Knowledge on the Care and Cleaning of Down Jackets

Down jackets are the necessary clothes for people in winter. However, there are many key points for the care of down jackets. Today, we will share all of these with you.

Tetrachloroethylene

The down jackets cannot be dry-cleaned with Tetrachloroethylene. Because it will cause the following harm to the down jackets and human bodies.

• The Tetrachloroethylene dry cleaning agent has a strong degreasing property. After the down absorbs the tetrachloroethylene solvent, it will form clumps, resulting in a decrease in fluffiness, a decline in warmth retention, and a shortened service life of the down jacket.
• Each time down is dry-cleaned with tetrachloroethylene, the oil content in the down will decrease. Generally, after down has been dry-cleaned multiple times, it loses the protection of oil, its elasticity decreases, and its warmth retention significantly reduces.
• After the down absorbs the tetrachloroethylene, it is difficult for the tetrachloroethylene to separate from high-density down jacket fabrics. The residual tetrachloroethylene in the down is toxic to human bodies.
• Many countries have gradually phased out tetrachloroethylene dry cleaning detergents because tetrachloroethylene is not eco-friendly.

Hydrocarbon Solvents (Petroleum Solvents)

The Hydrocarbon solvents are mild dry cleaning agents, and their oil-removing ability is weaker than that of tetrachloroethylene. Down jackets can be dry-cleaned with hydrocarbon solvents (petroleum solvents). It should be noted that down is prone to absorbing petroleum solvents. After dry cleaning, the drying time should be appropriately extended to reduce the hydrocarbon solvents remaining in the down jacket to a low level. If a laundry needs to dry clean down jackets with hydrocarbon solvents, it is recommended to first test the hydrocarbon solvents in the hidden parts of the down jackets to ensure that the appearance of the clothes will not be damaged before using hydrocarbon solvents for dry cleaning.

Laundry Detergent Powder or Liquid Detergent?

The pH value of laundry detergent and laundry soap is generally between 9 and 11, which is alkaline and has a good oil removal effect. After washing down with laundry detergent once, the oil content of the down decreases by about 0.1%. When down is washed with laundry detergent many times and the oil content drops below 0.4%, the elasticity of the down decreases, the fluffiness drops, and the warmth retention reduces, which will shorten the service life of the down jacket.

• Liquid detergent is generally neutral and has a weaker oil-removing ability than alkaline detergents such as laundry powder and soap, which is beneficial for extending the service life of down jackets.

• If the down jacket has serious stains, you can first remove the stains on the surface and then wash it normally in an industrial washing machine.

Bleach

Down jackets should not be bleached with a bleaching agent whose main component is sodium hypochlorite. Sodium hypochlorite has strong oxidizing properties. It can not only bleach fabrics but also directly dissolve the down.

In addition, in order to enhance the resistance of wool, the material, the lining, and the bleaching agent containing sodium hypochlorite are often used to apply the anti-wool coating, and the bleaching agent containing sodium hypochlorite is easily damaged by the anti-wool coating, which can cause the feather to increase significantly.

Long-term Soaking in Detergent

The down coat soak time is recommended for less than 15 minutes. The down of the down is slightly sour after 24 hours, the bubble water has a bad smell in 48 hours, and the smell of the water in 72 hours will be unable to put up with it. A down suit that takes more than 24 hours to soak will face the risk of abandonment.

Conclusion

Down jackets are important winter clothes. Proper washing and care can make down jackets soft and fluffy, and extend their service life.