How to Dry a Down Jacket

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Down jackets are lightweight and warm and can last for years if you take care of them. The soft down material needs to be fully dried to prevent bacteria from forming and creating a bad odor. Drying a down jacket takes a fair amount of time, and needs to be done properly to prevent damaging the down, but it’s actually really easy to do.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Using a Machine Dryer

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    Take your wet down jacket and put it into the machine dryer by itself. The down jacket needs to have as much space as possible to properly tumble-dry without crushing the fluffy down. [1]
    • Gently squeeze out excess water from the jacket, but don’t wring it out or it could damage the down.
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    Machine-drying the jacket may take a few hours, but it must be done on a low-temperature setting or the heat could damage the down or the fabric of the jacket. Turn the temperature dial to the lowest setting. [2]
    • Mold or mildew can form on the down if too much moisture is left in it.
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    The tennis balls will bounce around with the jacket and fluff the down inside the jacket. The bouncing tennis balls will also break up and prevent clumps from forming in the down and make it dry faster and more evenly. [3]
    • If you don’t have tennis balls, you can put 2 shoes inside of clean socks as a substitute.
    • Use clean, dry tennis balls to prevent stains, extra moisture, or bad odors from getting on the down jacket.
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    Once you’ve added the down jacket, tennis balls, and set the dryer to low, turn it on to start tumble-drying. It’s normal to hear the banging sound of the tennis balls as the dryer tumbles. As the tennis balls bang against the jacket to break up clumps in the down, it also allows the material to dry better, which helps prevent pockets of moisture that can harbor mold and mildew from developing. [4]
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    Set a timer for every 30 minutes and take the jacket out of the dryer to fluff it and break up any clumps that may have formed in the down. Shake the jacket and use your fingers to massage clumps out of the down. [5]
    • Push any feathers that loosen during machine drying back into the jacket rather than pulling them out.
    • This also gives you an opportunity to see if your jacket is dry. When the down stops clumping together and the jacket feels light and fluffy, it has finished drying.
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    The drying process will be slow because of the low temperature, but it’s the best way to dry the jacket without damaging the material or leaving moisture that can turn into mildew and start to smell. Keep fluffing the jacket every 30 minutes for 3 hours to fully dry your down jacket. [6]
    • If your jacket still isn’t dry after 3 hours, continue to dry it in 30-minute increments until it’s dry.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Air-Drying a Down Jacket

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    Use your hands to press the down material to squeeze out the extra water before you air dry it. Do not wring out the down jacket or it could damage the material. [7]
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    After you’ve squeezed out the extra water, put your down jacket on a hanger and hang it to dry somewhere that is cool and dry, like a closet or a bedroom. If you hang it somewhere humid, it could cause the down to smell. [8]
    • Hang the jacket on a radiator to air-dry it a little faster, but make sure the radiator isn’t set at the highest temperature, and check the jacket every 30 minutes to make sure the material isn’t starting to burn. The direct heat from the radiator won’t encourage the development of mold or mildew like a warm room will.
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    Set a timer for every half hour and take the jacket off of the hanger. Shake it vigorously and use your fingers to massage the down and remove any clumps. [9]
    • Massage the down gently; don’t compress the material.
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    Air-drying a down jacket takes a long time, but you need to let it fully dry before you pack it away or wear it because the damp down can start to smell. Keep fluffing every half hour and let the jacket dry until the down is light and fluffy and the down stops clumping together. [10]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I wash a rain jacket?
    Jeimy Flournoy
    Laundry & Dry Cleaning Expert
    Jeimy Flournoy is a Laundry & Dry Cleaning Expert based in Capital Heights, Maryland. Jeimy is the Founder of Salon 809 and 809 Laundromat, which offers self-service, drop-off, and commercial laundry services. 809 Laundromat prioritizes cleanliness and providing exceptional customer service, and is passionate about giving back and making a positive impact. They have garnered over 5,500 customers and 125,000 cleans in their first year open. Jeimy is a dynamic entrepreneur with a diverse portfolio. Jeimy opened the second location of Salon 809 in 2019 and successfully franchised the brand. In 2023, she further diversified her entrepreneurial pursuits by launching the 809 Laundromat.
    Jeimy Flournoy
    Laundry & Dry Cleaning Expert
    Expert Answer
    You can wash a rain jacket by using a mild detergent designed for delicate fabrics. Fill a basin with lukewarm water, add the detergent, and gently hand wash the jacket to preserve the fabric's integrity. After washing, rinse the jacket thoroughly to remove all detergent residue. Avoid using high heat for drying. Instead, air-dry the jacket by hanging it in a well-ventilated area. Also, don't iron the jacket, as high heat can damage both the fabric and its water-resistant properties. 
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      • Down jackets should be stored in a dry location to keep mold or mildew from forming on the material.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/14/arts/to-clean-or-not-to-clean-down-coats.html
      2. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/14/arts/to-clean-or-not-to-clean-down-coats.html
      3. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/14/arts/to-clean-or-not-to-clean-down-coats.html
      4. ↑ https://www.cleverhiker.com/blog/less-stink-fluff
      5. ↑ https://www.cleverhiker.com/blog/less-stink-fluff
      6. ↑ https://www.cleverhiker.com/blog/less-stink-fluff
      7. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/14/arts/to-clean-or-not-to-clean-down-coats.html
      8. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/14/arts/to-clean-or-not-to-clean-down-coats.html
      9. ↑ https://gizmodo.com/how-to-wash-and-maintain-your-down-jackets-and-sleeping-1738330236
      1. ↑ https://www.cleverhiker.com/blog/less-stink-fluff

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