HOW TO WASH YOUR DOWN JACKET?

Whether it's for hiking, skiing or snowboarding, the down jacket is a must-have for outdoor sports. But to ensure it lasts a long period of time, it's important to know how to wash your down jacket whether it's made of feather, down or synthetic padding.

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When to wash a down jacket?

Washing your down jacket is an essential step for its comfort. Indeed, the accumulation of dirt and perspiration will cause it to lose its insulating qualities, which is why you need to watch for signs of fouling. For down jackets made of feather or down, the accumulation of material at the collar, cuffs or underarms are quite often an indicator. The loss of the inflated aspect in the down should also alert you. More generally, and especially for down jackets made of synthetic, sebum accumulation in the areas in contact with your skin will let you know if it's time to wash your down jacket.

If you only use your down jacket on short trips to the mountains or in the city, then washing it once a year will be sufficient. If you use it more regularly and intensively, washing it every 6 months is the norm. In any case, washing powder should be avoided, as it is very difficult to rinse and could clog the micro-pores of technical fabrics. Similarly, chemical solvents used in dry cleaning can damage technical membranes such as Gore-Tex.

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The right way to clean your down jacket

Feather, down or synthetic, the easiest way to wash your down jacket is to use a washing machine after checking on the label of your garment that it supports this kind of cleaning.

Washing a feather or down jacket:

• Close the centre zip, undo the buttons on the bottom of the down jacket, loosen the hood cords and open the velcro cuffs.
• If your washing machine has a top opening, place your down comforter in a protective net.
• Add washing balls and run a short cycle at 30°C. New tennis balls can do the trick, but they may damage your drum.
• It is recommended that you use a soap dedicated to washing feather or down clothes which will not damage the water repellency of the outer fabric while revitalising the insulating qualities of the padding. If you don't have one and choose to use a conventional detergent, do an extra rinse after the cycle is complete. For the rinse, do not go beyond 800 rpm.

Washing a synthetic down jacket:

Here again, it's best to use a detergent that's suitable for the technical fabrics your down jacket is made of, ensuring breathability, thermal insulation and water repellency. Then simply proceed in the same way as for a down or feather jacket, minus the wash balls.

Hand washing:

Whether it's a synthetic padded jacket or a down padded jacket you can totally hand wash it. Simply fill the bottom of your bathtub with lukewarm water, never hot, and dilute the detergent. Then soak your jacket in soapy water and knead it. For dirtier areas, place soap on a nail brush and scrub gently.

Then drain off the dirty water and rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water using the shower head. Squeeze your jacket well to extract all the detergent. It is tempting to wring out your down jacket, but this can damage it! So it's best to simply squeeze it between your hands to get as much water out as possible, then squeeze it between towels to fine-tune the spin.

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The Gore-Tex down jacket: special treatment

If you have a down jacket with a Gore-Tex technical membrane that keeps you dry thanks to its waterproofing and breathability, then you'll need to take this specificity into account when washing your down jacket. Washing with a standard detergent will be fine, but a specific cleaner will allow you to reactivate the water repellency.

Whichever you choose, make sure you rinse twice and, once your down jacket is perfectly dry, offer it another 20 minutes in the tumble dryer to stimulate the original qualities of your technical membrane. If you don't have a tumble dryer, dry your down jacket and then iron the outer surface at the temperature for delicate piece of cloth, protecting it with a towel.

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Is waterproofing mandatory?

Washing time is often also waterproofing time. If your technical membrane is showing signs of weakness, take advantage of its cleaning to apply a waterproofing solution. You have two methods to choose from:

• Waterproofing by immersion: after thoroughly cleaning the detergent compartment of your washing machine, pour in the waterproofing treatment. Run a gentle cycle, then dry your down jacket in the conventional way.
• Spray waterproofing: take your down jacket out of the machine and spray the treatment all over the outer surface from a distance of about 15 cm. Blot the excess with a damp towel and then, after a few minutes, refine the application, not forgetting the seams and hidden places (under the armpits, in the back...).

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How to dry your down jacket?

Once the down jacket has been washed comes the delicate operation of drying. After washing in the washing machine or by hand, it is recommended to place your down jacket on a bath towel and cover it with another one to soak up the water as much as possible.

• Natural drying: the universal rule is to dry your down jacket flat in an airy place and not in direct contact with a heat source, be it the sun or a radiator. Dry your down jacket flat on a drying rack for at least 48 hours, turning it over once a day. After this time, you can hang it on a hanger, as most of the weight of the water will have disappeared, so it won't warp. For feather models, you will also need to take care to break up the clumps of material that will have been created due to the washing. Also, don't hesitate to pat your down jacket to help it regain its volume/ inflated aspect. Drying takes several days, so wash your down jacket at least a week before using it.
• Machine drying: most down jackets can withstand the tumble dryer, but still check the label before going ahead. Use a gentle dryer with, for feather or down jacket, two wash balls in the drum. Even with a synthetic model you will need several cycles to fully dry your down jacket. The number of drying cycles will depend on the thickness of your down jacket and the heat. Always use a low temperature, even if it means running it through the tumble dryer several times. To optimise the speed of drying, remember to turn your down jacket over in the drum. Between each cycle, take your down jacket out and pat it back into shape. Take advantage of this to separate the agglomerated feathers.

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Beware of furry down jackets

It's not uncommon to see down jackets adorned with fur on the hood. If it's synthetic fur, you can totally wash it all together, either by hand or in the machine. Real fur, on the other hand, is to never be washed. If your hood is removable, clean it with a face flannel and dust the fur with a dry cloth. If it is not, you will have to wash your down jacket by hand and be very nimble and patient to do so without wetting the fur. To be safe, wrap it in a plastic bag and seal it as tightly as possible.

You don't have to clean it often, but when it comes time to wash your down jacket, take your time and adopt the right gestures in order to prolong its life and enjoy flawless thermal insulation and waterproofing for a long time.