Why is there lint in a down jacket after washing?
Natural down is considered the best insulation for the winter. Even in the most severe frosts, it provides reliable protection from cold and wind. But from time to time the down jacket has to be washed, and after this procedure the filler often becomes lumpy. Not only the appearance of the clothing suffers, but also its properties, since the fluff is distributed unevenly, the jacket warms much worse than before washing.
The down inside the jacket clumps up due to getting wet.
There are several reasons why lumps form inside a down jacket:
- Failure to comply with recommended care and cleaning conditions. Down gets clumped when processed in too hot water, after spinning at high speeds, or after drying the jacket incorrectly.
- Using the wrong detergent. If the powder or gel is chosen incorrectly, then during the rinsing process they will not be completely washed out of the filler. The fluff will stick together in clumps, and it will be very difficult to fluff it up later.
- Vertical drying of clothes. If you dry a washed down jacket in a vertical position on a hanger, the wet down will fall down under the influence of gravity and collect in clumps at the bottom of the cells of the jacket.
- Low quality product. In good down jackets, the filling inside is usually treated with a special impregnation that prevents the formation of lumps. If there is no such impregnation inside the product, then the very first wash will cause the item to lose its presentable appearance.
Important! Some down jackets are, in principle, not intended for either machine or hand washing.
If the label indicates that outerwear cannot be washed, then you should not break this rule; if dirt appears, it is better to take the item to a good dry cleaner.
Washing a down jacket with tennis balls
A great way to fluff up the filling of a down jacket directly during washing is to put 3 or 4 tennis balls (heavy rubber balls covered with synthetic felt) into the drum of the washing machine along with the item.
Don’t worry, you won’t damage anything or your machine with tennis balls—the washing machine manufacturers themselves recommend this method as very effective.
The result you should get is a washed jacket with evenly distributed down. After this, the item can be put on hangers and left to hang slightly.
Rules for washing a down jacket in a washing machine:
- delicate wash cycle;
- water temperature 30 °C;
- spin about 800 rpm;
- additional rinsing for at least an hour;
- 2/3 of the norm of washing powder or the full norm of liquid detergent.
Down jackets cannot be washed with bleach, stain remover, or conditioner. The total washing time in the machine is about 100 minutes.
Features of the filler
In order to avoid unpleasant consequences, as well as restore a down jacket damaged after washing, you need to study the properties of the down filler. Natural down has the ability to absorb moisture well and release it poorly. The villi, filled with water, stick together and form dense clumps, and subsequently they are very difficult to separate.
To prevent this from happening, during the washing process it is necessary to beat the product, preventing the fibers from sticking together. This can be done using special balls for washing down items. The balls are placed in the drum of the washing machine and the down jacket is well beaten during washing.
In addition to water, the fluff absorbs particles of detergent, which contribute to its gluing. If a down jacket stinks after washing, it means it was washed with low-quality powder and the down has absorbed harmful substances. If you wash a down jacket together with balls, the fluff of the down will be better cleaned of detergent and dirt and will not form clumps.
It is necessary to rinse the jacket several times to thoroughly clean it from detergents. This also needs to be done with balls. After washing, the down jacket must be dried properly, periodically fluffing it with your hands to prevent the down from sticking together during drying. If you do everything correctly, the jacket will return to its original shape.
If after washing you see that small lumps have formed in some places of the product and decide to leave everything as is, the product will not fully fulfill its purpose. In order for the item to retain heat, there must be an air gap between the fibers. If the fluff is crumpled and clogged with powder residues, the heating of such a thing will be much worse.
- How to fluff up the down in a down jacket after washing if it has rolled into a ball
Under the influence of gravity, the lumps will settle down, and the top of the jacket will become thin, and wind and cold will be felt through the fabric. Therefore, it is necessary to get rid of all lumps, even small ones, and distribute the filler evenly throughout the entire inner layer.
Ways to restore the fluffiness of a down jacket
Spread the filler with your hands
You can fluff a down jacket that has become tangled after washing by hand. This should be done immediately after washing. Massage each area separated by a line. Then you need to shake the item by grasping the hem. While it dries, repeat the manipulations several times with a break. The process is monotonous and requires perseverance, but it is worth it.
