Outerwear washing machine

For harsh winters, a down jacket is almost the optimal type of clothing. Warm, light, comfortable, it perfectly protects from frost and wind. Problems arise when a thing needs to be washed or cleaned. Feather-down or down filler gets off, so it is not possible to return the old thing to a convenient thing. It turns out that this problem is completely solvable. Washing a down jacket in an automatic machine is possible, and the thing will remain unharmed. Of course, you have to work hard, but the result is amazing!

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Wash VS cleaning: which is better?

Initially, manufacturers of down jackets insisted that the best way to return things to their former purity is dry clean. However, the “desperate” housewives did not give up and stubbornly set experiment after experiment, trying to defend the right to wash the jacket at home. It is not known how many down jackets fell victim to such experiments, but the washing algorithm was found.

What is convenient for home washing:

• Proper washing of a down jacket in an automatic washing machine gives significantly better results than the far from cheap dry cleaning service.
• In addition, dry cleaning does not give any guarantees of good results. A receipt may be required from you that you will not have claims against the company in case of damage to the down jacket. To pay money, having received in exchange a spoiled thing and formal apologies, is at least unreasonable.
• A good service company is not always within walking distance.
• The most unpleasant thing is that after cleaning, chemicals remain among the filler fibers, which, to put it mildly, are not entirely healthy.

All this means that it is better to wash the down jacket in an automatic machine yourself and trust only your own experience.

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Preparation you can't do without

To begin with, we will direct the stops to the sporting goods store. What for? Because for washing you will need balls for playing tennis. They will not allow downy filler to stray into an ugly lump.

Important! When buying balls, pay attention to their color so that no troubles with moult occur. To be sure of success completely, soak the balls before washing in hot water with a bleaching compound. For washing you need 3-4 tennis balls.

In addition, it is in the sporting goods store that you can find special detergents for washing down jackets. There is nothing surprising here. Initially, down jackets were used by skiers, polar explorers and climbers. They became everyday clothes relatively recently.

Tourmaline balls

If you purchased tourmaline balls and were able to appreciate their benefits - you can not buy tennis balls. Or, having bought, use for its intended purpose. You only need to put the balls in the drum of the washing machine with the jacket, and they will do everything possible so that the filler does not stray into an ugly lump.

Detergent Selection

If you could not find a special detergent for washing such products, you can use a gel for woolen things. Some housewives recommend shampoo or liquid soap, but they are only suitable for hand washing.If you plan to wash the down jacket in an automatic machine, you should not do this, since excessive foaming will not affect the operation of your equipment in the best way.

Of the specialized tools, the following are considered the best.

Sport Fein Fashion

This product is available in 0.75 liter bottles. This volume is enough for 10 machine wash cycles in delicate mode and for 39 manual ones.

Important! The only drawback of the gel is that it is rarely commercially available. It is so cheap and effective that it is sold out almost instantly.

Eco Nordland Sport

In terms of its working qualities, this drug is similar to Sport Fein Fashion. The label indicates that this product can be used for machine washing jackets and coats with down filling. In addition to typical ingredients (surfactants, flavors, preservatives), the product contains wheat protein.

Woly Sport Down Wash & Clean

Available in 0.25 liter bottles. Efficiency is excellent, affordable price. In the free market is often.

Important! Do not use ordinary washing powder for washing a down jacket in an automatic machine, since stains are left on the surface of products. Of “non-specialized” liquid products, it’s good “Weasel”.

Helpful hints:

As for other types of down jackets, you can wash them with the following means:

• For products on synthetic winterizer, use detergents suitable for this type of fabric. These jackets are cheap and unpretentious.
• Products made of membrane fabric are washed by special means, manually.
• If there are leather inserts on the down jacket, you will have to use dry cleaning services.

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How to prepare a jacket for washing?

Before washing a down jacket in an automatic machine, do the following:

1. Empty all product pockets.
2. Remove the detachable metal parts. Accessories accidentally unfastened and remaining in the machine may cause damage to the unit.
3. Button all buttons and “zippers” of the product. It is important that the fasteners do not warp during washing.
4. Unfasten the furry edge. The fur is washed by hand and separately from the jacket.

