Caring for a down jacket at home A down jacket has two undeniable advantages - it is warm and light. But, like every thing, it gets dirty. Especially if the down jacket is light, then the need for washing arises not only at the end of the season, but every two to three weeks. First, remember everything you can’t do: The down jacket does not need to be soaked. Use detergents containing bleach or dye for washing. Use any bleach. Dry the down jacket in a towel or other method without access to air. Leave the down jacket compressed during storage. Before you start washing your down jacket, you need to find out what kind of insulation is used. The inscriptions “polyester”, “hollow fiber” or “fiberteck” indicate that the inside of the down jacket is made of synthetic material, and there will be no problems with washing. This down jacket can be washed in a machine or by hand in washing powder in warm water. Rinse until the water runs clear. Dry at room temperature on a hanger. If the down jacket has natural insulation - down, feathers (the inscriptions on the label are “down”, “feather”), then delicate care is needed. It is better not to use powder when washing - it does not rinse well, the fluff will form lumps, and stains will remain on the fabric. Look for a special liquid detergent for washing down jackets or use a detergent for delicate washing. Before washing, all particularly dirty areas (collar, cuffs, inside hem, near pockets) should be treated with baby or laundry soap and lightly rubbed with your hand or brush. Rinse off the foam with warm water and then you can proceed to the main wash. The down jacket can be washed in a machine, in the delicate wash mode, the water temperature should not be higher than that indicated in the care instructions or on the inner label of the product. You need to rinse the down jacket two to three times, then wring it out manually or in a machine at low speed. To prevent fluff from getting lost during washing, it is recommended to put two or three tennis balls in the machine (meaning tennis balls). Before washing, do not forget to fasten all zippers and buttons so that the down jacket does not lose its shape. As for drying, it should be natural; you cannot dry a down jacket on a radiator. Hang the down jacket on hangers and dry it at room temperature; in summer you can take it out onto the balcony. Periodically shake the product in different directions to prevent the down from caking, and the more often you do this, the better the down jacket will look after washing. You need to dry until the fluff is completely dry. If the down jacket is not dried enough, then the down and feathers, as organic material, can rot during further storage. But you shouldn’t delay drying either - you need to dry down jackets for a maximum of two days. After washing and drying, the down jacket can be hidden until next winter. It should be stored flat, on hangers, preferably in a dry and ventilated area.

Winter, fortunately, is already over, and the time has come to hang the down jacket in the closet. However, before you finally send it on vacation, you should pay attention to cleaning it. In this article I will talk about the basic rules for caring for down jackets.

We look at the tags and labels

Small labels are sewn onto any item of clothing, which indicate whether the product can be washed or not, if so, at what temperature, whether by hand or in a machine; Is it possible to dry clean it, iron it, etc. Before you do anything with your newly purchased clothes, read the labels! Otherwise, unpleasant surprises are possible. I remember how in one review of a washing machine, a certain lady swore that the machine had ruined her beautiful woolen suit. And let me remind you, just in case, that wool suits cannot be washed.

Dry cleaning

Perhaps this is the best option. Almost all down jackets can be dry cleaned. Of course, this costs some money (about 1000 rubles, sometimes more), but it guarantees the safety of your down jacket. Keep in mind that dry cleaners offer a variety of discounts and promotions. Some offer supermarket cards (for example, the Perekrestok card gives you the right to a 10% discount at Diana).

To wash or not?

First of all, you should not wash down jackets with permanent fur or leather trim. The fur can spoil itself and ruin your washing machine. Leather trim elements may leave dark marks on the down jacket. Therefore, it is better not to take risks. If you want a practical down jacket, choose a product with detachable fur (or at least a detachable hood) and without leather elements.

Accuracy comes first

In any case, washing a down jacket is not an easy task. You can wash it by hand, but it’s a bit difficult, and if you’re not used to it, you can ruin the item. It is usually not recommended to wash down jackets in a machine, but if you follow certain rules, this is generally acceptable. Just remember that no one is responsible for the consequences. But, of course, when the manufacturer puts on the label “machine washable,” there is no particular risk. However, it is necessary to read the instructions before washing.

