How to wash a down jacket correctly so that the down does not get lost

A down jacket is a functional, comfortable, practical and irreplaceable item in your wardrobe.

The more popular such outerwear became, the more often people wondered how to wash them so that things did not lose their appearance and lasted as long as possible.

A universal solution is tennis balls, washing with which removes stains, distributes the filler and protects the fabric from pilling.

The secret is not to simply throw balls into the washing machine drum. You need to apply a simple algorithm of actions so that the result is perfect.

How to machine wash

To wash a jacket in a machine, you need to choose the right powder and set the appropriate temperature.

How to properly prepare for washing

The form in which the item remains after washing is influenced by the degree of preparation for this procedure. Before washing you must:

remove all contents from pockets;
unfasten the hood and all fur inserts;
check the seams to ensure there are no holes (if there are any, they should be sewn up before washing);
turn the product inside out;
fasten the locks and buttons.

Only after these steps do you start washing automatically.

Selecting a detergent

You should avoid washing with regular washing powder. It causes stains that are difficult to remove later. The store offers a wide range of special cleaning products.

Special product for downy items

Special detergents for washing products with down filling do not affect their thermal insulation characteristics and are easily rinsed with water at the last stage. The active components are able to activate in water at low temperatures.

Soap for washing delicate clothes

Instead of special preparations, laundry soap is used to care for down jackets. It contains natural ingredients that do not cause allergies and remove stains of any complexity well. Another positive qualities of laundry soap include its low price and disinfecting properties.

Most often, soap is used during hand washing, but it can also be used when washing a product in an automatic machine. Rules to follow when washing a down jacket in a washing machine using laundry soap:

it is important to consider the dosage indicated in the instructions; It is imperative to turn on the additional rinse mode; To give the soap a pleasant smell, adding a few drops of essential oil is acceptable.

Ways to use laundry soap in a washing machine:

Make a soap solution. The soap is ground using a grater and dissolved in hot water. The prepared solution is poured into the compartment intended for washing powder.
It is acceptable to use soap shavings without prior dissolution. In this case, the shavings are placed in the drum along with the clothes.
Washing gel is made from laundry soap. Soap is ground on a grater. The shavings are dissolved in hot water. Add soda to the resulting mixture. Add 150 ml of cooled gel to the washer compartment.

Gel concentrate for special rag products

Liquid preparations in the form of a thick consistency cope perfectly with any stains, do not leave streaks, do not spoil the fibers and do not change color. The dosage of the drug depends on the contamination of the product and ranges from 40 to 60 ml.

How to dry something properly

Washing a down jacket with down and fur, either in a washing machine or by hand, is not enough; you should dry the item properly so as not to spoil it. Sequencing:

unfasten all the fasteners on the jacket, turn the item right side out, take out the pockets;
hang the product on a hanger;
if the jacket was washed by hand, immediately after washing it should be hung over the bathtub so that all the water drains away, while you can periodically gently wring out individual elements, for example, sleeves;
hang the item to dry indoors or outdoors, avoiding exposure to direct sunlight and contact with heating devices;
periodically beat the filler with your hands during drying and distribute it evenly over the product.

Important! Down jackets, especially those with natural down and fur, should not be dried with a hairdryer or hung on a hot radiator. This is fraught with destruction of the structure of the filler, which will subsequently lose its thermal insulation characteristics.

Down jackets require careful care. Before washing such an item, you need to properly prepare it, select an effective and safe detergent, select the appropriate water temperature and mode in the washing machine. If stains appear, you should not refuse to wear the item, since there are effective compounds that can rid a down jacket of such a problem.

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How to properly wash natural down jackets

Natural down jackets are made from the down of waterfowl. The best down is eider and swan. The price of such products is very high, so manufacturers produce lines made with goose and duck down. The feathers of waterfowl are not afraid of moisture, do not rot, and do not “suffocate,” which cannot be said about chicken feathers.

It is chicken fluff that the Chinese manufacturer uses. It is strictly forbidden to expose such products to rain or sleet, much less wash them. If the price of the coat is extremely low, and the label indicates that it was made in China, take the product to the dry cleaner for dry cleaning.