Important! Pay attention to the squares stitched on the product. The smaller they are, the lower the risk that the fluff will go astray. Such a product can successfully withstand not one wash, but several.

Before you load the product in the washing machine, be sure to check the places that are especially dirty during socks.

• Sleeves.
• Collar.
• Hem on the inside.

Carefully wash these areas with a special soap with a stain-removing effect. This is necessary, since in the machine such strong pollution can not be removed.

Important! Do not use powder stain remover for washing. It foams heavily and it is almost impossible to wash it out of fluff and feathers.

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How is the washing process going?

Wash products with feather and down filling only in an automatic washing machine. No “semiautomatic devices” and activator type machines are suitable for this. It is equally important to choose the correct mode for washing the down jacket in the washing machine.

Choosing the right mode

The procedure is as follows:

• Set the washing program in delicate mode, temperature 30 degrees. It is possible to use (with the same temperature) modes for wool and synthetics.
• Do not forget to set the rinse. They will have to use 2 to 3 times. This will avoid stains on the surface of the product.
• Do not spin at maximum speed. 400-600 rpm is enough.

What should not be?

So that the washing result does not disappoint you, you need to not only know in what mode to wash the down jacket in the washing machine, but also remember what should not be done in any case.

So you can’t:

• soak the product.
• wash the down jacket at a temperature exceeding 40 degrees.
• use bleach.

Important! Do not wash other things with a down jacket. You can also not wash several down jackets at the same time. The jacket should spin freely in the drum.

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Cleaning without washing at home

If only small spots appear on the material, but in general the item is still in good condition, this option is also possible:

• To remove small stains of fat, use a liquid detergent (liquid suitable for dishes). Wash the stain with a small amount of detergent, wipe it thoroughly with a brush, and rinse thoroughly with water.
• To remove greasy stains, you can use this solution - for 0.5 l of warm water 1 tablespoon of vinegar and 1 teaspoon of table salt. Clean the contaminated area with a solution, then wipe with a damp cloth.

Important! You are convinced that it is quite possible to wash the down jacket in an automatic machine and not cause damage to the product. However, do not get carried away by frequent washing. Impregnation with a water-repellent effect will be washed off, and the jacket will get wet under snow and rain.

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Product drying

If the washing machine has a drying mode, it should be used. It is necessary to use the same tennis balls as when washing.

Important! Some housewives believe that using this mode is undesirable, but in any case it is better if you remove the product from the drum as dry as possible.

General requirements and useful tips:

• After removing from the drum, the thing is dried on a plastic coat hanger, turned outward and fastened. During the drying process, the jacket will fully restore its shape.
• Do not dry the down jacket on or near the battery. Stains may remain on the surface. In addition, heated air spoils the filler, feathers begin to crawl out.
• It is undesirable to hang the product in a draft or in direct sunlight. The best option is to dry the down jacket indoors or on the balcony, which is located on the shaded side.
• Drying must be done by holding the down jacket vertically. You can neither wrap it with a towel, nor lay it on a towel horizontally. If the filler does not dry completely, it may rot. There is an unpleasant smell, in the end - the jacket becomes unusable.
• During the drying process, you must periodically shake and turn the product. Then it will take its original form, and the filler will again be evenly distributed inside.

Important! If the fabric is wrinkled after washing, you should never iron the product with an iron. The best option in this case is vertical steamer.

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Pooh lost after washing a down jacket in an automatic machine - what should I do?

If, after all, the fluff has strayed, you will have to beat the filler manually until the product takes its original shape. You can put the product in the freezer. The moisture contained in the filler crystallizes, and the fibers become more voluminous, fluff.

Important! Do not dry the down jacket for more than 2 days. The fluff and feather will dry out, the product will become shapeless.

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Stock footage

Washing a down jacket in an automatic machine is not so difficult. You will significantly save time and money by not having to dry clean. With the right approach, the jacket will delight you for a long time.