Load into washing machine (video)
You can fluff up the down jacket by putting it back into the washing machine. Only in this case the item must be dried. Turn it inside out and fasten it. Prepare four special laundry balls (can be replaced with tennis balls). One in each pocket and two just in the drum. Start the spin cycle at a speed no higher than 400. After the procedure, shake the down jacket from different sides. The stray fluff should take the desired position. If this does not happen, you can try again.
Blow with air
You can also fluff up stray fluff using a vacuum cleaner or hair dryer. In this case, the first one should have a blowing function, and the second one should have a cold air mode. Let's consider several options.
Vacuum cleaner
Option 1. Hang the washed down jacket on a hanger with the inside out. Use a narrow nozzle - one that is designed to remove dust from hard-to-reach places and crevices. Work the quilted areas in order. This method is suitable for minor deformation. If the filler is too loose, try the next option.
Option 2. Roll up the item and place in a vacuum bag. Use a vacuum cleaner to first suck out the air and then run it back in. Repeat the steps several times. Then take the item out and shake it.
After washing, dry the down jacket, but not completely. Hang it on a hanger with the wrong side facing out and fasten it. Turn on cold (slightly warm) mode. Hot air can ruin down and covering material. Blow the jacket gradually, pointing the hairdryer so that the air blows from bottom to top. The effect will be more noticeable if you can massage the stray fluff in parallel with the hair dryer.
Attention! The methods are effective, but you can still use them occasionally, in extreme cases. Constant mechanical impact will lead to a complete loss of the appearance and thermal insulation properties of the down jacket. Next time, it’s worth focusing your efforts on not letting it get lost during washing.
Compressor (video)
You can break down the fluff after washing with a car compressor (a device for inflating mattresses is also suitable). For ease of processing, use a special attachment. Unlike a hair dryer or vacuum cleaner, its power is much stronger. As an air tool, it creates a strong air flow. Using a compressor is quite easy to stir up the down inside a down jacket. You should lay the item out on the dryer and gradually treat the entire surface with the nozzle.
Beat by hand
You can also beat the fluff with a carpet beater. After washing, you need to completely dry the down jacket, since it is much easier to injure it when wet. Place the jacket on the table (you need a hard and flat surface) and wrap it in a large piece of fabric. Slam the beater all over the jacket without applying too much force. Usually the procedure takes up to 5 minutes. When finished, shake the product from different sides. To enhance the effect, you can run an iron with steam through gauze along the reverse side. Instead of a beater, a stick or a strong kitchen spatula is suitable. If the fluff is very matted, and after knocking out there are still lumps, try distributing them with your fingers.
Attention! If the down jacket already has damage or complex elements that can be damaged by blows, it is better to choose another method.
Use temperature difference
If the fluff is not too loose, try using the temperature difference. Wait for the product to dry completely. Hang it on a hanger and take it out into the cold for several hours. Then return it to the apartment, and after naturally warming up to room temperature, take it out into the cold again. This is repeated 3-4 times. Gradually the fluff will return to its original state. After each cooling, you can help the down by manually straightening it. This is easier to do after the cold, since the cold filler is easier to fluff. Next, the jacket must be shaken on all sides so that the filler is distributed among the cells.
Steam
If the fluff is not too crumpled, you can fluff it up by treating it with a steam generator. Hang the jacket on hangers, move the brush from top to bottom at a distance of 15 cm. After steaming, wipe the surface with a dry cloth.
If the household does not have a steam generator, you can find a replacement for it. Fill the bathtub with hot water and hang a down jacket over it on hangers. Every 15-20 minutes, shake the jacket while holding the hem.
Steam will not only be able to fluff up the stray filler, but will also smooth out the outside of the down jacket. You will really like the result.
What to do if your down jacket has gone astray: detailed instructions
These methods will tell you how to fluff up a down jacket not only after washing, but also due to long-term storage.
Vacuum cleaner
Using a vacuum cleaner, you can dry and fluff up any winter clothing with filling. For this method, in addition to the device itself with the blowing function, you will need:
- scissors;
- scotch;
- dense polyethylene bag.
