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Original poster

I washed a down jacket and expected it to survive?

104 replies

Justsewsew · 18/12/2025 19:02

I bought an as new Land's End down jacket from Vinted and washed it today on a 30 degree wash. The filling has clumped up in the channels and I now notice it should have been a cold wash only. I've tumbled dried it on low but it's mot getting any better. Is there anything I can do to redeem it? 😭

OP posts:
TheGirlattheBack · 18/12/2025 19:34

It takes much longer than you expect. If it’s clumped, the feathers are still wet inside.

Recently washed a puffa and it took 7 hours in the dryer to be thoroughly dry! You have to dry, take out, shake it out, and repeat until it fluffs.

I did use dryer balls.

ErrolTheDragon · 18/12/2025 19:34

LindaMcCartney · 18/12/2025 19:28

@FedUpWithDilemmas your general laissez faire consumer is not interested in ethical down it’s too expensive and like I said TWICE nobody gives a f**K anyway 🤷🏻‍♀️

Lands End (which is where this item is from) claims to, and agrees with you (and me, and I would think everyone who has heard of it) that live plucking is barbaric
https://www.landsend.com/sustainability/down/

Lands’ Friendly - #IAmLandsFriendly

An ongoing priority for Lands’ End is our commitment to the environment. We constantly strive to improve our efforts to become more “Lands’ Friendly”.

https://www.landsend.com/sustainability/down/

Original poster
Justsewsew · 18/12/2025 19:37

LindaMcCartney · 18/12/2025 19:16

It’s actually more tragic that the Geese were tortured so you could have a jacket - which In our climate you don’t need, but hey who gives. F**k about geese having their chest down ripped off and stitched up again

You are right of course @LindaMcCartney . I don't really know why I bought it as I don't eat meat myself and I don't know what overcame me. No excuses.

OP posts:

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Clothing
Toddlerteaplease · 18/12/2025 19:38

I’vecwashed my down coats multiple times. It needs to fully dry out then give it a really good shake

Original poster
Justsewsew · 18/12/2025 19:41

carbonelthecat · 18/12/2025 19:26

Balled up socks in the tumble dryer work as well - occasionally taking it out and trying to separate the clumped bits.

I discovered half way through that my tumble dryer actually has a down setting!

Oh good shout - I don't have any spare tennis balls knocking about. Just off to check if dryer has down setting.

OP posts:
LindaMcCartney · 18/12/2025 19:41

@Justsewsew well, sorry - don’t be too hard on yourself. Thank you

Original poster
Justsewsew · 18/12/2025 19:43

ErrolTheDragon · 18/12/2025 19:34

Lands End (which is where this item is from) claims to, and agrees with you (and me, and I would think everyone who has heard of it) that live plucking is barbaric
https://www.landsend.com/sustainability/down/

Edited
Show quote history

I did think i had read that about Land's End some time ago but didn't want to quote that in case I was wrong.

OP posts:
GlassofRosePorfavor · 18/12/2025 19:45

This reply has been deleted

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Tinkerbellthefairy · 18/12/2025 19:47

If you haven’t got a drier stick a hair dryer up the sleeve and hit the down with a wooden spoon.

CaptainMyCaptain · 18/12/2025 19:49

Brightbluesomething · 18/12/2025 19:07

It’s not wrecked, that’s what always happens when you wash a down jacket in a machine.
You need lots and lots of tumble drying with tumble dryer balls, even out the filling in each section then give it a good shake. Tumble again if it’s still flat. It will eventually plump up. Don’t forget to waterproof it as well. I do that before I dry mine.

This. I haven't got a tumble dryer so I line dry mine and it always looks ruined but they come back to life when completely dry.

Highlighta · 18/12/2025 19:54

Take it out of the drier every now and then and manually move the clumps apart.

It is quite normal for it to be all clumpy.

After you think it's pretty dry, let it hang for a day or two to dry out properly. Then whack it with a long handled spoon to be sure it's all even again. It's quite therapeutic after all the effort that went into washing and drying the damn thing.

LindaMcCartney · 18/12/2025 19:55

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unpleasant

SouthernNights59 · 18/12/2025 20:03

2boyzNosleep · 18/12/2025 19:23

No biggie, I wash down coats often, dont have a tumble dryer.

Just keep shaking the coat vigorously as its drying a few times.. It will seem completely pointless at first but then as its nearly dry it jsut starts separating and spreads out evenly.

Thanks, that's useful as I don't have a dryer either.

RescueMeFromThisSilliness · 18/12/2025 20:17

I washed a pad insert from a cat igloo (feline accident on it so had to) and the thing came out looking like a tray of rock cakes. All big fat hard lumps. The cat won't go near it.😂

user1476613140 · 18/12/2025 20:21

I washed DH's one of a kind silk tie he bought from China years ago on a 40 degree wash🙈🤦‍♀️

He was upset about it but realised I do stupid stuff like this from time to time.

spotddog · 18/12/2025 20:33

Have you tried drying it on Down setting? It really makes a different. Add laundry or white tennis balls. Low setting doesn’t go deep enough.

Original poster
Justsewsew · 18/12/2025 20:36

I can't be doing with this every time I wash it. It's cream so it got grubby within a week 😭

OP posts:
Clefable · 18/12/2025 20:37

I have a Lands End down coat and it’s always come out fine with delicate wash cycle and then tumble dry with dryer balls.

Smartiepants79 · 18/12/2025 20:41

Justsewsew · 18/12/2025 20:36

I can't be doing with this every time I wash it. It's cream so it got grubby within a week 😭

Don’t throw it away for gods sake. Allow it to dry thoroughly and then just shake it in every possible direction for as long as possible. Smacking it against something helps also. It will be completely back to normal with. A bit of effort.

Tosserneighbour · 18/12/2025 21:26

I wash my down coats and they do this. I partially dry in the tumble and finish off on a clothes horse, shaking it out from time to time till it's fully dry and fluffed back to normal. I leave it a day or so with the dehumidifier on.

Skcollob · 18/12/2025 21:27

Please don't throw it away (I'll have it!!), tumble dry it again and just try not to let it get too grubby in future!

MyAgileHedgehog · 18/12/2025 21:31

You can get lofting down wash... Run your washer empty no soap then wash with the lofting soap. Dry in the dryer with tennis ball ls or those spiky gym balls.

For those that have thrown them in the bin... Fetch them out and re wash and dry.

CaptainMyCaptain · 18/12/2025 22:21

Skcollob · 18/12/2025 21:27

Please don't throw it away (I'll have it!!), tumble dry it again and just try not to let it get too grubby in future!

Maybe clean grubby cuffs etc with a sponge rather than washing the whole thing every time.

TheChosenTwo · 18/12/2025 22:34

I have a down jacket that I wash as little as possible but when I do it takes probably a good 10 hours in the tumble dryer on a cool
setting with a couple of dryer balls
in there. First time I washed it I thought I’d fucked it right up, it was flat as a pancake, but then googled and saw it would be fine - it was, but it took a lot longer than I thought. It did puff right back up with no declumping required.