A popular filler is camel hair. Jackets made from it are very warm and can be machine washed, but cannot be wrung out.

Preparing a down jacket for washing

The areas that get dirty most often are the collar, cuffs and pockets. The down jacket is washed as carefully as possible, so the fabric in these places must be treated in advance. Apply stain remover or foam from liquid detergent to the stains, rub with a brush and leave for a couple of hours, then rinse. The same applies to individual spots.

Pay attention to the properties of the stain remover: if the coat is colored, then the cleaning agent should be for colored items

If the down jacket is white, then the following composition will cope with stains:

0.5 tbsp. hydrogen peroxide;
0.5 tbsp. soda;
1 tbsp. hot water.

Mix the ingredients and pour into a spray bottle. Treat stains by slightly pulling the fabric away from the fluff and leave for 10 minutes. The time can be increased to 7 hours, depending on the contamination.

The neck of a woman's jacket gets dirty from cosmetics. Pure ammonia will help remove traces of lipstick, and 10% ammonia with baking soda will help remove foundation marks. It needs to be distributed over the previously treated ammonia stain and left for a couple of hours. Mixing half a teaspoon of ammonia with two teaspoons of glycerin makes an excellent liquid for removing coffee, tea, and cocoa stains.

Before washing, the natural down coat is placed in a thin laundry bag. If the filler slips out through the seams, this will save the washing machine from clogging.

Washing in an automatic washing machine

Button the down jacket and turn it inside out. Place in a laundry bag.
Place 2-3 rubber balls in the drum. Balls are good for playing with animals; they should not be light. If the choice fell on tennis balls, then you should first wash them with soap and make sure that they do not fade. Their purpose is to fluff the fluff in the machine to prevent caking.
When it comes to detergents, you should choose only liquid ones that do not contain phosphates. Any powder will leave streaks that will be difficult to get rid of.
Select a delicate wash program if your machine does not have special settings for washing outerwear. After completion, to avoid streaks, start rinsing again. Press at 400 rpm.
Carefully remove from the drum and lay out to dry.

Features of down filler

To insulate things, natural down is used: goose, duck, swan, eiderdown. Soft and lightweight, it retains heat well and is durable. Clothes filled with down will last more than 10 years if properly cared for.

Natural material is capricious. Down gets wet easily and takes a long time to dry, which reduces its heat-insulating qualities. To preserve the beneficial properties of the filler, you will need special conditions for washing, drying and storage.

How to store down clothes

A down jacket requires space and air; when compressed, it cakes and loses its heat-saving qualities. Keep the product as straight as possible. Do not put it under other things, it is better to hang it in the closet.

Before you put away your clothes for the summer, make sure they are clean and completely dry. If left wet, the filler will deteriorate. For storage, use hangers or a special breathable bag.

How to dry outerwear correctly

Many modern machines are equipped with a drying mode, but you cannot use such a program for a down jacket. Otherwise, the filling of outerwear will be completely damaged, the product will stop warming as it should, and will look completely different than it did originally. Therefore, after washing, you need to start the spin mode at low speeds, and then dry it in the apartment or outside.

Another method that should not be used during the drying process is placing the item on a towel laid out on the floor or table. This method is suitable for wool sweaters, but it requires free air flow for the down and feathers to dry properly. And if the fluff in the down jacket has become lumpy after washing, it is even more impossible to leave it in a horizontal position, otherwise there will be no way to straighten out these lumps later.

Therefore, it is best to take your winter jacket out of the machine, turn it right side out and hang it on hangers. The hanger must be placed away from radiators, otherwise too hot air will negatively affect the feathers and down inside the product. For the same reason, you should not try to speed up the drying process, for example, using a hair dryer, iron or additional heater. Outerwear should dry on its own. A good draft is much more effective than hot air.

The optimal drying method is to hang it on a balcony or outside, where the warm breeze and sun will do their job. That is why experts recommend washing your down jacket in the spring, at the end of the winter season, before hiding it in the closet for the whole summer. As it dries, you can straighten the filler with your hands, feeling in which places it has clumped the most

However, this must be done carefully so as not to break or damage the feathers and down.