What is the main problem? The fact is that down and feathers, when wet, stick together and form peculiar lumps. Thus, during the drying process, the down jacket must be shaken and fluffed regularly. It's not easy to do this. But it is necessary, otherwise after drying you risk getting something lumpy and shapeless, and not a normal down jacket.

When washing a down jacket in a washing machine, you need to select a delicate wash cycle or something similar. Temperature - 30 degrees, no more. Better without spinning. You need to fasten the zipper and buttons. In addition, it is better to use a special liquid detergent suitable for washing down jackets (ask at hardware stores). After washing, it is worth adding an additional rinse so that the detergent is completely washed out of the down jacket.

If you decide to wash by hand, you need to proceed as follows. Lightly wet the down jacket (it’s better to place it vertically so that it doesn’t get too wet) and apply a cleaning agent to it (again, it’s better to ask at hardware stores; in principle, you can also use soap) using a soft brush. The main thing is not to overdo it with water and prevent the down jacket from getting completely wet. Contaminated areas should be rubbed harder with a brush. After cleaning, rinse off the soap suds with water from the shower. Direct the shower water tangentially.

Again, you need to dry the down jacket in a vertical position, over a basin of water (since it is not recommended to wring out down jackets). And, as already mentioned, you need to periodically beat the fluff in it. In general, this is a rather dreary matter. Decide for yourself whether it's worth it.

If you are going to dry the down jacket in the dryer, then it is worth placing several tennis balls in there along with the down jacket to “break up” the lumps of down during the drying process.

In any case, down jackets should not be bleached or soaked. And it is also very undesirable to use washing powder for washing!

A few more general tips. Wear down jackets carefully. Try not to lean against anything, not to touch questionable surfaces with your sleeves, and so on. If a small area is dirty, you can carefully “wash” it separately (for example, with soap), and the sooner the better (until the dirt is deeply ingrained). I would not use stain removers, since it is unknown whether the material of the down jacket will withstand them. The risk here may be small, but still significant.

Down jackets should be stored in a dry place (avoid even the slightest wetness), in an upright position (on hangers). From time to time it is worth airing them and shaking them a little.

When and how to wash a down jacket The down jacket is washed in two cases. When it gets dirty, and also when the season is over and you need to put away the down jacket for storage until the next season. Washing a puff is not easy, because... down tends to accumulate dust and clump when wet. It absorbs well and does not release detergents well. The down jacket must be cleaned or washed completely in accordance with the consumer instructions included with the product. It may indicate both hand and machine wash. So, for example, it may be written: “Wash by hand or in a washing machine in cold water. The detergent is mild. Do not bleach. Iron at low temperature." It should be kept in mind that despite the fact that some down jackets are machine washable, it is better to wash the down jacket by hand at a temperature of 30-40 degrees. Down jackets should not be soaked, and should not be wrung out or ironed. To avoid damage to the consumer (for example, if the drying is inappropriate, the surface of the down jacket may become covered with dirty yellow stains), it is best to take the down jacket to the dry cleaner. But the cost of a dozen dry cleaners is almost equal to the cost of a down jacket, and the required result is not guaranteed. In addition, some products may have a warning: “Dry cleaning prohibited.”

For some, on the contrary, it is preferable to dry clean them, because after washing at home, such fabric may lose its moisture-proof properties. Many modern dry cleaners no longer use dry cleaning, but wet cleaning “aquaclean”, which is a delicate wash with special detergents that do not contain alkalis or acids. In this case, special additives are used that preserve the color of the products, protect them from shrinkage, deformation and fluff matting, and effectively and delicately clean the fur trim. Down jackets are dried under dry cleaning conditions in a drying drum and drying chamber so that there are no streaks on the fabric and the down jacket itself has the correct shape.

Some puffs of light colors and shades have to be washed by consumers once every 2-3 weeks, and, of course, they have to take care of the delicacy of washing.

Do not wash the puff with regular washing powder. Although it won’t do much harm, it (just like regular soap) is very difficult to rinse out of fluff. There may be streaks left on the puff, and it will stick together and form clumps.

It is best to use a liquid detergent (including liquid soap), or even better, a special solution for down products. You can always ask consultants at a household chemicals store about such products.

In particular, there are special “Detergent for washing products made from down and feathers” (does not damage the fibers, does not change the shade or color intensity of the product, prevents the appearance of yellow spots and stains on white down jackets, preserves the breathability and fatty coating of the down, protects the down from brittleness, rolling).

