How to Wash a Down Jacket (and When You Should)

Field magazine

What type of detergent should you use to wash your down?

I used to work at a Patagonia retail store in the early aughts and every time a down jacket came back as a return I asked the same question: what are you using to wash this jacket? The answer was inevitably that they were using the same detergent they wash the rest of their clothes with which was the cause for the down losing its loft. I would still return the jacket because I was a chill guy and because of Patagonia’s very generous policy at the time, but the fact remains that regular laundry detergents often strip the natural oils from down clusters, reducing their loft and in turn their ability to insulate. Fabric softener was even worse at kicking the hell out of that delicate down structure because it would adhere to it and diminish loft even further.

Since my time as a retail employee, I have always used the same down specific wash for my jackets as well as for my down sleeping bags. I use Nikwax Down Wash Direct and have found that I can keep a down jacket fully alive and lofty after hundreds of washes and four to five years of heavy use. You can likely get away with the mildest of regular detergents like the scent free ECOs detergent, but I honestly haven’t tried. If you do choose the detergent route, or are in a super pinch and can’t get your hands on a down-specific wash, make sure it doesn’t have any type of fabric softener, added scents, or bleach in it. Nikwax has proven strong enough to get rid of the ungodly odors I have put my insulating jackets through while actively re-invigorating the loft of the down inside.

Other materials in a jacket that you should consider when washing?

Down is obviously the defining component of these insulating jackets, but it isn’t the only component. Before you attempt to wash yours, it is important to understand all it’s parts.

Outer Shell: Typically made from synthetic fabrics like nylon or polyester. They are usually a thin material to keep the overall weight of the jacket lower but it is worth noting that these can be super fragile. The outer shell is often treated with Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coatings to resist moisture that need to be washed carefully and often reapplied through washing.
Inner Lining: Lightweight synthetic fabrics that provide comfort and house the down.
Baffles: While technically not a material in the jacket, baffles are the places that catch and hold on to the down to create the loft—they are often horizontal lines spanning the jacket—and usually contain a ton of stitching which offers another layer of need for gentle washing.
Zippers, Elastic, and Trim: All of these other bits are made from plastic, metal, or rubber-like materials that will break down more quickly with improper washing or drying.

How do you fix a tear in a down jacket?

The easiest way to fix a tear in a down jacket is with specially made tape. Duct tape will work in a pinch, as will gaffer tape (and will give you real mountain town credit) but specialty brands like Tenacious Tape are best and will be most effective. These patches are available in rolls of tape or small sized patches. I recommend keeping some of this tape in your backpack, glove box, or even down jacket pocket.

How to wash Patagonia down jacket

Follow the same instructions above. But for the TL;DR folks, the process to properly wash a Patagonia down jacket is to use cold water, a front loading washing machine, special, gentle down wash detergent, and a dryer on low heat. This is also how you wash a North Face 700 down jacket and how you wash a Monclear down jacket. Any down jacket!

Source: https://www.fieldmag.com/articles/how-to-wash-down-jacket-expert-advice