Gray and yellow

To return the jacket to its original whiteness, use bleach. It is bought in the store or prepared according to folk recipes.

Bleach

Pour water into a basin, add the recommended amount of bleach and soak the jacket in the prepared solution for 12 hours. The down jacket is then machine washed, with bleach added to the gel again.

Preparations may leave streaks, so you should use the Intensive Rinse program.

If stains are caused by too much detergent or poor rinsing, do the following:

the surface is wiped with a sponge soaked in liquid gel for cleaning dishes;
in some cases, repeated rinsing of the product in the washing machine helps;
A reliable way is to wash the item again using a small amount of down jacket detergent.

If these steps do not help, you need to use dry cleaning services.

Ammonia+peroxide+salt

If you don’t have bleach on hand, a composition of three active ingredients will come to the rescue:

11.5 liters of warm water is poured into a basin;
add ammonia and hydrogen peroxide 35 ml each;
dissolve 150 g of salt;
add powder;
place the jacket in the prepared solution for 4.5 hours;
Finally, the down jacket is washed in a washing machine.

Where can I buy

Finding and purchasing tennis balls or other types of laundry balls is very easy. To do this, just look at the following establishments:

sports stores - for example, "Sportmaster", which is in every city;
large hypermarkets;
hardware stores;
shops with kitchenware and household goods;
large online stores - OZON, Aliexpress, iHerb, etc.

The range of balls for washing down jackets is very large, so choosing something suitable is not difficult. The price range is approximately this:

tennis - from 150 to 800 rubles for a set of three pieces;
plastic - from 30 to 200 rubles per piece;
tourmaline - from 200 to 1000 rubles per piece;
magnetic from 150 to 500 rubles per piece.

There is an especially large selection and affordable prices on large online sites.

Features of gentle washing

Before you start washing, you need to prepare for the process in order to eliminate any possibility of ruining the down jacket. The main points to consider are:

Purchasing a special product for down jackets. Typically, it is sold in liquid form, has a pleasant smell and instructions for the amount used during one run of the washing machine. Regular powders will leave streaks and stains, so they should not be used.
If there are particularly dirty places or stains on the item, they must first be cleaned with soap and a brush. Even with a gentle wash cycle, such preparation will help achieve perfect cleanliness.
It is better to put the down jacket in the washing machine inside out. First you need to fasten all the zippers and empty the pockets.

After the winter jacket is placed inside the drum of the washing machine, you need to decide on the program. The optimal mode is delicate or manual, although some modern washing machines are equipped with a special function for down jackets. It's best to wash it separately from other items, or add something small to it. It is better not to put two pieces of outerwear in the machine at the same time.

The washing process is carried out in two ways: one of them uses special balls, the other does not. How to properly wash a down jacket, each housewife will decide for herself after seeing the first result of home cleaning. This will give you the opportunity to analyze your actions and make fewer mistakes next time.

Washing winter items with balls

For proper and gentle cleaning of a down jacket in a home washing machine, in addition to a special product, there are balls that help avoid the down from clumping in one part of the product. If it is not possible to purchase such balls, you can use ordinary tennis balls. 3-4 pieces are enough, which will move inside the drum as the drum rotates and will prevent damage to the expensive product.

To make sure the yellow balls don't fade, it's best to wash them separately first. Especially if the down jacket, with which they will later be in the same drum, is light in color. Instead of tennis balls, some housewives use small rubber children's balls. They also help prevent lint from clumping, but tennis balls are much heavier and do a better job.

Washing a down jacket without balls

Without balls, you can also carefully and gently wash a down jacket. But this method is more suitable for jackets with artificial filling - padding polyester or silicone. Having chosen the correct mode, you need to make sure that the water temperature in this program does not exceed 40 degrees, and the spin speed is no more than 400 rpm. For real down filling, it is better to use balls.

