Washing A Down Jacket
The good news is that most down jackets can be washed in a front loading washing machine or a top loading washer without an agitator. (Unfortunately, agitators can damage down filling.) While it is recommended that you use a laundry detergent specifically designed for washing down items, a mild/gentle laundry detergent can work as well. Down should be washed on the gentle cycle in warm water to help protect the garment’s integrity for the long term. Please note that you should wash each down jacket individually to give the jacket plenty of space to move about the washing machine. Though optional, I like to run our family's down jackets through a second rinse cycle to make sure no soap residue is left behind. Doing this second rinse with cold water can help cut back on energy consumption.
Drying A Down Jacket
Down jackets can be dried in a normal dryer; however, just as with washing, you’ll benefit from knowing a couple insider tips beforehand:
- Dry the jacket by itself, not with other clothing items. Down benefits from extra space to move around for more thorough drying.
- Add a few dryer balls (or clean tennis balls) to the dryer. These will help break up any clumping of the down filling during the dry cycle and speed up dry time. The bouncing can be a tad noisy, but it’s worth it.
- Dry on low heat to help avoid any shrinking or scorching.
- During the drying process, check on the jacket a few times to make sure no clumps of fill are forming. If you notice any, simply break them up with your hands.
That’s all there is to it—now you know how to wash your down jacket. While this may require a little extra care and attention, it’s easy to do, and the end result is a clean down jacket ready to brave the bitter cold once again.