Light, warm and practical clothes for the winter - this is undoubtedly a down jacket. Such jackets are firmly entrenched in modern fashion and every year in stores you can find an increasing number of their variations in different styles and colors. But how to wash a down jacket in a washing machine? Can this be done without tennis balls? Is it possible to clean the down jacket by hand manually? What to do if the down jacket after washing is lost?
About down jackets
A good down jacket can be worn in severe frosts. Some of them are able to retain heat even at -40 ° C! They are not afraid of rain and snow, and also weigh no more than a kilogram, which cannot be said about fur coats and sheepskin coats.
Sew down jackets and coats from durable materials, and fill with natural fluff. Due to improper washing, this very fluff begins to break through the membrane or folds into lumps. As a result, the down jacket after washing gets off, leaves feathers everywhere and is not able to fulfill its purpose.
When do I need to wash a down jacket?
A fashionable thing is good, but dirty it will never look attractive. And this is the first reason that a wash may be required - the usual soiling that comes from the socks.
The second reason is the ability of fluff to absorb dust and odors. Often people themselves notice that the jacket does not have the most pleasant aroma, for example, of cigarettes. In this case, the use of perfumes is not recommended. It mixes with an unpleasant aroma, and the situation only worsens.
Wash down jacket is recommended at the end of the season. This kills several "birds with one stone" at once:
- Dust and dirt accumulated during the cold season are more easily removed immediately after pollution.
- Cooling always comes unexpectedly and there is no need to freeze until the jacket dries after washing.
That is why it is recommended to clean the down jacket before he goes to the closet for several months.
Wash yourself or dry clean?
Obviously, like any wardrobe item, a down jacket needs regular washing. But as soon as such a need arises, a dilemma arises for people: dry clean or do it yourself? To solve this problem will help the label that is on any fabric product.
There are a number of different icons. All of them tell how to care for clothes. There are four main icons that tell you whether to wash the down jacket:
- Hand in the trapezoid. Hand wash only.
- Crossed trapezoid. Washing is strictly prohibited.
- Drawing of a washing machine or rectangle in a circle. Do not use the washing machine.
- Crossed-out triangle with or without inscription. It prohibits the use of certain cleaning chemicals during washing. May be a contraindication to dry cleaning.
In the second case, it is better to take your jacket to a dry cleaner, where a special detergent for washing down jackets is used, and the product itself is cleaned with the help of devices, not a machine. The first and third cases allow you to do laundry at home. The fourth directly indicates home wash.
Physical preparation for washing
It does not matter how to wash the down jacket, it must be properly prepared for this. The state of the product after washing depends on this.
First of all, you need to remove everything from the pockets. This will not only protect what is found in them, but also the washing machine, because pebbles and coins can damage the drum and other important parts of the device. The contents of the pockets can also affect the down jacket, because various brochures can leave colored spots and ruin the jacket.
Before washing the down jacket, remove all the fur parts from it. They need separate care and only hand wash. It is believed that in order to preserve the original appearance of fur, it should be rinsed in warm water with hair shampoo.
If the jacket is quilted, some will flash it again. This allows you to fix the fluff thoroughly so that it does not move around the jacket during the washing process.
All locks, fasteners, Velcro should be fastened. This will save them during washing. And the jacket itself must be turned inside out. But before you do this, you need to take several actions.
Chemical preparation
Just pulling and removing everything from the jacket is just the beginning of the preparation for washing. Experts recommend thoroughly inspecting the down jacket for stains. Often they can be found on the sleeves, collar, pockets, zippers and chest. These places should be pre-treated with soapy water. To do this, use a soft brush or foam sponge. Intense friction is unacceptable.
For the washing itself, you need to choose the appropriate chemistry. Some prudently buy a detergent for washing down jackets. If not, do not use ordinary powder. Better liquid detergent in a small amount. But why not the usual powder?
Pooh has one huge drawback - it absorbs everything perfectly, but it gives poorly. Thus, it is necessary to rinse the jacket after the powder several times, which negatively affects the quality of the fluff. Moreover, the foam from the classic powder is very plentiful and glues feathers together quite qualitatively. Breaking such clods the first time is another task.
