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 hold the filler and its uniform distribution, the down jacket is stitched in squares or horizontal stripes. The outer fabric is impregnated to protect against adhering slush and high humidity. Down jacket is versatile 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 the cleaning of the down jacket. What is the best way to do this?

What are the types of down jackets

Down-padded coats have approximately the same design: straight or fitted style, mandatory stitching, pockets, zippers, leather inserts, zippers, etc. However, a variety is observed as a filler among down-padded coats.There are both natural and artificial fillers. Natural fillers, such as down and feather, are the warmest, they are suitable for the cold northern winter, when the temperature below zero lasts several months, and sometimes the frost becomes just like in the Arctic. These fillers include the following:

1. Pooh bird. This item will be marked with the word down. natural down jacket is very expensive, it should be up to 80% in filling the product. Some manufacturers mix down with feathers, this is the most common version of down jackets with natural filler. In such a winter jacket, neither severe frosts nor February blizzards are terrible. Bird fluff does not let the cold through, it keeps the warmth of the human body well. Things out of it are light in weight, but rather overall. Pooh responds well to heat, increasing in volume. Therefore, ladies who care about elegant appearance, down jackets will not fall to the court. But the lovers of sports style and active winter recreation is better not to find down jackets.
2. Feather of bird (goose, duck). On the label of the jacket will be marked with feather. Feather reduces the cost of the down jacket, it becomes heavier than the thing of pure down. Also, when wet, it smells like a feather.If the fabric or stitching substandard, feathers will crawl out. After washing such a down jacket dries for a long time.
3. Eiderdown. It is the most expensive filler in the world. Gaga is found only in the wild, and you can only gather fluff twice a year. Every year around the world no more than 4 thousand kilograms of eiderdown are mined. Due to the high ability of adhesion of fibers, eider down is evenly distributed, creating a thin layer of insulation. Things from this unique material are not as voluminous as feather and goose down jackets. They are not just warm, they are hot. Indoors it is impossible to be in outerwear for more than a minute. But in the fierce polar frost 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 eiderdown.
4. Cotton wool or cotton. In another way, this is a regular padded jacket - the cheapest outerwear used by workers in the fresh air. After washing, such a down jacket loses its heat-insulating properties, cold zones are formed in it.

Synthetic filler does not indicate a lower quality of heat and moisture insulation in comparison with natural materials.Modern technologies allow to produce high-quality fillers, each of which has its own characteristics. The following artificial fillers are often used in down jackets:

1. Sintepon. The label will display the word Polyester. For winter, it is not the most suitable material, it is mainly used in off-season jackets and coats. After washing it, it loses its shape and insulating properties.
2. Izosoft This is the most popular type of artificial filler. Things with isosoft do not lose their shape after washing, it is much thinner than a sintepon and does not create such a volume as a feather or a down. The only negative is the high price. Down jackets with isosoft often occur in lovers of alpine skiing.
3. Holofiber It is denoted by the word hollowfiber. It is a non-woven polyester fabric. Hollow fibers are well glued together, not missing heat and cold. Does not absorb moisture, well passes air. Things from holofiber do not lose their elasticity and shape after numerous washes.
4. Thinsulate. This is a thinnest fiber insulation that perfectly retains heat. It is almost weightless, but surpasses goose down in its thermal insulation properties. After wetting or washing, tinselite easily recovers.This insulation is used in the manufacture of sportswear.
5. Swansdown. For the swans, he has nothing to do. The material is artificial, but at the same time the same light and airy and good insulation. Maintains numerous washings, dries quickly and does not lose its shape.

How to wash jackets in the washing machine

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

1. Means for winter sportswear Sport Fein Fashion German brand Domal. It preserves the membrane of the jacket, perfectly washing away pollution from fluff or artificial filler. Does not leave stains, the down-padded coat will keep the waterproof properties and the impregnated layer. Pooh is not going to lumps, and fluffs evenly over the entire surface.On the surface there are no stains, the gel has an antistatic effect.
2. Liquid balm for cleaning items containing fluff and feather Woly Sport Down wash. The active components of the tool will protect the structure of the fluff, preventing its fragility and stalling. Prolongs the life of products from down. It will help to eliminate lumps in the powder coat, previously washed not in a special tool.
3. Domestic laundry detergent for fluff things ProfHim. Eliminates various types of pollution, does not damage the fabric structure. The color of the down jacket will remain the same bright, on the fabric will not be visible stains. Suitable for different types of fabrics, perfectly washed out when rinsing.

How to prepare a down jacket for washing

Keep in mind that the down jacket should 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 get started, carefully consider the label on the jacket. It should have a “machine wash” sign. This means that the thing is not only erased by hand.
2. In order not to wash along with a down jacket and a passport, carefully review the contents of all pockets.
3. Close the locks and zippers.If there are buttons, it is better to unpick them, and after washing, sew again.
4. Turn the thing inside out. The down jacket is washed in warm water no higher than 30 ° C with a delicate wash mode.
5. In order for the down and feather not to clump together, special washing balls are put into the washing machine. They have rubber spikes, which in the process of washing "break" the emerging lumps. If there are no special balls, you can throw a few tennis balls, having previously boiled them in boiling water.
6. As a rule, on the cuffs and collar there are especially stubborn traces of fluids and dirt. Scrub them with ordinary household soap.
7. During the rinse, use the “extra rinse” mode. So you will avoid stains on the surface of the down jacket, as well as additionally wash the detergent from the filler.
8. The thing dries at minimum speed (600-800) in the "synthetic fabric" mode in the presence of balls for washing. For complete drying of the down jacket will take 3 hours. After that, the jacket gets out of the washing machine, shaken and whipped like a pillow, and carried to the balcony. But do not fasten down jacket with clothespins. Hang it on a coat hanger and shake it periodically.Do not put down jacket on stools or other horizontal surface. It should be blown from all sides.
9. In no case do not iron down jacket. Its fabric has an impregnation, which can collapse from high temperatures.

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

Video: the rules of washing down jackets