How to Wash a Down Jacket So the Down Doesn't Clump

Step by step

1. 1

   Check the label and the jacket's condition

   Before the jacket goes in the drum, read the care label - the manufacturer lists the maximum temperature and whether machine washing is allowed at all. While you're at it, inspect the jacket for tears and escaping down; stitch up or patch small holes, because they'll only grow in the wash. Pre-treat heavily soiled spots like the collar and cuffs with a cleaner beforehand.

2. 2

   Zip everything up and turn the jacket inside out

   Close all the zippers, Velcro and snaps so they don't catch on the drum and tear the fabric. Take off the fur trim if it's detachable and empty the pockets. Turn the jacket inside out - you'll clean the lining better and protect the outer shell.

3. 3

   Set the cycle and temperature

   Pick the down cycle, or if your machine doesn't have one, a delicate or wool cycle at no more than 30°C (86°F). Higher temperatures damage natural feathers and the structure of the down, so the jacket loses its loft and warmth. Don't add anything else to the load - the jacket needs room in the drum to tumble freely.

4. 4

   Choose the right detergent

   Instead of regular powder, use a liquid or a wash made specifically for down, which cleans without stripping the natural oils from the feathers. Skip fabric softener - it coats the down, glues it into clumps and takes away its ability to fill with air. Dose sparingly, because excess detergent is hard to rinse out of thick fill.

5. 5

   Turn on a double rinse and a low spin

   Set an extra second rinse - detergent residue trapped in the down is the main cause of streaks and stiff patches after drying. Set the spin to low rpm, enough to shed the water without compressing the wet down. A wet jacket is heavy, so lift it out gently, supporting it from underneath so you don't strain the down chambers.

6. 6

   Dry the jacket with tennis balls

   The best results come from a tumble dryer set to low heat with two or three clean tennis balls tossed in. The balls break up clumped down and restore its fluffiness as the drum turns. Every 15-20 minutes, take the jacket out, work any lumps apart with your fingers and put it back in, until the down is spread evenly.

7. 7

   Dry it all the way through

   If you don't have a tumble dryer, lay the jacket flat on a drying rack or a towel and break up the down with your fingers every so often, flipping the jacket as you go. Drying takes longer than you'd expect - moisture lingers inside the fill long after the outer fabric feels dry. Damp down clumps up and picks up a musty smell, so see the drying through to the very end.

Why regular detergent and softener harm down

Natural down is coated with a thin layer of oil that lets the feathers fill with air and hold heat. Regular detergent and high temperatures wash that oil away and damage the delicate feathers, leaving the jacket flat and less warm even when it looks fine on the outside.

Fabric softener is even worse: it coats the down with a film that glues individual feathers into hard clumps. That down never regains its volume after drying, and spreading it back out is often impossible. With down jackets, stick to a down-specific wash and skip softener completely.

How often to wash a down jacket

Don't wash a down jacket more often than necessary, because every wash puts some strain on the down. With daily wear, one wash per season is enough, for example at the end of it, before the jacket goes into the closet.

Between washes, deal with dirt locally: wipe a grimy collar or cuff with a damp cloth and a little detergent, and remove small stains on the spot. Air the jacket out after heavy use and store it loosely, without squashing it into a bag, so the down keeps its volume.

Frequently asked questions