Cleaning your down coat

When the weather outside is frightful, a down coat is quite delightful. Light, warm and fashionable, down is a popular choice for men and women of all ages when the winter winds are frigid. It can be somewhat frightening to think about cleaning a down coat, however. Relax, there is no real mystery to cleaning a down coat; it can be handled much as you would any fine quality coat.

Read the tag

Before you decide to throw your down coat in your home washing machine, read the care tag. You will find it sewn into the lining of the coat somewhere. It can be at the neck or it can be along the side seams. It will tell you exactly what is recommended for the particular coat that you own. Some coats can be safely laundered at home; others need to be dry cleaned. If you are intimidated by the thought of doing it yourself, by all means, put it in the hands of the professionals. Especially if you have paid a lot of money for your coat, you don’t want to risk ruining it.

Whether you are sending your coat to the dry cleaner or laundering it at home, check the coat for stain and damage. You want to let the dry cleaner know so they can properly treat the stains and do any repairs that are necessary. With a down coat, seams that are torn can cause a loss of the down which may affect the life of your coat.

You can also use one of the home dry cleaning kits if you feel confident about using it.

Launder at home

If you prefer to give it a go yourself, it is important that you have a washing machine without a center agitator. These can cause damage to the coat. Going to the laundromat is the preferred option if your washer has a center agitator.

Empty the pockets of your coat, wipe off any dirt or debris that may be clinging to it and place it into the washer. Cover the coat with warm water and add gentle cleaning detergent. If you can find down-cleaner, it is preferred; but detergent for hand-washing will work. Use the gentle cycle on your machine, and if the jacket still seems water filled, gently squeeze out the excess water before placing the coat in the dryer.

You may want to place the coat between dry towels to soak up any excess water as well. Press on the towels until they absorb most of the water. Place the coat into the dryer and add a few clean tennis balls or a couple of pairs of tennis shoes. These help the down to redistribute evenly throughout the coat. Use a low temperature and check on your coat every 15 minutes or so. It is not a fast process to dry a down coat, but it is worth the extra effort.

A down coat is a great addition to any wardrobe; with proper care, it will give great warmth for many years to come. Just be sure to follow the directions that are appropriate for your particular coat.