How to clean a jacket and a down sleeping bag?

When we already have a warm jacket or a sleeping bag, we want it to stay with us for longer. For this purpose, it is necessary to properly maintain it - storage and washing. It happens that we make many mistakes in this matter.

We asked an expert for advice - Wojtek Kłapcia from PAJAK , which has been specializing in the production of clothes filled with goose down for many years.

How to pack a sleeping bag or jacket?

We usually fold the jacket and roll up the sleeping bag, often even tying it with something extra to put it in the cover. As it turns out, this is a big mistake. Wojtek Kłapcia advises never to fold or roll up a jacket or a sleeping bag . Why? Because we usually fold and roll in the same way. This results in a permanent deformation on the fabric (like a hem in trousers) and in the insulation. This creates a permanent thermal bridge that runs exactly along the longitudinal axis of symmetry in the case of a sleeping bag or at the folds of the jacket.

The most appropriate technique is to stuff the product into the cover . This apparent "mediocrity" prevents the formation of folds in permanent places. For a jacket, the most appropriate method is packing it into your own sleeve . With compression straps, remember to take them off only while crushing the product (with your hand, knee).

How to store a sleeping bag or jacket?

The PAJAK expert ensures that, regardless of the type of filling, all high-fluff products do not like compression or "stuffing" . Therefore, they should be stored in a place that is large enough for the volume of the product.

If you want to hang a sleeping bag, never fold it in half over the hanger . A better solution would be to use the hanging loops that almost every sleeping bag has. From time to time , fluffy products should also be aired . Remember, however, that all plastics (external fabrics) from which they are made do not like UV radiation. Then slow degradation of the fibers takes place. Airing is best done in the shade .

In the case of sleeping bags, remember to turn them inside out. The linings almost always breathe better than the outer fabric. On the other hand, fabric without a membrane breathes better than fabric with a membrane.

When to wash?

Contrary to popular belief, natural down must be washed regularly . The washing process extends the life of the down and restores its loft (sleeping bag volume).

Synthetic down should be washed only when necessary - the senses of smell and sight will tell you the right moment. Here, unfortunately, subsequent washes cause the deterioration of the loft (insulation fibers arrange themselves in an increasingly flat structure).

What about water-repellent (waterproof) down? Contrary to the marketing of some brands, the water repellency of down is neither eternal nor complete. The loft itself can be restored almost the same as in the non-impregnated version, but if you want to maintain water resistance, you should avoid frequent washing. For this, use a product dedicated to the care of this type of material.

What to wash in?

Natural down can be hardly damaged by any detergent, unfortunately synthetic fabrics are more sensitive, especially to softeners . It is best to use agents specially designed for washing down products , such as Mountval, Grenders, Nikwax.

You can also use mild detergents, such as Jelp Classic or Biały Jeleń. There is only one measure for washing water-repellent down (which we mentioned in How to choose the right sleeping bag ): Nikwax's Down Wash Direct.

How to wash?

We can, of course, be tempted to wash by hand, but a washing machine will be a more convenient and faster option. How to go about it?

Here are 6 tips from Wojtek Kłapca:

1. Remember that mental training is the most important! Be prepared that the product will not look promising when you take it out of the washing machine . So it has to be.
2. Set the washing machine to the "wool" program at 30 ℃. If possible, set the highest rinse level (e.g. "for allergy sufferers")
3. Check all pockets , secure the Velcro fasteners , turn the sleeping bag inside out .
4. Try to cheat the washing machine! Older machines usually draw 2-3 liters of water into the drum. Newer washing machines are smarter, however, and pump "excess" water out of the drum just before washing. The problem is the weight of ultralight products . The washing machine does not analyze whether it is a large sleeping bag, a jacket or just a few pairs of panties. It only judges the weight. To outsmart the washing machine, put soaked clothes in the washing machine in addition to the sleeping bag, or add other, heavier clothes.
5. Right after washing, when you know that the jacket or sleeping bag look "different" from the "pre-treatment" version, do not break down. You must put the laundry in a tumble dryer ( low temperature, longer cycle ). If you do not have a dryer, spread the washed sleeping bag or jacket on a regular dryer and place it in a well-ventilated area.
6. When you decide that the product is dry, continue to dry it, one more time after washing .

Good luck!

The most common problems encountered

What are the most common problems after washing down sleeping bags and jackets?

• After washing and drying, there were streaks.

Most likely, we did not fool the washing machine. Streaks are unrinsed detergent, so we have to put the item back in the washing machine and set it to rinse or wash it again, but without detergent.

• Product lost loft (synthetics):

A natural feature of synthetics is the minimal loss of loft after each wash . This is due to the differences in the structure of the insulation itself compared to natural down. Flat polyester fibers are arranged in a spatial structure, so use, compression or just washing causes better fit of the fibers and gradual loss of the loft. In natural down, we deal with three-dimensional structures and shape memory.

• Product lost loft (natural fluff):

We washed the down jacket, and it doesn't only lack a loft, but the down is missing? It's normal! We now need to help down return to its full form. The down is blocked in the chambers and in order for it to expand, we have to spread the product on an even surface and start to "clap" in the place where there is the most fluff . In this way, the moving down can be evenly distributed over the entire chamber. Such an operation will take about 15 minutes, and thanks to it, your beloved jacket will look like new

• The product smells bad

The cause of an unpleasant odor may be that the dryer was closed in a room with poor air circulation during drying, or the product was taken out of the washing machine a few hours after washing was finished. You should then wash it again and dry it in a better ventilated room .

As you can see, the maintenance of down products is not difficult at all, it only requires appropriate knowledge. Thanks to it, your sleeping bags and jackets will serve you for many years!