Housekeeping · Winter jacket care

Wash and store a down jacket without flattening the fill

Follow the garment label, use an appropriate down cleaner, dry fully on permitted low heat and store uncompressed.

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Down fill can clump and lose loft when dirty or wet. REI's care guide emphasizes garment labels, suitable down washing, thorough low-heat drying and uncompressed storage. Not every insulated jacket can be machine washed or tumble dried, particularly those with special coatings or mixed materials.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

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Read the garment's care label for machine-washing and tumble-drying permissions; follow any special manufacturer instructions.
If washing is allowed, close zippers and hook-and-loop fasteners and empty pockets.
For machine-washable down, choose the label-approved gentle program and suitable down cleaner, then rinse thoroughly.
If tumble drying is permitted, use low heat and allow enough time. Clean dryer balls may help loosen clumps if allowed by the label and dryer manual.
Check that the fill is completely dry and no clumps remain. Do not speed drying by putting the jacket directly against a hot heater.
Store the fully dry jacket without prolonged tight compression, ideally on a suitable hanger or with ample space.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

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