How to Wash a Down Jacket

It’s that time of year, when down jackets and scarves become trendy. But, with wear comes a little dirt, and you may be wondering if you can wash your down jacket at home. You can!

With a front-loading washing machine, you can take a stab at it. Or you can bring it to us for a no-fuss clean and fluff.

Washing a Down Jacket

There are a few tricks to washing your down jacket. If you don’t have the exact right recipe, you could end up with a clumpy jacket. So, keep in mind before you start this project, finish it fully or bring it to a professional so you’re not disappointed in the end.

To keep your down living a long life, you will need to use a front-loading washer. Unfortunately, a top-loading washer’s agitator will break down the feathers in your jacket and possibly tear any seam separations.

Step 1: Use a low-sudsing detergent, preferably something specially made for down jackets. This will be the easiest way to ensure your jacket stays healthy. Load the jacket in the wash in cold water, then wash the jacket with an extra rinse cycle.

Step 2: After the extra rinse cycle, move the jacket to the dryer. On the lowest heat setting available, dry the jacket with 1-2 tennis balls. The tennis balls will help make sure the down doesn’t clump up while it dries.

Step 3: After drying, if your jacket feels even the slightest bit damp, put it in for another long, cool cycle. Be sure your jacket is thoroughly dried before you remove it.

Keeping Your Down Clean

Cleaning your down jacket can lead to a whole day’s worth of dryer cycles. Because of this, and the high risk of having detergent left in your feathers, we recommend getting your down dry cleaned.