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How To Clean
Down
Jackets and Coats
Cleaning a down
jacket or coat presents several challenges due to the type of material
used in the construction. Great care needs to be taken to insure that
the down filling does not get damaged during the cleaning process.
Down jackets and coats are
some of the warmest outer ware in the most harsh of winter climates. The natural
insulating ability will keep in your body temperature in sub zero
temperatures. Down jackets are rated based on the ability to keep you warm at
a specific temperature level. A –30 rating implies that you will still be warm at a minus
30-degree temperature. It's is determined by the amount (number of ounces) and fill number
(number of feathers or other material).
Due to the material's great insulating qualities come some rather
challenging cleaning issues and requirements for any down jackets and
coat. Many coats and jackets have specific cleaning requirements due to the materials that are used to manufacture the garments.
A leather exterior is a good example. But even wool and synthetic blends
may require some special cleaning methods to keep from damaging the
material and impacting the insulating ability.
And add a waterproof covering (many of the harsh climate designs have a outside cover that is waterproof) that sometimes defies cleaning and we have some real challenges. No matter what the material, heat and strong detergents or cleaning fluids, and rough handling will harm many coats and jackets. Down material is especially problematic under these conditions.
The first thing to do before any cleaning exercise is to read the label with the recommended cleaning instructions. Second is to avoid any stain removers since they can damage materials due to the their caustic nature. If the jacket or coat has liners or outside covers, separate and deal with each item accordingly.
If the garment states it should be dry cleaned only, then that's your best option. Sometimes the label will indicate that dry cleaning is preferred but also states other methods may be used with care. Materials that cannot be subjected to water since it will stretch or make garment loose shape is the most common requirement for dry cleaning only.
If your label indicates you can wash with care, then you can follow these suggestions to get the best results. Before any actual washing, shake off any dirt or foreign materials. If cloth like material, use a lint remover that uses tape and go over entire garment. Inspect garment to gage how much effort is going to be necessary to clean, sometimes just plain water can be used if soiling is not too bad. If you decide it's going to take a little more effort, then use a very delicate cleaning product like Woolite. Woolite comes in several versions for specific materials and colors.
Never subject any down coat or jacket to normal washing machine agitating cleaning cycle. You can use a commercial washing machine (found at most laundermats) that has no center agitator that could cause your down material to move around and stick together. Or you can just use the washing machine to soak your down coat or jacket for recommended interval. And don't use the spin dry cycle for the same reasons.
Once you have soaked your coat or jacket, take out and use towels to pat dry. You can then hand fluff the material gently to keep the down material from balling up and spread equally around the space. Now you can decide whether to just lay out the coat on towels to air dry, turning about every 30 minutes or try a very brief drying cycle with very low temperature air or just room temperature air for 10-15 minutes. Then take out and hand fluff again to spread out down. If the coat or jacket still appears damp, try another 10-minute cycle and fluff again.
When you check back and feel the coat or jacket is sufficiently dry, fluff again and hang in place where it can completely air out and dry. The key to this whole process is to never wring out or treat the garment rough in wash or dry process. That's what can cause damage and allow your garment to lose shape and insulating ability. Severe washing methods will damage and wear out a down coat or jacket faster than normal wear and tear during use.
A good quality down coat or jacket can cost $100s of dollars so a little effort in making sure you clean properly can go a long way to getting the longest wear and the best value for the buck. A little care and effort can make sure that you get a clean down coat or jacket and don't damage the garment.
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