How to Clean Down Jacket

What You'll Need

• Soap-Man Power Wash Laundry Detergent (or down-specific wash)
• Front-loading washing machine
• Dryer with tennis balls or clean sneakers
• Stain remover
• Soft brush

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. 1

   Pre-treat stains

   Apply a small amount of Power Wash detergent directly to cuffs, collar, and visible stains. Gently work it in with a soft brush.

2. 2

   Wash in a front-loader

   Use a front-loading machine on a gentle cold cycle with a small amount of detergent. Front-loaders are gentler on down than top-loaders with agitators.

3. 3

   Run extra rinse cycles

   Run 2-3 extra rinse cycles to ensure all detergent is removed. Soap residue strips the down's natural oils and reduces insulation.

4. 4

   Dry with tennis balls

   Tumble dry on low heat with 3-4 clean tennis balls or dryer balls. The balls break up clumps of down as they dry. This takes 2-3 hours.

5. 5

   Check and fluff

   Remove the jacket periodically during drying and hand-fluff the down clusters. The jacket should feel completely dry and lofty before wearing.

Pro Tips

• TIPThe tennis balls in the dryer are essential -- without them, down clumps into flat, wet masses that lose all insulating power.
• TIPDry on low heat, not high. High heat can melt the shell fabric and damage down clusters. Patience is key.
• TIPIf the jacket still has damp spots after drying, let it hang for 24 hours in a well-ventilated room.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• XUsing regular fabric softener, which coats down feathers and destroys their ability to loft and insulate.
• XTop-loading machines with center agitators, which can tear baffles and damage the jacket's construction.
• XStoring a down jacket compressed in a stuff sack long-term, which permanently crushes the down clusters.

Frequently Asked Questions