As a rule, domestic products are significantly cheaper for consumers than imported ones.

Preparing a down jacket for washing

Before you start washing, you need to fasten all zippers, fasteners, Velcro, buttons, etc. to prevent the zippers or fabric near the buttons from becoming deformed. You also need to unfasten the hood and fur. Take everything out of your pockets.

It is worth turning the down jacket inside out.

Down jackets with natural filling are not soaked. Products made from padding polyester can be completely soaked.

Hand wash down jacket

If the contamination is insignificant, then the consumer can use a special stain remover and wash the down jacket by hand.

Most often, cuffs, pockets, the side against which the bag rubs, and the collar get dirty. To clean them, you need to apply a little mild shampoo or laundry soap to the fabric, slightly wet it and rub the dirty areas with your hand or brush. Next, the foam is thoroughly washed off with a wet cloth.

In order to wash the entire down jacket from the outside, you need to hang it on hangers or on a rope above the bathtub, completely soap the fabric, and then rinse off the foam with water from the shower. In this case, the down jacket made of water-repellent fabric will become clean on the outside and will not get wet on the inside - the down will not form clumps, and you will not have to dry it for a long time.

The entire down jacket can be washed in warm water with soft, non-sharp movements. After hand washing, wring out and dry in the same way as after machine washing.

Machine washable down jacket

Before machine washing (without soaking), using a stain remover and a brush, the consumer should treat particularly dirty areas.

Only one down jacket is loaded into the washing machine drum.

Water temperature for washing is up to 30 degrees.

Washing mode – delicate (low speed).

Along with the down jacket, it is recommended to place 3 special (or regular tennis balls) balls in the washing machine, which will prevent the down from forming clumps during washing and spinning.

How to rinse a down jacket

Rinse the down jacket several times (preferably at least three times).

They rinse especially carefully during the first wash, because the technology for sewing down jackets involves the presence of industrial dust inside them, which must be rinsed thoroughly during the first wash.

The consumer also needs to rinse the down jacket thoroughly if it has been washed with regular washing powder.

How to wring out a down jacket

It is best not to wring out the down jacket, but to take it out wet, and place it on a special mesh or bath board and let it drain. But there is no need to weigh the unwrung down jacket on hangers, because... in this case, the fluff will bunch up at the bottom of the jacket and there will also be a yellow streak left there from the water.

When spinning in the washing machine, set the gentle washing mode (at the lowest speed of the washing machine).

During the spin cycle in the washing machine, tennis balls are left in it, which will prevent the fluff from forming clumps.

How to dry a down jacket

It is not recommended for consumers to dry a down jacket in a washing machine. If you still choose this drying method, then tennis balls are again used during the process to whip up the fluff.

The machine drying process can take up to two hours. After the down jacket is taken out of the drying drum, it is worth drying it in an upright position on hangers at room temperature so that it finally loses all moisture and takes its previous shape.

Do not dry the product on a blanket or towel, as in this case there is no free air circulation.

You should not place the down jacket on heating devices or use a hair dryer, because... Hot air can cause the feather to become brittle and the fabric to lose color.

During drying, the down jacket should be periodically removed from its hangers and shaken like a pillow so that the filling does not stick together or move to one side. The more often and more vigorously (but not too much!) the down jacket is shaken, the better it looks after washing.

Sometimes wet feathers smell unpleasant, but after the down jacket dries, the smell disappears.

After the down jacket has completely dried, you need to shake it thoroughly again before storing it or putting it on yourself.

If you purchased a down jacket, be prepared to shell out money for cleaning it. For each trip to the dry cleaner you will have to pay 1000 rubles (the average price for a down jacket). If you are in no hurry to part with your money so easily, you can clean your down jacket at home. We'll talk about this below.

We take the down jacket to the dry cleaner

You need to look for a dry cleaner that specializes in cleaning down jackets. If they use dry cleaning, your jacket will deteriorate and lose its original appearance. This is especially true light down jackets(white).

For good care you need a modern dry cleaner that uses aquaclean technology. This is a delicate wash that will not harm the structure of the jacket and will not crumple the down inside. By giving your jacket to specialists, you don’t have to worry about the quality of the work done. They use only safe detergents and carefully dry and store the down jacket. You can look how to dry clean down jackets, video:

After such dry cleaning, your down jacket will be as good as new, but be prepared to pay a certain amount for it (700 - 1500 rubles).