Technology from start to finish

Small stains are not worth washing the entire down jacket for. To remove them, use a special gentle cleanser and treat the surface with a soft brush.
Be sure to turn your clothes inside out, fasten buttons or zippers, and remove fur parts.
Turn on the rinse mode twice.
Press at a speed of 400-600 rpm.
Be sure to use a hanger afterwards. We advise you to dry outerwear of this type only in a vertical position, fastening all the fasteners, shaking occasionally so that the filler is properly distributed inside.
Fur can be washed separately using a product designed for delicate fabrics and materials. When drying, shake the rim several times.

In this article we told you how to wash a down jacket by hand and in an automatic machine. Follow the rules, do not try to soak your jacket, use only a good product designed specifically for such things. And don’t forget: good outerwear will never lose its shape, even if you don’t take it to the dry cleaner, but take responsibility for maintaining its impeccable appearance.

Washing a down jacket in a washing machine

Once the item is prepared, you can proceed directly to the washing process itself. To do this, you will need a special detergent for washing down jackets, which you can buy in retail chains or in a specialized store.

Do not try to wash your down jacket with regular powder, you may ruin the item forever.

It is also very advisable when washing such a thing to use special balls for washing down jackets or tennis balls, which will not allow the down to become lumpy, however, you can read more about this on our website. The same balls are also used to wash a sleeping bag filled with fluff in a washing machine.

Next, we need to decide on which program to wash the down jacket in an automatic machine. If your washing machine has a special program for washing down jackets, then you won’t have to think long about these issues. If you don’t have such a program, then don’t be upset, because almost every washing machine has a number of suitable programs in its arsenal that will also suit us.

The most delicate program is suitable for washing a down jacket, for example: washing wool, silk or other delicate fabrics

Please note that washing is carried out at a temperature of no more than 30 °C. If such a temperature is provided by the program, then everything is fine, but if not, then you will need to reduce the washing temperature to the required one using a special function (if available). In addition to the washing program, you will need to turn on the additional rinse function, if possible, or after finishing the washing process, run another rinse to better wash out the detergent from the down jacket, because, as you know, down absorbs detergents very well and releases them very poorly

It is also best to abandon the spin function, because at high speeds the fluff can get tangled and even come out of the seams, which leads to damage to the item.

After this, you can safely put the jacket in the washing machine and start the wash. Then all we have to do is dry the down jacket properly.

How to use them correctly

The general rule for all types of store-bought balls is not to use them at temperatures above 50 degrees. Any material, rubber or plastic, suffers and breaks down at high temperatures.

After use, washing balls must be dried, and tourmaline balls must be kept in the sun.

If you wash clothes with tennis balls, you can even restore items that were previously washed incorrectly and led to deformation of the entire jacket.

As for the number of washing balls, you can navigate by the weight of the items being washed. The heavier the items loaded into the machine, the more balls you need. For standard washing, a couple of hedgehog balls or tourmaline “rattles” are enough. When washing heavier, bulkier items, four balls will work better than two.

The range of washing balls is huge, and all varieties work approximately equally effectively.

Detergents

To wash such items, you need to choose a product that does not contain bleach. This information is indicated on the tag attached to the item. It is better to wash your jacket using liquid powders. They dissolve better, are removed from the filler faster and easier, and do not leave streaks on clothes. These are Ariel or Tide.

For washing the product at home, including in an automatic washing machine, both gels and shampoos, balms and capsules are suitable; they prevent the formation of lumps in jackets and down jackets and do not leave streaks. They contain lanolin, which provides gentle care for the clothes we wear. The dosage of the product depends on the size of the product and the hardness of the water. The harder the water, the more gel we use.

It is recommended to use the following means:

Caress "Magic of Balm".
Gel-con.
For hand washing, laundry soap.
If there are no such products, you can use baby shampoo.

So, for example, a white jacket should be washed with a detergent for light-colored fabrics, for a black jacket we use a detergent for black fabrics. Colored items should be washed with a product that enhances the brightness of the color.

How to wash so that the filler does not get lost? In an automated machine, it is recommended to use balls with spikes that can straighten the artificial filler. If you don’t have them, you can use tennis balls, or buy animal balls at a pet supply store. Their operating principle is that when the drum is twisted, they hit its walls and then bounce off. After that, they hit the jacket, thereby breaking up lumps of padding polyester and knocking out dirt.

