabrics
How to use an automatic machine for different types of jackets
Today there is a fairly wide selection of winter clothing made from different materials, each of which has different rules for caring for it. A responsible approach to cleaning warm clothes will allow you to look beautiful and tidy for more than one season. If you know how to wash a down jacket with tennis balls, how to care for a parka, and why you need to turn the jacket inside out before washing, you will be able to maintain the functionality and attractiveness of your products for a long time.
Let's look at which washing methods are most suitable for outerwear with the most common fillings.
Sintepon
Synthetic winterizer is considered a universal material, characterized by high wear resistance and excellent resistance to mechanical stress. If you already know how to wash winter jackets in a washing machine, you can safely put the padding polyester product in the drum.
If you are in doubt about how to wash properly, always choose a delicate program and make sure that the temperature does not exceed forty degrees. For a synthetic jacket, you can set the manual, quick wash or program for synthetics. To ensure that the product remains streak-free at the end of the process, take care of an additional rinse.
Remember that synthetic winterizer does not tolerate spinning well, so it is better not to use it. If necessary, use only low speed. It is better to dry the jacket vertically for good air circulation.
Downy
Down jackets are very comfortable to wear, retain heat well and are easy to clean at home. If you are wondering how to wash a down jacket in a washing machine with tennis balls and what it is for, we will certainly tell you.
A feature of things made from down is the tendency of the filler to form lumps. You should place special or felt-covered tennis balls in the drum. They are needed for washing a down jacket so that it does not bunch up. In the process of rotation, the balls beat off the down jacket, and the filling is evenly distributed throughout the product. A reasonable question arises about how many tennis balls are needed for washing. Three will be enough.
Choose a delicate cycle for washing a jacket with down filling and a temperature of 30 degrees. For spinning, use low speed, up to a maximum of 600 per minute. A thorough rinse is recommended to completely remove any detergent residue.
It is better to dry the down jacket on a horizontal surface, and it should be shaken and kneaded periodically. This will speed up the drying process and allow it to quickly regain its original appearance.
Bologna
Skillful housewives know how to wash a bologna jacket so that it remains attractive in appearance and does not lose its functional qualities. It is not as capricious and demanding as other types of jackets, but you should still be careful when removing dirt in an automatic washing machine.
It is necessary to select a delicate mode at a low temperature, use a gentle gel detergent and provide for the possibility of an additional rinse to finally get rid of its residue. It is advisable to refuse spinning or give preference to low speeds so as not to damage the product. Excess water will quickly drain during drying.
Polyester products
Clothing made from polyester is quite unpretentious and easy to care for. But you should still adhere to some rules so as not to accidentally spoil it. Considering how a jacket is washed in an automatic washing machine, choose a delicate program and a low temperature setting of up to forty degrees, since too hot water has an adverse effect on this fabric.
Try not to use spinning or machine drying. If desired, add conditioner to help maintain volume and prevent static. A polyester sports jacket should be dried by hanging it away from heating devices and direct sunlight.
Parka
These comfortable, stylish and practical winter jackets are easy to clean in the washing machine. It is recommended to split the process into several stages. On the first one, start a cycle with cold water, turning on the delicate mode without using a spin cycle. Then wash the parka at a temperature of 30-40 degrees, adding liquid detergent.
To avoid deforming the air filler, place tennis balls in the drum for washing down jackets. Dry the parka horizontally, allowing the water to flow down freely. It is advisable to dry it in the open air, beating the product by hand from time to time.
How to wash a winter jacket by hand
You can also hand wash a down jacket or a down jacket - this is even healthier for such clothes. But hand washing will take more effort and time than machine washing. Consider several important factors:
- The jacket requires long rinsing with several water changes. The ideal option is to transfer the jacket from one container to another, for example, from a basin to a bathtub and vice versa.
- You need a lot of water.
- Twisting is prohibited; you will have to wait until the excess water drains out on its own.
- A wet, heavy jacket needs to be brought to the drying area. You need to act carefully so as not to tear the fabric - when wet, it is more vulnerable to damage.
The washing process goes like this:
- Prepare the jacket as described above.
- Fill the bath with enough water and dissolve the gel in it.
- Place the jacket in the bath for 10-15 minutes.
- Next, wipe the stains with a sponge, treating the outside and inside of the clothing.
- Once the jacket is soaked and you have finished wiping the fabric, drain the water.
- Fill the rinse bath. Carry out the procedure 2-3 times.
- Release the water and wait for the water to drain from the jacket.
- Lightly squeeze out the remaining water, but do not wring it out.
- Dry according to the scheme described above.
To summarize: automatic washing of winter outerwear is not prohibited if you follow certain rules. And for those who want to preserve the attractive appearance of their jacket for a long time, tips on hand washing will help.
How to dry properly after washing
If you need to wash and dry warm outerwear in winter, it is very important to know at what temperature it is best to do this. Remember that you should not dry such items close to radiators or other heating devices, and you should also avoid direct sunlight.
Some types of jackets (for example, down jackets) are best dried horizontally. Place the product on a flat surface, ideally it should be located in fresh air. Drying usually occurs after two days.
