Washing down jackets: If the spin speed is too high, the down will break
Created: 12/12/2022, 7:00 p.m
By: Andrea Stettner
Down jackets keep you toasty warm in winter, but washing them can be tricky.
The sensitive filling suffers if not cared for correctly.
Fluffy, light and cuddly warm - it's not for nothing that down jackets are one of our favorite items of clothing in winter.
Down is also more durable than synthetic fibers, which is why its insulating ability is retained for a long time and even renewed again and again.
But only with the right care.
And this is where the difficulty lies: A lot can go wrong when washing down jackets – just like with down comforters.
Unlike other jackets made of cotton or synthetic fibers, natural down is extremely sensitive to improper care.
We'll give you a few tips so that you can enjoy your down jacket for a long time.
Down jackets need a particularly gentle wash.
© Michael Bihlmayer/Imago
Which detergent is suitable for down jackets?
Using the right detergent is crucial for down jackets.
They should always be washed with a special down detergent.
Under no circumstances should you use commercially available color, delicate or even heavy-duty detergents for down, because they usually contain proteases.
These split proteins, which is desirable when removing stains, but means the end for the protein-containing down.
Fabric softeners are also taboo for down jackets.
These washing tips from grandma are a thing of the past
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Washing down jackets in the washing machine – this is how it works
In the past, hand washing was considered particularly gentle, especially for bulky down jackets.
Today, however, washing machines also clean the sensitive jackets particularly gently.
It is only important that the drum has a capacity of at least 6 kilograms so that the down jacket has enough space to move around and be rinsed through during the wash.
That's how it works:
First empty all pockets, zip up and turn the down jacket inside out.
Place the down jacket alone in the washing machine.
Now put a suitable down detergent in the washing compartment (see above).
Wash the down jacket on a delicates or wool cycle at 30 degrees (unless otherwise stated on the washing label).
The spin speed should be as low as possible, at a maximum of 400 revolutions – otherwise the down will break.
After washing, carefully remove the down jacket from the washing machine and then let it dry.
Tip: If you take the down jacket out of the drum after the wash cycle, make sure you do it very carefully.
The jacket is quite heavy when wet.
If it is removed too roughly, tears may appear on the (inner) seams or the chamber partitions.
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Dry down jackets properly: this will make them fluffy again
After washing, down jackets become particularly fluffy in the dryer.
To do this, place two to three tennis balls or dryer balls in the drum of the tumble dryer.
This loosens up the wet down filling that has been glued together and makes it fluffy again.
Don't have a dryer or want to do without it to save energy?
Then make sure that you dry the down jacket on the drying rack while lying down and shake the jacket out every now and then.
This will prevent the down from clumping together.
With the right tips, however, you can prevent the dryer from becoming a power guzzler.