Quick answer
Most down jackets and puffers can be washed gently with a mild, down-safe detergent, then dried slowly on low heat until the fill is completely dry and fluffy again. Check the care label first: some shells and trims need dry cleaning. The biggest mistakes are harsh detergent, fabric softener and putting a jacket away while the fill is still damp.
Key takeaways
- Read the care label: it tells you whether to wash or dry clean.
- Use a mild, down-safe detergent and no fabric softener.
- Dry slowly and completely; damp down clumps and can smell.
- Close zips and fasteners and turn the jacket inside out before washing.
- Leather trims, fur collars and coated shells are best left to a professional.
Check the label first
Down and synthetic-fill puffers are built differently, and the care label is the most reliable guide. A washtub symbol means gentle washing is fine; a circle means dry cleaning. Jackets with leather or fur trims, metallic coatings or glued seams usually need professional care.
Washing a puffer at home
- Empty the pockets, close all zips and Velcro, and turn the jacket inside out.
- Use a front-loading machine on a gentle, cold or lukewarm cycle.
- Use a small dose of mild, down-safe detergent. Skip fabric softener: it coats the feathers and stops them lofting.
- Add an extra rinse so no detergent stays in the fill.
Drying is the most important step
Dry on a low heat setting with two or three clean tennis balls or dryer balls to break up clumps. It can take a few cycles. Take the jacket out every so often and shake it. It is dry only when the fill feels light and even with no damp lumps. In Chandigarh winters, air-drying alone often leaves the inside damp, which causes a musty smell.
When to send it to us
Send down jackets with stains on the collar and cuffs, leather or fur trims, or a label that says dry clean only. At our Mohali plant they are cleaned in Green Earth Cleaning or washed with gentle Diversey chemistry, then dried and fluffed properly. See our winter wear cleaning service.
