How to wash a down jacket in a washing machine

A down jacket is a popular and comfortable winter jacket containing natural down or artificial filler. To keep the filler and its uniform distribution, the down jacket is sewn in squares or horizontal stripes. The outer fabric has an impregnation that protects against adhering slush and high humidity. The down jacket is universal and democratic. It looks equally good on both men and women. This is the warmest winter thing, it is impossible to freeze in it. The only problem is cleaning the down jacket. What is the best way to do this?

What are the varieties of down jackets

Down jackets have approximately the same design: straight or fitted style, mandatory stitching, the presence of pockets, zippers, leather inserts, zippers, etc. However, there is a variety of down jackets among the down jackets. There are both natural fillers and artificial ones. Natural fillers, such as fluff and feather, are the warmest, they are suitable for the cold northern winter, when the temperature is below zero for several months, and sometimes frosts just become like in the Arctic. These excipients include the following:

1. The fluff of a bird. This item will be marked with the word down. a down jacket made of natural fluff is very expensive, it should be up to 80% in the filling of the product. Some manufacturers mix down with feathers, this is the most common version of down jackets with a natural filler. In such a winter jacket, neither severe frosts nor February blizzards are terrible. Bird fluff does not let the cold in, the heat of the human body is well kept in it. Things from it are light in weight, but quite dimensional. Fluff responds well to heat, increasing in volume. Therefore, ladies who care about the elegant appearance, down jackets will not have to go to court. But lovers of sports style and active winter vacations should not find down jackets.
2. Feather of a bird (goose, duck). The down jacket label will be marked feather. A feather reduces the cost of a down jacket, it becomes heavier than a thing from pure down. Also, when wet, it exudes a smell characteristic of feather products. If the fabric or stitching is of poor quality, the feathers will creep out. After washing, such a down jacket dries for a long time.
3. Eiderdown. This is the most expensive filler in the world. Gaga is found only in the wild, and you can collect fluff only twice a year. Every year, no more than 4 thousand kilograms of eiderdown are mined all over the world. Due to the high ability of adhesion of the fibers, the eiderdown is evenly distributed, creating a thin layer of insulation. Things from this unique material are not as voluminous as down jackets made of feather and goose down. They are not just warm, they are hot. In the room it is impossible to be in outer clothing for more than a minute. But in severe polar frosts, you can not worry about warming. In order not to spoil such a valuable thing, special detergents have been created for washing down jackets with eider down.
4. Cotton wool or cotton. In another way, this is a regular padded jacket - the cheapest outerwear used by workers working in the fresh air. Such a down jacket after washing loses heat-insulating properties, cold zones are formed in it.

A synthetic filler does not at all indicate a lower quality of heat and moisture insulation in comparison with natural materials. Modern technologies allow the production of high-quality fillers, each of which has its own characteristics. In down jackets, the following artificial fillers are often used:

1. Synthetic winterizer. The word Polyester will appear on the label. This is not the most suitable material for winter, it is mainly used in off-season jackets and coats. After washing it, it loses its shape and thermal insulation properties.
2. Isosoft. This is the most popular type of artificial filler. Things with isosoft do not lose shape after washing, it is much thinner than synthetic winterizer and does not create such a volume as a feather or fluff. The only negative is the high price. Down jackets with isosoft are often found among lovers of skiing.
3. Hollofiber. It is denoted by the word hollowfiber. It is a non-woven fabric made of polyester. Hollow fibers stick together well, not letting in heat and cold. It does not absorb moisture, passes air well. Things from holofiber do not lose their elasticity and shape after numerous washes.
4. Thinsulate This is an insulation made of the finest fiber, which perfectly retains heat. It is practically weightless, but surpasses goose down in thermal insulation properties. After getting wet or washing, thinsulate easily restores shape. This insulation is used in the manufacture of sportswear.
5. Swansdown. He has nothing to do with swans. The material is artificial, but at the same time light and airy and with good insulation. Withstands numerous washings, dries quickly and does not lose shape.

How to wash down jackets in a washing machine

Today in stores there are special gels for washing items with fluff and feather. They differ from standard powders and gels in that they do not foam, but penetrate deeply into the fibers of the product. The use of ordinary powder will lead to abundant foaming, and the product will have to rinse in several passes. And then this will not be an absolute guarantee of washing the detergent out of the down jacket. In addition, they remove only external pollution. Among them:

1. Means for winter sportswear Sport Fein Fashion of the German brand Domal. It retains the membrane of the down jacket, perfectly washing dirt from the fluff or artificial filler. It does not leave streaks, the down jacket will retain its waterproof properties and the impregnated layer. The fluff does not gather in lumps, but spreads evenly over the entire surface. There are no stains on the surface, the gel has an antistatic effect.
2. A liquid balm for cleaning things containing fluff and feather Woly Sport Down wash. The active components of the product will protect the structure of the fluff, preventing its fragility and stall. Extends the life of down products. It will help eliminate lumps in a down jacket, previously not washed in a special tool.
3. Domestic product for washing downy items ProfHim. Eliminates various types of pollution, does not spoil the fabric structure. The color of the down jacket will remain the same bright, stains will not be visible on the fabric. Suitable for different types of fabrics, perfectly washed when rinsing.

How to prepare a down jacket for washing

Keep in mind that the down jacket must be prepared for washing. Indeed, in addition to fabric and filler, it has fur and leather inserts, various zippers, buttons and buttons, stickers and emblems.

1. To begin, carefully consider the label on the down jacket. It should bear the sign “machine wash”. This means that the thing is erased not only by hands.
2. In order not to wash the stash and passport with the down jacket, carefully review the contents of all the pockets.
3. Fasten locks and zippers. If there are buttons, it is better to rip them off, and sew again after washing.
4. Turn things inside out. The down jacket is washed in warm water no higher than 30C in the delicate washing mode.
5. So that fluff and feather do not stray into lumps, special balls for washing are put in the washing machine. They have rubber spikes, which during the washing process “break” the emerging clods. If there are no special balls, you can throw a few tennis balls, having previously doused them with boiling water.
6. As a rule, especially caked traces of sweat and grease remain on the cuffs and collar.Clean them with ordinary household soap.
7. When rinsing, use the “extra rinse” mode. So you will avoid stains on the surface of the down jacket, and also additionally wash the detergent from the filler.
8. The thing is dried at the minimum speed (600-800) in the “synthetic fabrics” mode in the presence of washing balls. It will take 3 hours to completely dry the down jacket. After that, the jacket is taken out of the washing machine, shaken and whipped like a pillow, and carried out onto the balcony. But just do not fasten the down jacket with clothespins. Hang it on a hanger and shake it periodically. Do not lay down jacket on stools or other horizontal surface. It should be blown from all sides.
9. Never iron the down jacket. Its fabric has impregnation, which can be destroyed by high temperatures.

Observing all the rules for washing a down jacket, you will not worry about the lumps formed. Using special balls for washing, you save the item and make the wash more delicate. Use detergents specifically designed for down products. Dry only in an upright position, otherwise a specific “chicken” smell and cold zones in the washed item may appear.

Video: rules for washing down jackets