How to Wash a Down Jacket

There's nothing quite like a warm down jacket on a cold day. It keeps you comfortable on long winter walks, thanks to a filling that traps heat far more effectively than synthetic insulation. Whether you wear a lightweight down jacket for everyday cold or a heavier one for winter hikes, this special filling needs special care. This guide shows you how to wash a down jacket the right way, and how to dry it properly afterwards, so it keeps its warmth for many winters to come.

How Often Should You Wash a Down Jacket?

Wash a down jacket as rarely as possible. Airing it out is often enough to keep it fresh, and small stains can usually be treated on the spot with a little gall soap.

The reason is the filling itself. Down - the soft inner plumage of ducks and geese - keeps you warm and lets your jacket breathe. But it's also delicate. Every wash cycle strips away some of the down's natural oils, and over time, this reduces its loft and elasticity. Loft is what makes a down jacket feel light yet warm; once it's gone, the jacket loses some of its insulating power, even if it looks fine on the outside.

So before you reach for the washing machine, check whether airing the jacket is enough. If it isn't, a full wash is sometimes unavoidable - the next sections walk you through how to do it without damaging the filling.

Can You Machine Wash a Down Jacket?

In most cases, yes - but check the care label first. It tells you whether your specific jacket can be washed at home or needs professional cleaning. If professional cleaning is required, that's usually down to other materials in the jacket, not the down filling itself.

If the label allows a machine wash, there are two things to get right:

Drum size: use a washing machine with a drum capacity of at least 8 kg. Down jackets need room to move freely.
Wash it alone: don't wash the jacket alongside other laundry. This stops the down from being compressed and gives it space to move in the drum.

Use a detergent made specifically for down, such as our own down wash. It's formulated to be gentler on the filling than standard detergent. Avoid fabric softener altogether - it settles into the down and makes the feathers stick together.

How to Wash a Down Jacket: Step by Step

If your care label confirms a home wash, follow these steps:

1. Close all zips and Velcro fastenings.

2. Select a gentle programme at 30°C - ideally the wool programme, since it combines a high water level with minimal drum movement.

3. Spin the jacket gently. A spin speed of around 800 rpm is enough; the down soaks up water during washing, so spinning is necessary, but anything faster risks breaking the delicate feathers.

4. Repeat the spin cycle a few times, so the jacket loses as much absorbed water as possible.

5. Run an extra rinse cycle with clear water to fully remove detergent residue.

The tennis ball trick: add two clean tennis balls to the machine alongside the jacket. They keep the drum's contents moving and help stop the down from clumping together as it's washed.

If your machine has a dedicated down programme, use that instead - it's designed to handle these steps automatically.

How to Dry a Down Jacket Properly

Drying is where a down jacket regains its loft. A tumble dryer is the better option, if you have access to one - for example through friends, family, a laundrette, or a dry cleaner. Use a dryer with a capacity of at least 8 litres.

Tumble dryer (Recommended)

Squeeze the jacket gently to remove excess water, then dry it alone in the drum.
Add the tennis balls again - they help loosen and fluff the down as it dries.
Dry at a medium temperature, between 30°C and 60°C.
Pause the cycle every 10 minutes to shake and fluff the filling.
Expect the full cycle to take around 2 to 4 hours.
Check for residual dampness afterwards and give the jacket a final shake. If it still feels damp, run it for a few more minutes.
Once dry, hang the jacket up to air for at least a day before storing it.

No access to a tumble dryer? Lay the jacket flat on a drying rack instead. On the first day, fluff it up every two hours to stop the down clumping and to prevent damp patches forming. This method takes several days rather than hours, but it gets you to the same result: a jacket that's clean, fluffy, and ready for your next winter walk.

Looking for the right care products for your down jacket?

We stock a detergent made specifically for down, designed to clean without stripping the natural oils that keep it warm.

01/03

UNIVERSAL DOWN CLEANER

£20.00

Frequently asked questions

Dry the jacket flat on a drying rack instead. Fluff it up every two hours on the first day to stop the down clumping. It takes longer - several days rather than hours - but gets you the same result.

Tennis balls keep the drum's contents moving, which stops the down clumping together during both the wash and the dry cycle. Without them, the filling can settle into uneven, matted patches.

It's best to avoid it. Standard detergent isn't formulated for down, and fabric softener in particular settles into the feathers and makes them stick together. A detergent made specifically for down is the safer choice.

This usually comes down to the natural oils in the down being washed out, or the jacket not being dried thoroughly enough afterwards. Drying with tennis balls and fluffing the filling regularly helps restore loft.

Check the care label sewn into the jacket. If it specifies professional cleaning, that's usually because of other materials used in the jacket - not the down filling itself.

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