Now let's study two methods of washing - machine and hand. Let's start with the first one.

What to do to avoid divorces

Anyone who cleans outerwear at home is interested in how to wash down jackets without streaks. The cause of this problem may be an excessive amount of detergent or an incorrectly selected product. Unwanted stains appear if you use ordinary washing powder instead of liquid detergent.

To prevent such a nuisance from happening, you need to properly wash and dry your down jacket. If you turn on the rinse mode several times, the streaks will disappear and the item will return to its previous appearance.

To avoid streaking, do not use laundry detergent, softener or softener.

How to prepare a down jacket for washing

Before washing your down jacket, complete the following preparatory steps:

check and empty pockets;
carefully inspect the jacket, assess the degree of contamination;
wash large stains (we will tell you how to do this below);
turn the down jacket inside out, including the sleeves, to protect the fabric on the front side and maintain the shape of the jacket;
unfasten the fur elements and, if possible, the hood;
fasten the zipper, buttons, snaps, Velcro;
Wrap metal decorative parts with plastic or tape.

Before washing, unfasten the fur elements, they require delicate washing.

Proper washing of a down jacket in a machine

After the outerwear is placed in the machine, you need to decide on the means by which cleaning will be carried out. The safety of the item of clothing depends on how well the detergent and its mode are chosen. At best, the item may fade a little, and at worst, it may completely deteriorate.

Do not wash with powder. If the product gets inside the product, it does not rinse out completely and leaves noticeable white spots on the outside when it dries. This is not so noticeable on white down jackets, but on black or dark ones it is a big problem. Even repeated rinsing does not help correct the current situation.

Important! It is highly recommended not to use conditioners and softeners when washing. They leave caustic marks on fabric that will be difficult to remove.

The most popular detergents for washing down products are:

soap for delicate clothes;
gel concentrate, which are gel capsules;
bottled concentrates.

If the housewife prefers to use liquid, then it will be enough for her to pour in no more than forty milliliters of the product for light stains and up to sixty milliliters for pronounced stains of dirt.

Many bottled products have a measuring cap for correct calculation of liquid. If you don’t have such a measuring cup, you will have to use improvised means and measure the composition yourself.

Gel capsules do not need to be measured by placing them whole in the tray. Their advantages are streak-free washing and ease of use. Thanks to the special composition of the gels, not only a good effect is guaranteed, but also an improvement in the condition of the down jacket.

What can be replaced

The best replacement for store-bought laundry balls are tennis balls, as well as children's rubber or silicone balls.

Washing a down jacket with tennis balls is a classic of the genre. They were the ones who were used when there were no other options.

Advice. First, run a light wash program with just the balls or soak them in boiling water. They will be cleaned if they were previously “in the game”, and you will be 100% sure that brightly colored balls will not fade on your clothes.

Another easy replacement is baking foil. Roll it into balls and throw them in the wash. In addition to the general properties of laundry balls, foil “balls” remove static electricity.

Using them to clean down jackets is simple and effective.

Attention! You can find information on the Internet that washing balls can be replaced with washed potatoes. We do not recommend experimenting. Potatoes can not only leave unwanted marks on clothes, but also damage the drum of your machine.

How to choose a detergent for washing a down jacket?

To care for a jacket with natural down filling, it is advisable to use a special product or universal gel for delicate washing. Do not use regular laundry detergent or dry stain remover as it will be extremely difficult to rinse out the suds that have formed. The powder may leave white spots and streaks on the surface of the down jacket.

It is forbidden to wash a down jacket with bleaches based on aggressive chemical components. Do not use softening conditioners. The detergent should not contain chlorine, phosphates, or bleaches. If you are using a new product, be sure to test it on a small area of fabric.

Do not use regular laundry detergent or dry stain remover as it will be difficult to rinse out the suds that have formed.

Basic Rules

Do not wash your down jacket using washing powders - they are very difficult to rinse out and often leave streaks on the product. It is better to take special liquid detergents, for example, “Laska” for woolen products or special gels for cleaning down jackets.

