Stop Paying $40 to Dry Clean Your Puffer Jacket (Do This Instead), by Grace Cho on YouTube. 9 min 38 s.
- Video length
- 9 min 38 s
- Time to do it
- 2 hours
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Read the care label inside the jacket. If it says dry clean only, stop and follow the tag. If it allows machine or hand washing, carry on.
Empty all pockets and close every zip, snap and Velcro strap. Brush off loose dirt and check the seams for small tears before washing.
Treat the collar and cuffs with a little down wash and a soft brush or cloth. Work it in gently and do not scrub hard on the fabric.
Add a small amount of down wash to the machine. Use a down-specific detergent, not regular powder or fabric softener, which strips the natural oils.
Place the jacket in the drum and run a cool, gentle or delicate cycle. Add a second rinse so no soap stays trapped in the down.
Let the machine spin on low to press out water. Do not wring or twist the jacket by hand, which can clump the down.
Dry the jacket flat on a towel or rack first to remove the worst of the water. Then finish in the dryer on low heat with two or three tennis balls.
Check the jacket every 20 minutes and pull apart any clumps of down by hand. Keep going on low heat until it feels completely dry and puffy.
Tips and common mistakes
Never use fabric softener or regular detergent on down, as it coats the feathers and kills loft.
Tennis balls in the dryer break up clumps and speed up drying, but keep the heat low so the shell does not melt.
If the water no longer beads on the surface, apply a spray-on durable water repellent after the jacket is fully dry.
A jacket that still feels damp in the seams will smell musty, so give it extra low-heat time.
Questions
Can I wash a puffer jacket if the label says dry clean only?
Follow the label. Many luxury brands such as Canada Goose and Moncler specify dry cleaning, and washing can void their care guidance. Only machine wash when the tag allows it.
How do I stop the down from clumping?
Use a down wash, run a second rinse, and dry on low heat with tennis balls. Break up clumps by hand every 20 minutes until the jacket is fully dry.
Can I use regular laundry detergent?
No. Regular detergent and fabric softener leave residue that flattens the down. Use a detergent made for down or a mild soap recommended on the care label.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
