Washing a down jacket entirely is not easy, and even those that go through the washing machine can keep traces of it. To make it last as long as possible, take care of it day by day! To start, waterproof it at the start of each season with a suitable product. Your favorite down jacket has a mud stain on the sleeve or traces of perspiration on the inside of the collar? To clean a stain on a down jacket, use a washcloth and a basin of soapy water, made up of warm water mixed with flake Marseille soap. Soak the washcloth and wring it well, then scrub the affected stains. Be careful, do not soak the down jacket, the goal is to clean without wetting the padding! If necessary and when the down jacket allows it, pull the stained part and tie it away from the padding. Then rinse in the same way with a glove and soap-free water. Rings appear? In this case, the down jacket was dirty, all that remains is to wash it completely.
First of all, read the washing instructions on the label! If these are missing or illegible, ask the manufacturer if necessary. Never machine wash a down jacket without knowing if it will withstand it:if in doubt, take the jacket to the dry cleaners or wash it yourself to avoid a distorted look. For those who support machine washing, follow the instructions scrupulously. Most of the time, a washable down jacket goes in the washing machine on a 30°C synthetic program, with a standard detergent. Add other clothes, which will bounce against the padding and allow the down to air. Failing this, there is Grandma's trick:slide two tennis balls into the machine's tank, provided you do not repeat the operation too often, as this could damage the device. If you choose to wash by hand, again use soapy water, but fill a bathtub with it and submerge the down jacket. Gently rub the stains, the inside of the collar and the cuffs, then wring without ever wringing the garment:press gently to extract the water.
This is the trickiest step in caring for a down jacket:dry it well! Otherwise, the feathers of the down may stick together, and the padding may form clumps. Again, check the label instructions:if they allow it, simply toss the down jacket in the dryer on a synthetic or cold setting with tennis balls or other laundry. For the others ? Provide a stack of clean, dry towels. Place the down jacket between two towels, and press until the towels are soaked. Change it, and start again! When most of the water is absorbed, lay the down jacket on another towel, open, and let dry until it's just damp. Shake and turn the down jacket very regularly. Once damp, hang it on a wide hanger and let it dry completely...several days, in general.
