Machine washing a down jacket that says do not wash?

413x

413x

413x

Caporegime
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Llaneirwg
I have a down jacket that needs a wash, more than a hand wash.

I wore this on holiday and obviously overheated and sweated in it.

I've read that many people do wash these but I'm wary about ruining it.

Any of you outdoorsy lot got any advice?
 
I think the biggest problem is the feathers clumping together and making sure they're all dry. This is where a tumble drier on the lowest heat setting would be ideal, but it's your own gamble as to whether the jacket will survive.
 
darael said:
I think the biggest problem is the feathers clumping together and making sure they're all dry. This is where a tumble drier on the lowest heat setting would be ideal, but it's your own gamble as to whether the jacket will survive.
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This is what I've always done with (the wife's) down jackets. Wash them the same way you've wash down pillows, but with a specific down detergent from Nikwax, then with a DWP agent after followed by low tumble dry and taking out occasionally during the process to fluff up the feathers.

You HAVE to get the feathers completely dry otherwise you'll end up with mould inside the jacket. I would not suggest even attempting it without a tumble dry with a low setting.
 
Thanks all. I'm not sure our dryer has low heat. It's quite annoying. It has settings for different types of clothes. In hindsight I'd just have got one with temp settings or something
 
I would try gentle hand washing the outer shell only with Dr Brooner liquid soap and warm water.

Dry it in an airing cupboard and then assess if it still wiffs.
 
413x said:
Apparently not for down
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Ah sorry, i didnt know what a "down" jacket was, just googled it


That should be ok to hand wash with a sponge and detergent ? then wipe down with standard water on sponge ? aslong you dry it quickly
 
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tom_e said:
Still might be worth contacting some local ones as they tend to also offer specialised cleaning services as well, I know my old local could also do my bike leathers and other weird and wonderful stuff.
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Yeh, I've had dry cleaners wash down jackets/sleeping bags in the past. I wouldn't even attempt it myself, especially as I don't have a tumble drier.
 
leemk said:
Get some Nikwax Down wash , throw it in the washing machine or hand wash in the bath , then chuck it in the drier on low heat with half a dozen tennis balls , it will probably take 6 hours.
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Tried dryer with tennis balls recently (only had 2 that weren't manky) and seemed to work fine!
 
Fubsy said:
This is what I've always done with (the wife's) down jackets. Wash them the same way you've wash down pillows, but with a specific down detergent from Nikwax, then with a DWP agent after followed by low tumble dry and taking out occasionally during the process to fluff up the feathers.

You HAVE to get the feathers completely dry otherwise you'll end up with mould inside the jacket. I would not suggest even attempting it without a tumble dry with a low setting.
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what about cleaning it in summer, when it's 30degree nice weather for a whole week?
 
adidan said:
There'll be a hand wash setting on your washing machine surely?
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Apparently it's the drying that's the issue..
Indont reallt understand how hand wash even works. It's still going to get soaked. It would still need to be tumble dried.

If I was going to do it myself I'd use wool settings
 
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