For the past few winters, you may have been spoiling yourself with a warm down jacket or puffer vest. Only now it’s looking a bit flat and dirty. Rescue your beloved Patagonia® Down Sweater Jacket or The North Face® down parka from flatness and grime by cleaning it. If you’ve ever wondered how to wash a down jacket, keep reading to learn the basics of caring for down jackets, coats, and vests on your own at home.
Wash & Dry
Over time, dirt from our environment, oils from our skin, and even residue from using the wrong soap will cling on to the plumes in down garments. This causes them to be weighed down, decreasing loft and warmth. Washing feathered gear with a gentle down detergent will remove the dirt, oils, and residue – restoring the light and fluffy properties of the plumes. Just follow these steps to get a warm, puffy coat that looks and feels like new.
- Revivex Down Cleaner
- Front-Loading Washing Machine or Top-Loader without Agitator
- Machine Dryer
- Wool Dryer Balls or Tennis Balls
- Optional: Toothbrush
Estimated Time: Wash: 1 hour | Machine Dry: 1-2 hours
Handwash Method
- Check the down jacket’s care instructions and close all zippers and Velcro tabs.
- Fill sink or tub with just enough warm water to submerge item.
- Add Revivex Down Cleaner.
- Compress item to remove air and place in soapy water. Rinse item repeatedly until water runs clear at least 3 times.
- Gently compress or roll item to expel water (do not wring).
- Roll item in a towel or place in washing machine for two spin cycles to remove excess water before drying.
Pro Tip: Use a toothbrush for spot cleaning the collar if necessary.
Machine Wash Method
- Add 1 fl oz (2 capfuls) for 1-2 jackets or 2 fl oz (4 capfuls) for 3 or more garments to the washing machine.
- Wash with cold or warm water on gentle cycle. Do not add fabric softener.
- Press start. Run an additional spin cycle to speed dry time.
- (Optional) Waterproof your jacket as needed with Revivex Durable Water Repellent.
For cleaning larger down items, see our blog article about how to wash down sleeping bags, which also has instructions on how to waterproof down gear.
Dry
- Dry garment by itself in a dryer so it has room to tumble freely.
- Add some tennis balls or dryer balls to help break up the down clumps. Use heat setting recommended by garment care label (usually low to medium heat).
- Check periodically to ensure the shell fabric is drying properly.
- Hang and inspect jacket to be sure it is completely dry.
Pro Tip: Store down items at their highest loft possible. Compressing down jackets and sleeping bags into tight bags for long-term storage will degrade the loft.
Repair
After washing and drying your down puffy coat or vest, use peel-and-stick Tenacious Tape Mini Patches to fix “leaking” down feathers and rips instantly. Learn more about how to repair down jackets and GORE-TEX garments by further reading our blog.
Washing down jackets doesn’t have to be complicated. No need to spend extra money and wait for it to be cleaned by someone else. With Revivex Down Cleaner, restore down gear’s former fluffy glory and keep the cold at bay.
