How to Wash Puffer Jacket?

A puffer jacket is an optimal outerwear in cold weather: eco-friendly, practical, and warm. Even though outerwear does not require washing as often as regular clothing, it must be cleaned periodically. Difficulties begin with cleaning: not all modern products retain their original appearance after washing. However, in the case of a puffer jacket, there are many nuances - with improper washing, it can be spoiled so much that it loses its shape and stops warming. We tell you how to make washing easy, and fast and not spoil your favorite down-filled garment.

Many people think that washing a puffer jacket is not necessary or even harmful at all, but this is not the case. Washing your down-filling jacket regularly cleans it of dirt and plays an important role in extending its lifespan and preserving its insulating properties. One thing to consider is that when down is dirty, it retains moisture more easily, which means that the outerwear loses some of its airiness or “fluffiness”. This is a serious problem because having volume is what traps warm air around your body, keeping you warm.

Wearing an item regularly will inevitably make the down it contains more dense, reducing its effectiveness in terms of retaining warmth and protecting you from moisture. Secondly, contamination of the down, especially if it gets wet, can be the most suitable breeding ground for mold and bacteria. Fortunately, proper washing can restore all the most important properties of down outerwear.

The fact that puffer jackets supposedly cannot be washed at home, but must be dry-cleaned is a common misconception. Any kind of down clothing, whether it's a vest, jacket, coat, or sleeping bag, can be washed at home if you know how. And there are several options for action.

The first thing to do is to examine the inseam label, which is a tag sewn into one of the seams on the inside. On it, the manufacturer indicates the permissible methods of cleaning and recommends the water temperature:

Image of an empty basin - can be washed in an automatic machine;
Basin with a hand - only hand washing is allowed;
Crossed-out basin - cannot be washed;
The number above the basin - maximum water temperature.
If washing is allowed, then you can start to prepare for washing now.

Check that there are no wrappers, hairpins, or money in the pockets (all this can leave stains on the fabric).

Sew up all the holes - they may come apart during washing and the filling may come out through them.

If the puffer jacket is trimmed with natural fur, be sure to remove it before washing. Fur that is not detachable will need to be thoroughly combed immediately after washing and several times during drying. If the fur is artificial and dyed, it is better to go to a dry cleaner, so that it does not polish and does not spoil the down jacket.

The hood is also better to unbutton before washing, so as not to deform the product. Do not wash the hood and puffer jacket together if they are different colors, so as not to spoil the color of the fabrics.

Remove the strap with the hard plaque because it can damage the down jacket during washing.

Use a brush to remove dried dirt particles from the jacket and soak the areas of the fabric where there is dirt (on light-colored down jackets, the throat, elbows, and sleeve edges are most often soiled). These can be treated with a soap solution or stain remover.

Small stains from cosmetics can be removed with micellar water, and grease stains can be removed with benzene. Dip a cotton pad in it, treat the dirty spots, and sprinkle talcum powder, salt, or starch on top. Rub the stain and shake off the residue. At the end, treat the puffer jacket with a damp cloth.

Do not wash your down jacket if it is objectively clean. Frequent washing will cause it to wear out faster.

Do you prefer to wash a puffer jacket in a washing machine? And you are wondering what mode to choose since there are so many choices for the washing machine?

Temperature mode. It is worth remembering that most synthetic fabrics can not be washed at temperatures above 40 degrees. Hot water is the first reason that the down jacket loses its shape, and the down is knocked down in clumps. Before washing, the label from the manufacturer is carefully studied. On quality things there are not only labels with care recommendations, but also samples of fabrics for test washing. Therefore, it is better to choose the minimum temperature. There is no need to worry that at low water temperatures, the quality will deteriorate. Modern detergents dissolve perfectly and work even in cold water.

What program should I use for washing you might wondered? Each program mode is designed for a specific type of fabric. Synthetic material in hot water loses its main properties: shape, the ability to “breathe” and conduct heat. Therefore, it is recommended to wash a puffer jacket with feather down filling using manual or delicate mode. If there is a mode for wool products, it is better to choose it.

*️⃣ Important notice: It is better to put the spin not more than 400 revolutions. If the filler is natural, not synthetic, the manufacturer recommends not to spin at all, because it will be problematic to straighten the crumpled filler after washing and drying.

Washing a puffer jacket in the machine is the easiest, but there are several options for hand washing a down jacket. Let's tell you more about each one.

1️⃣Vertical
How to properly wash a down jacket so that it keeps its shape? To avoid knocking down, you can and do not soak the thing entirely. If it is necessary to remove one or several stains, then it can be done with the use of a napkin and water. For this purpose, the jacket is hung on the shoulders and placed over the bathtub, and the main stains with detergent.

After getting rid of the stains, it is necessary to abundantly clean the product with cold water, let it drain (it will take at least half an hour), and dry the product in the same vertical position.

Advantages of the method:
All stains are clearly visible on the straightened product. There is no need to constantly bend over.
The filling is not dislodged due to the lack of full soaking.
The item dries faster.

Disadvantages of the method:
Local cleaning can lead to a difference in the colors on the surface of the puffer jacket.
Soapy streaks may appear.
Vertical cleaning will not get rid of unpleasant odors.

2️⃣Horizontal
The meaning is no different from the previous option. Only in this case, clothes are laid out horizontally, for example, on a special board above the bathtub. The foam is also washed off with a powerful stream of water.

3️⃣In a bathtub or basin
The option is more labor-intensive, you will have to spend more effort and time. However, the method has its advantages:
washing occurs evenly, so stains and color differences do not remain;
both the outer side and the lining are well-cleaned;
unpleasant odor is removed.

It is important to consider the disadvantages of the method:
the product gets completely wet, so it is harder to turn it over;
the down filling sticks together more than in previous methods;
the puffer jacket takes much longer to dry.
To launder all the stains on the down jacket, it is recommended to first dissolve a special agent for outerwear with down and feather filling in warm water, let it cool down, and then put the product there. Be sure to leave it to soak for half an hour.

*️⃣Notice: After you can squeeze the product in a washing machine at minimum speed if it is provided by the manufacturer. The item should be dried vertically.

The first thing to talk about is the rules for washing a puffer jacket. Any filling item, whether it is a jacket, blanket, or pillow, can be washed in the machine only if it is authorized by the manufacturer. The first thing you must do is to read and follow the washing recommendations on the label so you know what to avoid when washing the puffer jacket. But here are 2 most important tips for you.

❌Do not wash with regular powder
Regular powders are not suitable for cleaning down jackets. Use liquid means. Better yet, buy a special product that will protect the feather from damage and will not allow piling. For jackets with synthetic filling, ordinary gels or capsules are suitable, they are well washed out of the synthetic.

❌Do not choose one rinse mode
The standard mode in the automatic machine assumes one rinse, but for a puffer jacket, this is not enough. If the cleaning agent is not washed out of the filling, white streaks may remain on the fabric, and the jacket will have to be washed again. To prevent this from happening, run an extra rinse, but reduce the number of revolutions to 400 revolutions. Then make sure that the product does not foam.