When you purchase a high-end down coat, you’re making an investment. A good one at that: the right coat keeps you warm, dry and stylish all winter long. If you take good care of your coat, it can last many years – even a lifetime. Why not take advantage of the change of season to give your coat a boost of freshness? Find out how to clean your down coat to ensure it’s ready to wear when next winter rolls around.
Down cleaning products
First Things First
Before tossing your down insulated coat into the wash, it is best to research your product’s cleaning instructions and the brand’s warranty guidelines if there are any. Some brands, such as Canada Goose, recommend taking the coat to a dry cleaner as the warranty is void if you wash the product yourself. Other brands such as Quartz Co. recommend that you do not dry clean their coats. Please do your research so you don’t get any surprises should anything happen to your beloved coat.
Never Use a Top-Loading Washing Machine When you Clean Your Down Coat
Down insulation can be extremely fragile. Even on the slowest cycle, the agitator could rip your exterior shell or the feathers inside. Go for a front-loading washing machine. If you don’t have one, find a friend who does!
No Intense Heat
You can put your down coat in the dryer, but make sure to set it on low. If it gets too hot, the heat could melt the fabric or break the fibres and feathers inside the jacket.
waterproofing, general care
Put a Tennis Ball in the Dryer
This may sound funny, but having a tennis ball pounding on the jacket will help the insulation and the fibres to stay in place. Of course, make sure the ball is clean and don’t put anything heavier – it could actually rip the coat.
Let it Hang
Once it’s dry, hang the jacket in a place where it will have enough room. It’s OK to compress it in your bag while you’re hiking, but in the long run, compressing it too much will destroy the space between the fibres (also called loft). This is a key element in a jacket’s thermal capacities.
• Please check the manufacturer’s instructions for more details and warranty issues related to washing your down gear in the washing machine, as opposed to getting it dry-cleaned.
Time for a change? Shop our extensive collections of women’s and men’s down coats. We’ve got the right jacket, coat or parka for any type of activity or environment – from lightweight tops to over-the-suit urban models to deep cold explorers, with ethically made coats a growing category as well. Enjoy!
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