Down jacket: wash it at home or have it cleaned?
Washing at home step by step, the typical mistakes and when a jacket is better off at the dry cleaner’s.
First: what does the care label say?
- Washtub with 30 or 40: washing allowed.
- Crossed-out washtub: do not wash – take it to the dry cleaner’s.
- Circle with P or F: dry cleaning possible.
- Square with a circle: tumble drying allowed (the dots show the temperature).
Fur trim on the hood, leather details or very light jackets with make-up on the collar: these are the typical cases for professional cleaning.
Washing a down jacket at home: step by step
- Prepare: remove the fur collar, close all zips and press studs, empty the pockets, turn the jacket inside out.
- Wash it on its own: the drum needs space. One jacket per wash.
- Use down detergent. Normal detergent and fabric softener strip the natural oils from the down – it clumps and loses its loft.
- Gentle cycle, 30 °C, low spin speed (max. 800 rpm), plus an extra rinse.
- Dry in the tumble dryer on a low temperature with two to three clean tennis balls. They knock the down apart. This often takes several cycles.
- Check: the jacket must be completely dry, including inside the baffles. Any remaining moisture makes down musty and mildewed.
The typical mistakes
- Drying on the line: the down sinks to the bottom and clumps together. If you don’t have a tumble dryer, you have to dry the jacket lying flat and shake it out every hour – that takes days.
- Too hot: heat melts coatings and damages membranes.
- Washing too often: once a season is usually enough. Better to dab small stains with lukewarm water and a little down detergent.
- Storing it damp: causes mildew spots and smells.
When the dry cleaner’s is the better choice
Down jackets with a “do not wash” care label, with fur or leather trim, long down coats that don’t fit in the drum, and jackets that should repel water again belong at the dry cleaner’s. At our studio, a down coat is cleaned and waterproofed:
| Service | Our price |
|---|---|
| Down coat cleaned and waterproofed | CHF 44.– |
| Jacket, wool/cotton/synthetic | CHF 19.– |
| Wool coat | CHF 29.– |
If the zip is broken as well, it is worth having both done in one go – see Zip repair or replacement. More: Dry cleaning in Lucerne, all prices in the price list.
Storing a down jacket over the summer
Only put it away clean – sweat and skin oils attract moths and discolour the lining. Hang the jacket loosely on a wide hanger or store it loosely in a cotton bag, not in a vacuum bag: down that is compressed for a long time recovers less well.
Frequently asked questions
Contact →Can you wash a down jacket in the washing machine?
Yes, if the care label allows it: with down detergent, a gentle cycle at 30 °C, a low spin speed and an extra rinse. Then dry it completely in the tumble dryer with tennis balls.
Why does down clump after washing?
Usually because of normal detergent or fabric softener, or because the jacket was not dried completely. Several cycles in the tumble dryer with tennis balls break up the clumps.
How much does it cost to have a down coat dry cleaned in Switzerland?
At Zekos Express in Lucerne, a down coat including waterproofing costs CHF 44.–.
How often should you wash a down jacket?
As a rule, once a season – ideally before putting it away in spring. Treat small stains individually.
Can a down jacket go in the tumble dryer?
Yes, on a low temperature and with tennis balls – that is actually the best way to dry it. On the washing line, the down clumps together.