Many manufacturers of household chemicals produce gel capsules. They are already dosed, and you don't have to think about how much detergent to put in the washing machine. Such capsules completely dissolve in water, leaving no streaks on the fabric.

Dosed capsules with gel for washing down jackets

Turn on the delicate wash cycle at 30 degrees. You can also use the “Wool” or “Synthetic” modes. Such programs include a gentle wash mode, in which fluff will not crawl out of the seams.
Set the "Rinse" mode. They need to be used 2-3 times. This way, there will be no streaks left on the down jacket.
Do not set the spin mode to maximum speed - 400–600 per minute will be quite enough.

Remember a few simple rules for successfully washing items filled with feathers and down. Under no circumstances should you:

pre-soak the down jacket before washing;
use water with a temperature above 40 degrees;
use bleaching agents.

When washing a down jacket in an automatic machine, do not add other items. If you need to wash several down jackets, then keep in mind: one down jacket - one wash cycle. The item should spin freely in the drum.

By the way, you can clean a down jacket without washing it completely. If you are bothered by small stains, you can easily get rid of them. For example, treat the dirty area with a liquid detergent (even dishwashing detergent is suitable for this), scrub thoroughly with a brush and rinse.

Greasy traces can be easily removed with a solution of 1 tablespoon of vinegar and 0.5 tablespoon of table salt, mixed in 0.5 liter of warm water. Clean the contaminated area with this solution and wipe with a damp cloth.

Removing stains

If there are dirty stains on the down jacket, they must be removed before the washing process. Dirt stains can be removed with a soap solution or simply by rubbing with laundry soap. In cases where the contamination is more complex, use a mixture of ammonia and hydrogen peroxide.

Take a small amount of both drugs and mix in equal quantities. Rub this mixture onto problem areas. Leave it on for a while, then rinse the area with clean water.

Grease stains can be removed using gasoline or saline solution. Rub the problem area with a sponge soaked in gasoline. You can make a paste of salt with added water and apply it to the stain. Wait about 30-40 minutes and wash off any remaining substance.

Drying

After washing, it is important to dry the down jacket properly. In summer, it can be hung in the sun and periodically turned over to ensure even drying. . In winter, it doesn’t hurt to keep your jacket a little cold

Afterwards you will have to dry it on the radiator (if it is not too hot) or near it. Don't be afraid to spoil the filler. It will dry quickly on the radiator before it develops a musty smell.

In winter, it doesn't hurt to keep your jacket in the cold for a little while. Afterwards you will have to dry it on the radiator (if it is not too hot) or near it. Don't be afraid to spoil the filler. It will dry quickly on the radiator before it develops a musty smell.

If your machine is equipped with a drying function, you can dry the down jacket in it.

Proper washing of a white Uniclo down jacket

Uniqlo products are popular in the country due to the good quality of the products. They use down (90%) and feather (10%) as filler, which provides high thermal insulation characteristics, and high-quality material on the outside makes things windproof, while they take up very little space and fit into a small bag. You need to wash it correctly:

Select a mode for delicate fabrics. To remove excess moisture, it is better to squeeze it at high speeds.
If your appliance has a drying function, use it.
Set the temperature to no more than 40 degrees, when the dirt is insignificant, 30 is enough. Pre-treat difficult stains with a stain remover, add it during the main cycle.
Use either special products or liquid powders for wool.

It is best to dry in the fresh air, hang on hangers. If there is a hood, it is better to unfasten it and hang it separately. Shake from time to time, the filler will be evenly distributed inside.

What to do if the fluff gets lost after washing

To prevent the down from becoming crumpled, it must be periodically straightened out during drying: how to straighten the filling in a jacket after washing if it does get tangled is a primary question. There are two known ways to correct the situation. You can use a regular beater to beat the filling.

The second method is to use a vacuum cleaner. You need to remove the brush (you can install a narrow nozzle), turn on the vacuum cleaner and sweep it along the down jacket from the inside from bottom to top. This way the fluff will be evenly distributed inside and the jacket will take its previous shape.

Some people think: no matter how you wash it, it will get lost, but to prevent the fluff from getting tangled, use the recommendations given in this article and feel comfortable in your favorite clothes for more than one season.