The down jacket must be dry. You need to place it in a bag and try to pump out the air to create a vacuum. Some vacuum cleaners have a special function, but you can do this manually. The easiest way to “close” the bag is with tape. Use scissors to cut a hole for the vacuum cleaner pipe and insert it inside. Turn on the blowing mode and process the product for several minutes.
Repeat the procedure until the down jacket returns to its original condition. To speed things up, you can use a special attachment for cleaning furniture. It should be passed over the item from the lining side, thus distributing the filler among the cells.
Temperature difference
This method will not only help restore the condition of the down jacket, but will also ventilate it. The method involves the use of sub-zero temperatures.
The item of clothing must first dry completely. Then you need to shake it, hang it on a hanger and take it out to the balcony or outside. After 1-2 hours, the item is brought into a warm room.
When the jacket is completely warm (which may take a couple of hours), it is taken out into the cold again. The actions are repeated several times.
Tip : Dry your clothes thoroughly before using any of the methods. It should be on hangers in a well-ventilated area.
Carpet beater
- The down jacket can be hung, but it will be more convenient to lay it out on a bed or sofa.
- Use the beater from top to bottom, working each section of the product. The pops should be gentle enough to break up the lumps and fluff up the filler, but not damage it.
- Shake the product in different directions 3-4 times.
Repeat the steps until you achieve the desired result. If you don't have a beater on hand, use a kitchen spatula. Nonstick cookware tools coated with silicone or wood are best. They are not as dense as metal ones and will not damage the fabric upon impact.
- How to wash a down jacket in a washing machine and by hand: instructions that will not ruin the item
Hairdryer
It takes a long time to process a thin down jacket with a hair dryer; it is a very painstaking task. But this is how you will get the best results. You often have to resort to using a hair dryer in other ways to dry the product faster and better.
- Proceed with the procedure after washing. The down jacket should not have time to dry completely. Turn the jacket over with the lining facing up and straighten it out.
- Turn on the hairdryer. Select cold or warm air mode. Hot will not work, as it will destroy the pen.
- Direct the stream onto the down jacket. Process one cassette after another, drying and distributing the filler.
- Shake your coat or jacket well. Beat it with your hands. If you are not satisfied with the result, repeat the steps with the hairdryer. Then shake again.
Important : the powder is difficult to wash off from the fluffs and contributes to their fragility. Use special liquids, gels or capsules.
How to spread with your hands
This method is suitable for both dry and wet items. In the latter case, the result may be better, since the fluff will not have time to compact. The work will take a lot of time, so the method is more suitable for men's products - they are shorter. For women's down jackets, it is better to choose some kind of device that allows you to quickly perform the following manipulations:
- Walk with pinching movements over the surface of the product on both sides.
- Rub each cassette between your palms, don't forget the hood. After processing a cell, lightly hit it and only then move on to the next one.
- Shake the thing. Repeat steps until completely dry.
Dryer
For this method you will need tennis balls - 3-4 pieces. It is best to take the classic ones (mostly they are made in green). Such samples are quite dense to break up lumps, but their soft coating prevents damage to the filler. As an alternative, you can use wooden baby blocks or rubber balls, they will prevent the fluff from matting.
Place the product in the machine. Choose a gentle mode and low temperature if it has already dried out. For a wet jacket, set the standard program. If the result is unsatisfactory, repeat the procedure in a gentle manner.
Original fluffing method
When time-consuming and tedious actions do not bring the desired success, proprietary methods invented by users come to the rescue.
Combine drying and straightening down into one task. To do this, the item is straightened out on a wire dryer or hung. And here comes the main point - you need a professional compressor with a nozzle. A powerful air flow will create a pneumatic shock necessary for blowing and whipping the filler. The nozzle must be moved over the entire surface for uniform impact. A vacuum cleaner and a hair dryer cannot do this task.
How to dry
The filling of a down jacket can clump during the drying process, so such a product must be dried correctly. This should be done at room temperature or in the fresh air during the warm season. At the same time, make sure that it is not exposed to direct sunlight.
If the item is shallowly quilted, you can hang it on wide hangers. Shake your jacket periodically and work out lumps with your hands if they begin to form. This must be done before the item is completely dry.
In the case where the stitch is large, the wrung out down jacket must be laid out on a wire rack so that the down does not fall down and roll up. The product must be ventilated from below. During the drying process, shake the item regularly and straighten the fluff with your hands. How often you do this will determine whether the product will regain its original appearance.
