How to clean a down jacket?
Down jackets are gaining more and more popularity among the population, because it is comfortable, warm and practical outerwear. But when the time comes to ask the question: “How to clean a down jacket?”, Here some difficulties arise. This thing requires careful and reverent care. About how to clean a down jacket and will be discussed in this article.
to contents ↑How to wash down jackets in dry cleaning
Cleaning a down jacket in dry cleaning is a simple and time-saving way to restore your attractive appearance to your jacket. Today, dry cleaners are equipped with the most modern equipment that are suitable for cleaning almost all types of clothes. Such a system allows in a delicate mode not only to rid your thing of dirt and unwanted effects, but also to improve its appearance.
Important! The most popular and new technology is cleaning with the name “aquaclean”, a “wet cleaning” method that replaces the previously common dry cleaning method. Gentle detergents are used in this method. It should be noted that the funds in aquaclean do not cause allergies.
Outerwear is washed in dry cleaning in two stages: the first of them is the cleaning itself, the second is drying. The features of each of these processes are as follows:
- In the first stage, a special conditioner is always used, which does not allow the fluff to stray and turn into lumps.
- The second stage is divided into 2 sub-stages:
- first, the thing is dried in a drum, in which the upper layers of clothing quickly dry, which prevents drips on the fabric;
- during the second sub-step, the thing is hung on the brackets in a vertical, suspended form, where it already dries completely.
You only have to pick up the thing at the appointed time and wear it again, or hang it in the closet until next winter.
to contents ↑Cleaning a down jacket at home
If for some reason you can’t dry clean your clothes, or you just don’t want to do this, you will definitely need to know how to clean your down jacket at home. This process requires care and accuracy, because by doing something wrong, you can forever ruin the thing.
Defining a cleaning method
How to clean the down jacket will tell you the material and fill up, from which the thing is made. Also important is the type of pollution. These three factors will help you choose the method that is right for you with the highest accuracy. So, if your jacket consists of:
- From nylon or polyester fabric with feather-down filling, then in this embodiment it is advisable to use dry cleaning, and wet (machine or hand wash).
- From Teflon coating or membrane - machine wash is not allowed for such materials. When cleaning such products, it is also not recommended to use ordinary powders and bleaches, only special detergents and manual washing. Read before taking any action on your outerwear, what powder is better to wash a down jacket.
Consider also what a down jacket insulation used when sewing.
To remove local stains, it is better not to wash the entire product, but just do the stain removal.
to contents ↑Important! Pay attention to the product label, all the necessary information is usually placed there.To understand all the signs regarding the recommended and prohibited care measures, our team will help you. decoding of characters on clothes.
Wet cleaning
Before you start washing, you need to know the basic rules of how to clean a down jacket at home with this method. If you decide to wash your winter clothes in a car - remember:
- Wash a thing only in delicate mode at a water temperature of no more than 30 degrees. Temperatures above this mark may damage the initial condition of your jacket, or it may sit or shed. To understand the difference in the modes of your washing machine, read about what is delicate washing.
- When choosing detergents, give preference liquid powders. When buying a detergent, pay attention to the instructions for its use and read the list of those products for which this tool is intended.
- Do not use powders when washing. They are poorly washed out of the tissue and clog micropores, not leaving proper breathability of the tissue.
- It is strictly forbidden to soak down-feather products.
- Check for debris in the pockets of your down jacket. Button all the locks and buttons, otherwise - the thing may become deformed. Turn it inside out.
- Unfasten the belt, hood and all other removable items.
- Inspect the product, the most dirty places, such as sleeves, collar and others - wash with your hands using an ordinary soft brush and soap.
- Use special balls for washing, so that the fluff does not fall off. Put them together with the jacket in the car. If you do not have such balls, you can use tennis balls. In general, it is advisable to buy special ones, because they will come in handy more than once not only for washing a down jacket. Which ones are better to choose - see in our separate review "Balls for washing".
- It is necessary to rinse the down jacket in a delicate mode, and change the water several times to rinse all the washing. This will help get rid of soapy streaks on your product.
- It is necessary to squeeze a jacket at the smallest turns.
- To dry a thing, place it on a special wire rack. Periodically straighten a thing - sleeves, collar, back. Beat fluff and shake the jacket. It is not recommended to dry the down jacket on the shoulders, there is a high probability that the fluff from the shoulders will go down your product.
to contents ↑Important! Drying a down jacket near any kind of heaters is strictly prohibited!
Dry cleaning down jacket at home
Some models of down jackets do not tolerate wet cleaning. For such things, the dry cleaning method is suitable. Putting things in order is proposed in two ways.
Method 1
- Hang the down jacket on your shoulders.
- Dilute the shampoo with water until a foam forms.
- Use a soft sponge to apply foam to contaminated areas, usually cuffs and collars.
- Gently rub these areas to remove dirt.
- Remove the solution from the item with a damp sponge.
