How to Wash a Down Jacket Without Ruining It

To wash a down jacket, close every zip, use a front-loading machine on a gentle cycle at 30C with a detergent made for down, rinse twice, then tumble dry on low heat with two clean tennis balls until no damp clumps remain, which can take several hours. Read the care label first: if it says dry clean only, take it to a cleaner who knows down.

Quick answer

• Check the care label before anything else; it overrides every general tip.
• Use a down-specific wash, never fabric softener, bleach and biological powders.
• Wash on a gentle cycle at 30C in a front-loader, then add an extra rinse.
• Dry on low heat with tennis balls, taking the jacket out every 30 minutes to break up clumps.
• The jacket is only finished when it is dry right through; damp down can smell and clump.
• Coats with cashmere, silk, wool shells, real fur and shearling need a professional cleaner.

Start with the care label

Down jackets are not all built the same. A nylon puffer and a cashmere coat with a down lining may share the same filling, but the outer fabric decides how you clean them. The label inside the jacket is the manufacturer’s instruction for that exact garment, so follow it.

What you need

• A front-loading washing machine, large enough for the jacket to move freely. Top-loaders with a central agitator can tear baffles.
• A liquid detergent made for down. It cleans without stripping the natural oils that let the clusters loft.
• Two clean tennis balls, dryer balls also work, to break up clumps in the dryer.
• Time. Drying a full jacket properly takes hours, so start in the morning.

How do you wash a down jacket in a washing machine?

1. Empty and close everything. Take out pocket contents, close every zip and press stud, and fasten the Velcro so nothing snags the shell.
2. Remove the extras. Detach any hood, bib and fur trim. Clean removable fur separately with a specialist.
3. Turn it inside out. This protects the outer finish and any metal hardware, such as a logo plate.
4. Clean the drum. Run a quick rinse first if the machine was last used with ordinary powder, so no residue transfers.
5. Pre-treat marks. Dab collar and cuff grime with a little down detergent on a soft cloth. Do not scrub.
6. Wash gently. Use a delicate cycle at 30C with a low spin and the dose of down detergent on the bottle.
7. Rinse twice. Add an extra rinse so no soap is left in the down. Leftover soap makes clusters stick together.
8. Lift it out carefully. Support the weight with both arms. Wet down is heavy and can strain seams.

How do you hand wash a down jacket?

Hand washing is the safest route for very light shells. Fill a clean bath with lukewarm water and stir in down detergent. Push the jacket under and press gently to work the water through; never wring it. Leave it to soak for about 30 minutes, then drain, refill with clean water and press again. Repeat until the water runs clear of suds.

Press out water by rolling the jacket in a large towel, then move it to the dryer. Air drying alone can work, but it takes days and the down tends to clump, so a low tumble finish is better when the label allows it.

How do you dry a down jacket?

Drying is where most jackets are saved and lost. Put the jacket in the dryer on the lowest heat setting with two tennis balls. Every 30 minutes, take it out, shake it and pull apart any clumps with your fingers. At first it will look flat and lumpy. That is normal.

Keep going until the jacket feels evenly light and full, with no cold, damp spots in the baffles. A full jacket can take two to three hours, a long coat longer. If you stop early, trapped moisture can cause a musty smell and permanent clumping. Finish by hanging it in a warm room overnight before you wear it.

When should you dry clean a down jacket instead?

When the label says so, and when the outer fabric would not survive water and a tumble. Many luxury down pieces pair the filling with wool, cashmere and silk, and these need professional care. Ask the cleaner whether they handle down; a careless solvent clean can flatten the fill.

Caring for Herno down pieces

Herno built its reputation from the 1980s on parkas and down jackets in very light nylon with natural down, and many of its classics use recycled nylon microfibre with a light coating on the reverse. Here is how we would approach some of the pieces in the Herno edit, always with the label as the final word.

Three Herno-specific notes. First, the small metal Herno logo plate on the back can knock against the drum, so turn the jacket inside out. Second, removable bibs and hoods should come off and be washed on their own. Third, Herno uses PFC-free water-repellent treatments on many pieces, so if water stops beading on the surface, choose a PFC-free re-proofer to match. Browse more men’s jackets and men’s coats in the range.

How often should you wash a down jacket?

Less than you think. Once a season is plenty for most people, and twice only if you wear it daily in a dirty city. Every wash takes a little out of the down and the finish. Between washes, spot clean the collar and cuffs, which pick up most of the grime, and air the jacket after a long day.

How should you store a down jacket?

Store it clean and completely dry, hanging on a wide hanger in a breathable cotton bag. Avoid vacuum bags and tight compression for long periods; down needs air to keep its loft. If you must fold it for travel, shake it out and hang it as soon as you arrive.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using fabric softener, which coats the down and kills its loft.
• Washing with heavy items such as jeans, which crush the baffles.
• High heat in the dryer, which can damage nylon shells and membranes.
• Stopping the drying too soon because the outside feels dry.
• Ironing a nylon shell. Do not.

Looking for something new to look after? See our guide to Herno down jackets for men, then shop the full Herno collection with worldwide express shipping from Coveti’s UAE and Australia hubs.

Read next: Herno down jackets for men, Herno gilets and down vests and who is Herno.

Frequently asked questions

Can you put a down jacket in the washing machine?

Yes, if the care label allows it. Use a front-loading machine on a gentle cycle at 30C with a down-specific detergent and an extra rinse. Avoid top-loaders with a central agitator, which can damage the baffles.

How long does a down jacket take to dry?

In a tumble dryer on low heat with tennis balls, a down jacket usually takes two to three hours, and a long coat takes longer. It is only dry when there are no damp clumps left in any baffle.

Why is my down jacket clumpy after washing?

Clumps mean the down is still damp, still holding soap, possibly both. Put it back in the dryer on low heat with tennis balls and break up the clumps by hand every 30 minutes until the jacket is evenly full.

Can I use normal detergent on a down jacket?

It is better not to. Ordinary detergents can strip the natural oils in down and leave residue that makes it clump. A down-specific wash cleans gently and rinses out more fully. Never use fabric softener.

Should you dry clean a down jacket?

Dry clean a down jacket when its care label says so, typically for shells in wool, cashmere and silk, and for pieces with fur trims and shearling collars. Choose a cleaner experienced with down, since the wrong process can flatten the filling.

How often should you wash a down jacket?

About once a season is enough for most down jackets. Spot clean the collar and cuffs in between, since frequent full washes wear down both the filling and the water-repellent finish.