How to clean a down jacket at home

1.Preparation, washing, soaking, drying

It is recommended to prepare the down jacket before washing. Close all the zippers, close the pockets, unfasten the hood and fur, and turn the down jacket inside out. Washing instructions can be found on the label. It is recommended to wash at a temperature no higher than 40C°. Do not soak! It is recommended to dry the down jacket in a ventilated place.

2. Eliminating fluff balls

To prevent lumps of fluff from appearing that spoil the appearance of the down jacket, we recommend putting several tennis balls in the washing machine. When choosing a jacket, be guided by these, and then there will never be lumps.

3. Special cleaning products

If you want to clean your down jacket yourself, as they do at a dry cleaner, buy special cleaning products. They will provide antibacterial properties, increase water-repellent properties and give the down jacket a noble appearance.

How to store a down jacket in summer

After the cold weather ends, you need to think about storing your down jacket in the summer. The best option is a cotton cover that can be placed in a dark closet. Do not store your down jacket near a radiator, a source of strong odor, or in the sun. Don't forget to clean your jacket before storing it.

Caring for a down jacket at home quite simple. Follow the tips above and you can keep your down jacket for years to come!

/website/ In recent years, Russian citizens prefer to wear down jackets in winter. This warm clothing is perfect for Russian winters with frequently changing weather. Men's down jackets, like women's ones, are very light and are as close as possible to sportswear, which is also valued for its comfort. Such a warm jacket requires good care, because you will have to wear it in rain and snow. Only in this case will the down jacket last for several seasons. How to care for a down jacket?

How to wash a down jacket

These jackets can be washed either by machine or by hand, but you must follow a few rules. Before washing, fasten all zippers and buttons; if the product has a detachable hood or fur, remove it before washing. Down jackets are washed in water at a temperature not exceeding thirty degrees. It is not recommended to use dry powder: after washing, stains will remain on the jacket. Use only gentle liquid products. Before the main wash, you can soak the cuffs and collar in water with a small amount of laundry soap dissolved in it. After a couple of hours, the cuffs and collar should be cleaned with a soft brush. If you decide to wash your down jacket in the machine, choose the delicate cycle.

After washing, the jacket is impregnated with a water-repellent mixture to prevent it from getting wet when it rains. The spin speed in the washing machine should not exceed 800. To prevent the fluff from clumping, you can put three tennis balls in the machine before washing. Rinse the product three times to avoid streaks. Dry down jackets on hangers, preferably in a room with good ventilation. Shake the product thoroughly every three hours so that the fluff is evenly distributed.

Removing stains from a down jacket

To remove a dirty stain from a down jacket, it is not necessary to wash the entire product. A greasy, old stain can be removed using gasoline: moisten cotton wool with gasoline, thoroughly treat the area, sprinkle it with salt and soda. You can also use talcum powder, baby powder or chalk. Rub the product into the stain a little, then clean with a soft brush. If the stain is still fresh, use a mild detergent such as shampoo. Dilute a small amount of shampoo in hot water, lather and apply to the stain, remove the remaining soap solution with a damp cloth. This procedure is repeated until the contamination disappears.

To quickly clean your down jacket, use a glass cleaner. Apply foam to the stained area, and after a few seconds, clean with a soft cloth or foam sponge. An effective stain remover for jackets can be made at home. Take one small spoon each of dishwashing liquid and ammonia, dilute in one hundred milliliters of water. Beat the foam, apply to contaminated areas, and then clean with a regular sponge.

Storing a down jacket

Down jackets should not be stored rolled up. Down needs space, so it is best to store it in a closet on a hanger. If you are storing the jacket for long-term storage, fasten it with buttons and zippers to prevent the product from becoming deformed. For the summer, the jacket should be put in a fabric bag, first put on a hanger. A polyethylene cover will not work because the down will not have the ability to “breathe”. Keep products with strong odors away from the down jacket, because down quickly absorbs any odors. Storage temperature also plays a big role. Since this is winter clothing, it will not tolerate the heat well. Keep the jacket away from direct sunlight and heating devices. (website)