Cleaning Down Jackets

[IAmongstTheWorld]

How do you clean/wash a down jacket well? I threw my last one in the washing machine and it was ruined... Do I need to take it to a professional?

I used down-specific (waterproofing) detergent, wool cycle. Then (super important!) tumbledryer with a tennis ball or two to refluff feathers! Works like a charm.

I handwash with a liquid soap ( fairy liquid or mild shampoo will do) and warm water . Drip dry on a coat hanger in the shower or over the bath overnight. Then I dry it with a hairdryer. Give it a damn good shake then zip the jacket up then dry inside, all round, up the sleeves and up the body on a medium heat setting. It will transform from looking like something the cat dragged in to its soft and bouncy newness in about ten minutes. You're welcome. ( I've done this with small Uniqlo jackets and a big calf length berghaus coat. Tho that one took about half an hour.)

I did one of mine at the weekend (its an old Mountain Warehouse one I use for gardening)
Washed inside out at 30 and then put it in again on a spin cycle. Put it on a radiator to dry then give it a good shaking.
Turned out perfectly.

All of mine specifically state 'Do Not Tumble Dry' so please do check that before you do!

I have 2 down jackets Lands End & The North Face both say Tumble Dry.

Into the washing machine on 30, then low in the tumble drier for two hours and finally, finished off on the radiator (just to make sure ).

I thought I’d ruined my North Face one after putting it in the washing machine but it turned out it just needed to fully dry before it would fluff back up again. It took about 3 days to dry and then I just gave it a shake.

I thought I’d ruined my DKNY down jacket but I dried it flat then puffed it up on a short cycle in the dryer with a damp towel and it was back to normal.

Tumble dryer with dryer balls brings them back puffier than ever, perfect

machine wash on low with down specific detergent. Graingers or nikwax. Then tumble dry for a LONG time on low heat, with tumble dryer balls or stopping and shaking a lot.

I think graingers do a set with the detergent and balls.

sorry, can't spell " grangers"

I use a wool wash with delicate detergent, then dry in a tumble dryer with natural wool balls like these: www.amazon.co.uk/Smart-Sheep-Premium-All-Natural-Softener/dp/B00GA9P5P0?tag=mumsnetforu03-21
The wool balls I linked to not only act like tennis balls and increase fluffiness, they also increase tumble dryer/energy efficiency.

@Poppins2016 those wool balls look great, I've never seen them before

@goingtotown

I have 2 down jackets Lands End & The North Face both say Tumble Dry.

Weird. My North Face Gotham says line dry as does my Ayacucho.

Proves the point I was making though, all are different so definitely check the labels.

[quote Sweetpotatoaddict]@Poppins2016 those wool balls look great, I've never seen them before[/quote]
@Sweetpotatoaddict I only found them by accident when Googling for the best way to dry a down coat! I now use them with other washing, cuts down the drying time and makes everything nice and soft. I find sheets etc are less wrinkled.

We use Nikwax down wash, then tumble in the drier with those ball things to puff the feathers back up.