How to wash a down jacket
We recommend having your down jacket professionally cleaned, but you can also wash it yourself unless the care label specifically says not to. If you're unsure, a professional cleaner is the safer option.
Johanna works as an outdoor and hiking specialist at our Kuninkoja store in Raisio. She has been hiking and trekking since childhood, and still spends most of her free time outdoors. Johanna is also the hiking expert behind our guides.
Hiking expert Johanna's tips for washing a down jacket
Check the care instructions for your jacket and follow them. Use your washing machine's down or delicates programme. Stick to a dedicated down wash, such as Nikwax Down Wash Direct.
Dry it very thoroughly: several cycles in a tumble dryer on low heat work well. A down jacket takes a few hours to dry in the tumble dryer. Most down products also need a good fluff between cycles. It's normal for the down to clump together during washing, but if you lay the garment flat on a table and pat the baffles, the down will spread out evenly again.
If you're drying the jacket at room temperature, a fan or two will speed things up considerably. Squeeze the jacket regularly so the moisture trapped in the down moves to the surface of the fabric, where it can evaporate. Never dry a down jacket on a hanger – lay it flat instead. Once it's dry, avoid storing it on a hanger for long periods too, so the down stays where it should.
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