Instead of stain remover, it is better to use the good old laundry soap. Chemicals along with a stain can pick up the color of a down jacket, making the fabric less dense at this place.
Bleach is strictly prohibited. If you want to return the light color to its former color, it is better to wash it several times.
Machine wash
Only one jacket should be placed in the drum. Balls for washing down jackets in a washing machine can be added to it. And that’s all. They don’t put anything else in the drum. Detergent is poured into a special section of the machine, but not into the drum.
The washing program needs to be selected delicate, and the temperature should be selected in accordance with the label - 30-40 ° C.
On the same label you need to make sure that the down jacket can be wrung out. To do this, find the square with the inscribed circle, if it is not crossed out, set the minimum speed for the spin. If crossed out, turn off the spin. Otherwise, you will need to use tips on how to beat a down jacket after washing.
Handwash
The principle of hand washing differs little from machine washing. Washing a down jacket in a washing machine just takes less time and effort.
You need to start with a set of warm water in the basin or bathroom. Its temperature should not exceed 40 ° C. It is worth diluting the detergent and only then immerse the jacket.
With minimal contamination, it is enough to soak the jacket for about half an hour. Otherwise, the time is doubled. Longer soaking negatively affects the quality of fluff.
When washing, it is better to keep the jacket upright. All movements should be quick, but accurate. Do not allow the fabric to twist.
It is worth noting that the jacket will become much heavier, but the first rinse from the foam and detergent should only go under running water. Thus, no feathers will remain in the feathers and a second rinse with a small amount of conditioner will gently break the lumps and soften the material.
Drying
The most difficult thing when washing a down jacket at home is to dry it correctly. When working manually, it is important not to wring the jacket. Otherwise, drying with both washing methods does not differ.
Everything should go according to a simple scenario:
- Allow the down jacket to drain.
- Hang on a coat hanger.
- As dry, constantly whisk fluff with your hands.
How then can not dry a jacket?
Drying errors
Usually for complete drying after washing the down jacket in the washing machine or manually, it takes two days. But there are a number of errors that can ruin the jacket, although it will reduce the drying time.
This is a battery or heater. It is forbidden to dry a down jacket next to them. With this drying method, the feather will dry out and lose its properties. Moreover, you can get yellow or gray stains and spots, which then can not always be removed.
It is not recommended to dry the jacket in the bathroom or on the balcony. High dampness or direct sunlight during drying negatively affects both the external condition of the jacket and feathers.
You need to finish the down jacket completely. If a little moisture remains in it, it may begin to rot. And this is not only an unpleasant smell, but a direct path to the trash.
The down jacket should be dried only in an upright state on the shoulders. Otherwise, lumps and uneven drying are guaranteed.
Bug fixes
Few people go right to wash the jacket right away. All comes with experience. But one incorrect washing does not give a reason to part with your favorite down jacket. Consider the most common problems and how to solve them.
So, how to beat a down jacket after washing? If the jacket is still wet, shake it gently several times. This will loosen the fluff compound. Next - knead the lumps with your hands.
You can do the same with a dry jacket. Kneading with your fingers will allow you to get rid of clods and return the jacket to its previous appearance.
If none of the above methods worked, wash the jacket again in the washing machine with tennis balls. In the started case, turn on the rinse and dry the jacket correctly. In extreme cases, take it to dry cleaning.
What to do if there are stains on the down jacket after washing? There are at least three reasons for their appearance:
- Incorrect drying. The radiator could leave stains.
- Unsuitable detergent.
- Bad rinse.
All three cases are re-washable. In the second case, it is only necessary to change the detergent.
To draw a line
Based on the foregoing, we can conclude how to wash the down jacket correctly. To do this, consider only four rules:
- Prepare it - check the pockets, wash, remove the fur, fasten all the pockets and twist the jacket.
- Use the information on the label to determine the type of wash and the type of spin.
- Choose a detergent carefully.
- Dry properly, whisking constantly.
Every time there will be a need for washing a down jacket, update these simple rules in your memory and you will succeed!