Preparing the product for washing

Preparation is the main stage, which largely determines the results of the work. In order to keep your clothes safe and sound, before washing you need to carry out simple measures:

unfasten the hood. As a rule, these elements are trimmed with fur, which deteriorates when machine washed, and the edge takes on an ugly appearance, sticking together with icicles;
check pockets for items left there that could damage the washing machine or stain things.
fasten the zipper and buttons so as not to leave any snags on the fabric;
check decorative elements on clothes. If they do not hold well, then they should be fixed;
remove the belts.

Important! In order not to leave the entire down jacket inside the drum, you need to carefully inspect the seams. If they separate and fluff comes out, it is recommended to refrain from machine washing.

On light-colored clothing, the most contaminated elements are traditionally considered to be pockets, cuffs and collar. To wash the product correctly, it is necessary to treat the designated elements with laundry soap before placing it. It is worth remembering that the powder is firmly embedded in the filler and is not washed out even when rinsing, leaving stains on the front side of the product.

Clothes should be washed inside out. This way it will retain its original appearance and will not be damaged due to torn decorations or sharp objects accidentally falling inside the drum.

And, the last piece of advice for the preparatory stage. There is no need to stuff several down jackets into the drum at a time. Not only will they not clean properly, but there is a risk of losing their original appearance due to staining, puffing and clumping of the filling.

Washing clothes made from different types of fabric

When washing, be sure to take into account the type of fabric from which this or that product is made:

Clothes made from polyester or holofiber are machine washable. You just need to follow the temperature regime specified by the manufacturer, use liquid gel or powder, set the delicate operating mode with twisting at low speeds, or completely disable this function, if so indicated on the label.
The situation is more complicated with bolognese products. This jacket is very comfortable and practical to wear, but requires regular washing and cleaning from stains. This fabric should not be wrinkled or wrung out. There are creases left on it that cannot be removed later. A bologna jacket is not ironable, so machine washing it is not a good idea. It's better to do it another way.
Sintepon. You can easily wash a winter jacket made with synthetic padding in a washing machine. Before starting the procedure, you must check for any dirt or stains. If there are any, then the product should be pre-cleaned, since after washing the color of the jacket may change, but the stain will remain. It will stand out against the background of the lightened fabric. All torn places must be sewn up so that the padding polyester does not end up in the drum of the machine. The top item of clothing will not deteriorate after such a procedure, and nothing will happen to the padding polyester if everything is done correctly and carefully. You need to carefully study the product tag, see what type of insulation is used in it: glued or thermally bonded. If the padding polyester is glued, then the jacket cannot be washed, as the insulation will come unstuck and roll off. In this case, only dry cleaning is required. You can wipe the jacket with a wet cloth to freshen the appearance of the product.

If you want to wash an outerwear item in a washing machine, then you can do this only in a delicate mode and without spinning. It is also recommended to include an additional rinse to ensure that the clothes are washed without streaks.

General rules

Before loading the jacket into the drum, fasten the buttons and zippers. If there is fur on the hood and sleeves, remove it to avoid damage.

Choose your powder carefully. It is advisable to use special detergents, such as “Sport Fein Fashion”. They retain the natural down covering and do not damage the fabric.
Dry powders are not recommended. They are poorly washed and are not able to clean feathers properly.
It is advisable to use a conditioner to soften water. Judging by the reviews, most housewives prefer Lenora. After using it, there are no soap stains left on the jacket fabric, the down jacket dries faster, spreading a pleasant smell around.

If the sleeves or hem of your outerwear are very dirty, before placing it in the machine along with the tennis balls for washing, clean them with a soft brush using a high-quality stain remover, such as Vanisha.

Before turning on the machine, be sure to set the double or triple rinse at low speed. This is necessary to completely rinse the powder from the insulation and fabric, and also to more thoroughly beat off the fluff with balls. Otherwise, stains may remain on the jacket, which will take a long time to remove with a wet sponge.

During washing, do not be surprised by the increased noise coming from the automatic machine. The balls bounce off the metal drum, hit it and cause a roar.