Method 2
You can go to the hardware store and purchase a special dry cleaning kit there. Many do not know how to clean down jackets with this kit. Everything is simple:
- Pour the powder included in the kit into the washing machine and put the down jacket there.
- Select spin or dry mode.
- Follow the instructions on the packaging.
to contents ↑Important! This method will help you easily bring “to life” a thing without washing and soaking.
Local cleaning
If a spot appears on your down jacket and you haven’t yet planned to clean the product completely - do not despair, it is not necessary to wash it all. It is possible to clean the down jacket only at the place of contamination. There are several ways to locally clean a down jacket with improvised means.
Method 1
You can clean a greasy down collar using the following algorithm of actions:
- Take 1 tbsp. ammonia, 100 ml of water and dishwashing detergent.
- Combine these ingredients until a thick foam forms.
- Put foam on the polluted places and rub them a little.
- Rinse the treated area with water and immediately dry it with a good absorbent cloth.
Method 2
For this method, mix ammonia and hydrogen peroxide in equal proportions. Soak a swab in the resulting solution and wipe the contaminated areas by wiping the remaining mixture dry.
Method 3
Also, in order to clean the down jacket you can use a wiper. It is advisable that he be in an aerosol can. For the cleaning:
- Apply spray to stains.
- Leave on for about a minute.
- Wipe clean with a cloth or sponge.
- Repeat 3-4 times.
Method 4
This method is suitable in order to clean your jacket from greasy stains.
- Take refined gasoline.
- Apply it on a cotton swab.
- Treat the place of pollution.
- Apply an absorbent substance to the treated area and rub it - it should absorb fat.
- Sweep the substance off the dirt.
- Repeat until you get the effect.
to contents ↑Important! Before washing and cleaning your down jacket with any means, first check it on the inside of your jacket to immediately determine if you will ruin your thing once and for all.
Fur collar cleaning
Almost every woman’s and every second man’s down jacket has a fur collar. Like the jacket itself, over time, it becomes dirty and unattractive and also needs to be cleaned. To clean the fur you need to know whether it is artificial or natural, it depends on how to clean it.
Faux fur
This type of fur can be washed in water using a liquid detergent. It is enough to rinse it in such water and leave to dry. A slightly damp fur is recommended to comb with a comb.
Natural fur
Brushing natural fur is harder than fake. There are several cleaning options:
- Wipe the fur with a cotton swab dipped in vinegar.
- You can also use a soft sponge dipped in a mild detergent. In this case, do not allow severe wetting of the fur.
- Rabbit or beaver fur is recommended to be ironed through white paper with a warm iron. The fat should be absorbed into the paper, and thus the fur should be cleaned. Iron in the direction of the villi.
to contents ↑Important! Make sure that the edge of your jacket does not eat the mole. For this: go to the place where you store your item, put pills from these insects, or use special sprays. Our truly effective ones will help you decide moth remedy review.
Down jacket - wash at home or dry cleaning
Above, we looked at how to clean a down jacket with different methods. And almost every housewife had the question “Wash or dry clean?” It was up to you to decide how to answer. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of each of the methods.
Benefits
- Dry cleaning: saving time and effort, professional cleaning, improving the appearance of the product, guaranteed result.
- Home Cleaning: Saving money, results and consequences are up to you.
disadvantages
- Dry cleaning: payment for services, there were times that after dry cleaning the thing returned to the owners of the damaged one, shortens the term of use of the thing.
- Home cleaning: a big waste of time, an unwarranted result, the likelihood of ruining the thing.
How to store a down jacket?
Such a thing as a down jacket requires not only the correct cleaning method, but also the correct storage. Follow these guidelines:
- Do not store the down jacket contaminated. Leaving it as it is, you run the risk of never removing pollution.
- Before you hang a down jacket in a closet - dry it in the fresh air. A sunny day will do, just dry your item in the shade.
- You need to store a down jacket in a cool, dry room in the closet - carefully hanging on the shoulders. Button all fasteners.
- It is not recommended to use covers during storage.
Useful Tips:
- If your down jacket is light in color, it is better to resort to washing, local cleaning will leave stains on the fabric.
- Particular attention during the procedure should be paid to the areas of pockets, cuffs, fasteners and collars. Usually the biggest pollution is formed here.
- It is forbidden to clean the down jacket with aggressive detergents. They can damage the fabric.
- With local cleaning, stains should be cleaned from the edges to the center - this will reduce the likelihood of stains.
- Try to complete the entire procedure as quickly as possible. Prepare all necessary materials in advance.
- When cleaning by any means, rinse the area with warm water as the last step.
- If the stains still remain on the fabric, they can be removed with a soap solution and a soft sponge.
Stock footage
Following our recommendations, you can save time and money on expensive dry cleaning and extend the life of your jacket. And knowing these rules in advance, you can easily choose the one that does not require very careful care when buying a down jacket. Look after your down jacket correctly, and more than one winter he will please you with his warmth.