We recommend having down garments and sleeping bags professionally cleaned for best results. They use industrial washing and drying machines with large diameter drums that are designed and specially programmed to carry out gentle cycles. They clean and dry them in a manner which is much safer than you could in a domestic washing machine and in a more effective manner than by hand-washing in a bath. Some companies can remove the down and wash separately if heavily soiled. Links to these companies can be found at the end.
If you decide to clean a down product by yourself, please note the following:
Down should only be cleaned with a special mild wash detergent or down specific treatment. You should not wash it too often and in some cases, it is enough to spot clean any stains so the down does not get wet. It may even be sufficient to air dry for a couple of days to remove any odors rather than commit to a full cleaning process.
Should you decide to wash it, please consider the machine’s capacity. Use an industrial machine at the laundromat for large garments and sleeping bags. Do not use fabric softener and rinse out the machine dispensing tray to remove any residue from previous deter¬gents before you do. Use the detergent and temperature according to the instructions on the garment and avoid strong spinning. Rinse the article twice to remove any detergent residues for best results.
It is essential for regaining loft of the down, to dry the product in a tumble dryer. Please again consider the capacity of your tumble dryer and use industrial machine at the laundromat if necessary.
Dry at the recommended temperature setting for the garment with 2-3 clean tennis balls or similar which will help break up any down clumps. If you have no balls available, take the item out periodically, manipulate the down between your fingers. You can gently shake it but be mindful not to damage the stitching of the baffles that separate the down.
Depending on the tumble dryer (especially with older models) the inner of the dryer can heat up, despite choosing a low temperature setting. To avoid damage to fabrics, stop the process periodically, take the item out and start again after the tumble dryer has cooled down a little. Do not pause the drier and leave it inside.
This drying process can take several hours, especially for large garments. Even if it may appear dry from the outside there is likely to still be moisture on the inside. When you think it is fully dry, remove from drier and air it before storing to be sure.
Down cleaning specialists:
Germany
Outdoor Service Team Welcome! - OUTDOOR SERVICE TEAM (outdoor-service.com)
Sweden
Willfix WILLFIX – För dina kläder
United Kingdom
Mountaineering Designs https://www.mountaineering-designs.co.uk/
Scottish Mountain Gear https://www.scottishmountaingear.com/