The main problems when washing a down jacket

Naturally, no procedure can guarantee the absence of problems. Most often, the owner of a down product encounters the following difficulties:

Divorces. The reasons may be detergents, the quality of the clothing filling and the forgetfulness of the owner himself. You can remove such stains using baby dishwashing detergent. To do this, it is applied to the stained area and left there for ten minutes. After this, the liquid is thoroughly washed off. It is worth noting that this measure helps with yellow stains. If stains were left on the item by the powder, then you need to rinse the down jacket with clean water.
Rolling the filler. This problem can be encountered even when washing with balls. If there are not enough of them, the padding polyester or feather may roll into a lump. However, even here you shouldn’t get upset ahead of time. The solution is to reload the clothes inside the drum and increase the number of balls. You need to select spin as the washing mode. Among other things, you can deal with a rolled feather using a refrigerator. The still damp clothes are placed in the freezer. At the same time, the water that has soaked into the filler expands, making it more fluffy and voluminous.

Drying the product

First of all, you need to take the down jacket out of the machine and unfasten all the fasteners located on it. It’s a good idea to turn the pockets outward, so they dry faster. The clothes themselves should not be turned inside out until they are completely dry.

During the washing process, the fluff will roll off one way or another. If balls or special spheres were used, this will not be so noticeable. However, the resulting piles need to be straightened out as much as possible. After putting the down jacket in order, you can start placing the item on the hangers. It is imperative to use a hanger, because it is the vertical position of the product that allows you to quickly get rid of water and prevent it from stagnating.

It is best to place hangers in a ventilated, warm room. When drying, you need to shake the down jacket from time to time to evenly distribute the filler among the cells.

Many people use the drying mode provided in the washing machine. This is a very convenient and fast way. You can safely use it and don’t forget about tennis balls. At the same time, there is a risk of reducing the thermal insulation properties of the feather located in the cells. Those who often resort to drying outerwear by machine know well that every winter it gets colder, and the down jacket ceases to perform its main task as it should. In addition, it is strictly forbidden to dry things with natural filling on a radiator or using heating devices (hair dryers and heaters), or a gas stove. All this will lead to damage to the pen.

Wrinkled clothes can be straightened with a steamer. It will not damage the fabric with filler and will eliminate any wrinkles that appear on the surface.

Important! You need to dry the down jacket until it is completely dry. Otherwise, it will emit an unpleasant odor that is difficult to remove.

However, you should not overdry the product. After two days, the item may lose its shape.

If mistakes were made when drying an item of clothing as a result of foreign odors, then you can get rid of them only by washing the item again. After this, do not forget about the rules and carry out the appropriate procedure in accordance with all the rules

We make do with dry cleaning

In some cases, you can do without the help of a washing machine. As a rule, if there are local stains, it is much safer to wash the item by hand, treating only the dirty areas. For minor stains, it is recommended to give preference to a “dry” wash using salt, water, dish gel or glass cleaner.

But you should understand that cleaning certain areas has its “disadvantages”. Firstly, stains and stains from detergents may appear. Secondly, there may be strong differences in color between cleaned and untouched areas of the fabric. Thirdly, dry washing will not cope with strong and large-scale stains and will not eliminate the unpleasant odor. For uniform and comprehensive cleaning, it is better to use a washing machine.

Is it possible to wash a down jacket at home?

To get rid of dirt on winter outerwear, it is not necessary to turn to dry cleaning services. If you know how to wash down jackets and down jackets correctly, you can successfully clean warm clothes at home. This will not affect their functionality or attractiveness in any way.

Before you start washing at home, carefully study the information that the manufacturer has placed on the label of your product. Usually it indicates the optimal way to care for a down jacket, which is not recommended to be neglected so as not to lose the aesthetic and warming qualities of your outerwear.

Washing is strictly contraindicated for some products, as indicated by the corresponding icon on the tag. In this case, you will have to use dry chemical cleaning. The manufacturer also necessarily indicates whether it needs to be washed by hand or you can use an automatic washing machine; what modes to choose; at what temperature; Is it possible to iron the product afterwards?