When drying your jacket, turn it over several times to ensure it dries evenly. Knead the filler with your hands until all the fluff is dry. At the end of drying, shake the item well again and hang it on a hanger.
Recovery
What should you do if, after washing at home, the filling has rolled up and the down jacket itself has become thin? After all, not only have clothes lost their neat appearance, they have also lost their main function - to keep warm.
You need to act immediately after washing, starting with properly drying the jacket. Next, you need to choose the most suitable method to bring it back to normal.
How to restore a down jacket after washing:
handle the stray areas with your hands;
blow with cold air;
influenced by temperature differences.
Manually
If fluff has accumulated in insulated outerwear, you can try to return it to its previous state manually.
The process is long, but often gives good results. The first time you need to treat the filler in this way is after washing.
It is important to massage the jacket with your fingers along the entire perimeter, shake it well and hang it on a hanger in a warm, ventilated room. There should be no heating devices or direct sunlight nearby.
While the item is drying, you need to knead it several times. It is important to pay attention to each lump and compaction, carefully breaking the compacted areas with your fingers. Distribute the fluff evenly throughout the entire space between the lines.
With a rolling pin or beater
A plastic rug duster or kitchen rolling pin will help distribute the fluff in the jacket. First, you need to dry the item.
Then lay it out on the floor and lightly beat it with the tool at hand. This will help soften the lumps and bumps and distribute the composition more evenly. At the end, the jacket needs to be fluffed from different sides so that the down becomes fluffy again.
Using a steamer
After beating a down jacket, steam treatment will help improve and consolidate the result.
To do this, hang the item on plastic hangers and pass the steamer over the lining from the inside at a distance of 15 cm.
Thanks to this, the fluff will straighten out even more. If the surface becomes wet, the jacket can be wiped with a dry cotton cloth.
Steam treatment
Similar to the previous method, but instead of a steamer, a regular iron is used. The down jacket should also be dried, beaten with a carpet beater and laid out on a flat surface.
Then go through the iron from the wrong side, turning on the “Steam” function to maximum. The main thing is that the ironing temperature is acceptable for this item. Sometimes it is better to immediately choose another way to spread the filler.
Using a hair dryer
If you have a hair dryer at home with the “Cold Air” function, you can use it. After washing, you need to straighten the down in the jacket with your hands, then hang the product to dry.
When the item is slightly damp, blow it with air from a hairdryer. To do this, turn the clothes inside out and dry them, directing the air flow from bottom to top. Shake occasionally, then continue drying.
Do not direct a hot stream of air at the down jacket. This will not only make the lumps stronger, but can also disrupt the integrity of the fluffs and even damage the lining fabric.
Use temperature difference
How to straighten down in a down jacket after washing in winter:
Dry the down jacket indoors naturally (without batteries) on a hanger.
Place outside at sub-zero temperatures for 2-3 hours.
Bring it into the house, knead it a little with your hands, straightening out the crumpled areas, wait until the item warms up to room temperature.
Shake, evenly distributing the insulation into sectors.
Place again in frosty air for several hours.
Repeat the work done 4 more times.
Using balls in the washing machine
Pulling off massive clothes with your hands is difficult and time-consuming. You can use an automatic washing machine.
How to fluff a down jacket after washing at home:
Turn the dried item inside out, fasten all the zippers, and place it in the washing machine.
Place 1 laundry ball inside the large side pockets. Just put 2 more in the machine. If there are no special balls, it is permissible to take regular tennis balls.
Turn on the “Spin” function at 400 rpm. It is not advisable to set a higher value, otherwise the problem may worsen.
After this, take out the jacket and shake it thoroughly.
If necessary, do the same again.
Handwash
If the manufacturer allows only manual cleaning of the product, wash the item by hand. Fill the bathtub with cool water and dilute a mild detergent in it.
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Place the jacket in the bath until it is completely covered with water. If there are dirty stains on the surface of the clothing, wash them and leave for 15-20 minutes. Then wash the down jacket carefully.
Fill with clean water and rinse the product well several times, each time with new water. Next, gently wring out the item without twisting it and place it on a wire rack or other flat surface.