As you remember, it is recommended to use tennis balls for washing down jackets to keep the filling in its original condition. In order for it to be evenly distributed throughout the entire product during the drying process, you need to periodically shake and straighten it.
Any washed jacket should be shaken well after you take it out of the machine. This way you will straighten it out. Then unfasten the buttons and zippers, turn them right side out and hang them on appropriately sized hangers. To avoid the smell of dampness or mustiness, make sure there is sufficient air circulation.
Drying
Winter jackets should not be dried in a dryer or machine drum. They are hung on hangers or laid out on a horizontal surface in a well-ventilated room.
Products made from down and padding polyester, as well as parkas, need to be shaken and fluffed regularly so that the filling does not clump into clumps, but is evenly distributed. Do not try to dry on radiators, stoves and other hot items.
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.
Features of removing difficult stains from a jacket
Before washing, stains should be removed using available means. If the contamination is single and small in size, it is not necessary to clean the entire product; it is enough to clean the jacket.
Home methods for removing stubborn stains from outerwear:
| Type of spot | Removal methods |
| Fat |
|
| Salinity | Treat black spots with a solution of vinegar prepared in a 1:3 ratio with water. |
| Dirt | Dry the fabric and wipe off stains with a brush. To wash dirt off a white jacket, use a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and ammonia in equal parts. |
| Dye | Remove dried stains with a knife; fresh traces are removed with acetone or ammonia. |
| Blood |
|
| Rust | Before washing, clean the dirt with citric acid. |
| Yellowness | Treatment with a solution of vinegar and water (1:3). |
| Lime | Rub the dry stain with a brush. If this does not help, remove the contamination with citric acid. |
In the absence of these substances, you can wash the stain with laundry soap.
If the above methods do not help, you should use specialized substances or dry cleaning services.
Contaminants should be removed in the direction from the edge of the stain to the center. Before use, available products are tested on inconspicuous areas of the jacket.
Common mistakes when washing jackets in a machine
You need to be very careful when washing winter clothes in a machine. It is important to follow specific rules so as not to spoil your favorite product. Many people quite often make basic mistakes in care, as a result of which jackets become unsuitable for wear: incorrect mode, too high a temperature, etc. We offer you some effective tips to help insure against damage to outerwear:
- be sure to study the tag and follow the recommendations indicated on it;
- set gentle washing modes;
- the water temperature should not exceed 40 degrees;
- use double rinse;
- use high-quality, proven detergents.
Also remember that when washing a down jacket in the washing machine with tennis balls, there should not be too many of them. The optimal quantity is three pieces.
Winter clothes need regular cleaning and proper care. An automatic washing machine, which is found in every home today, is perfect for this procedure. If you know the nuances of washing various fabrics and fillings, pay attention to detail and study in detail the manufacturer’s recommendations, you can get excellent results and wear beautiful outerwear for more than one season.
Temperature selection
If you care about the safety of the item, then there is no need to talk about high temperatures when washing. It is better not to install above 40 degrees. For particularly delicate fabrics, 30°C water is preferable.
Additional Information! Windbreakers designed to protect the body from rain and wind can be made from different fabrics. The composition of the material dictates the choice of washing temperature.
- Polyester is a material created artificially from the melt of polyester fibers. It has excellent weather-resistant qualities, durability, does not allow rain and wind to pass through, and does not wrinkle.
But in accordance with the nature of its origin, it is afraid of high temperatures. Hot water can “melt” the structure of the fabric, causing the item to become deformed and shrink in size. So in this case, wash at a maximum of 30 degrees. - Nylon is also a synthetic material obtained through chemical manipulation of molecules. It is older and stronger than polyester. Holds paint better. However, it is not resistant to high temperatures: it wrinkles and stretches greatly. Therefore, it is necessary to wash at no more than 40 degrees.
- Corduroy and cotton. Windbreakers made from these materials contain natural fabrics. They are warmer and can withstand washing at 60 degrees.
When washing a jacket in a machine, you should carefully study the composition of the fabric: increasing the percentage of natural fibers increases the temperature of the water.
Is Hollofibe washable?
Is it possible to wash a jacket with holofiber material? Yes, it is safe, since after it the material will not deteriorate. Wash holofiber either by hand or using a machine.
How to wash a holofiber jacket in a machine?
- Holofiber can be placed at 45 - 90 degrees;
- The material will not be damaged after spinning and rinsing;
- Can be ironed;
- Remove dirt with soap (laundry soap);
- Use liquid powders to make cleaning easier.
Of course, you can wash holofiber, and if there are streaks left, then information on how to get rid of stains on padding polyester will help you.
Washing with balls
How to wash a jacket with balls? First, purchase laundry balls. Their task is not to let it get crumpled. Take about 6 pieces, put them in the washing drum along with the product. You can also use regular tennis balls, the only thing worth considering is that the bright colors will paint the thing.
Washing a jacket with balls is no different from washing without them, the only thing is that they will help the material not to deform. Please note that stains may remain after washing, so you will have to carry out another procedure; how to get rid of stains on a jacket is written below.
