For professional reasons I watched like 20 videos about down gear care (incl. official brand pages and famous hiking UA-camrs) and yours is my favourite. Well done, thank you!
Just washed my uniqlo down jacket in fully automatic washing machine. I used perwoll and WOOL settings ( 2 rinses and light spin) inside a laundry net. Then I transferred it to my tumble dryer using DELICATE SETTING for more or less 1.5 hrs . Every 30 mins I pause the dryer to refluff the jacket It was a success
Great video - I have discovered that blown synthetic fill materials such as Thermoplume are impossible to wash and dry successfully without clumping - despite following manufacturers recommendations
It's been a few years since I washed anything with Thermoplume, but I remember something similar happening - it just took a bit of time to separate the clumps and spread them back out throughout the baffles. I think there's a few Thermoplum products coming through for this autumn/winter, so we'll be sure to comment further on this when we review them.
We never have, and it doesn't say anything about doing so within the washing instructions on the bottle, so I wouldn't say it's necessary. Also worth mentioning that if you do decide to proof it, it basically gets a second wash, so all-in-all it's quite a thorough process. Nick, our cameraman/filmmaker, managed to bring a completely mouldy one back from the dead whilst we were in the process of putting this together - really was amazing to see the end result given how rotten it was!!!
If I washed my down jacket with regular detergent, is it ruined permanently? Or just a matter of rewashing it as shown in the video and it will be fine?
You haven’t ruined it - it’ll just be prone to absorbing a bit more water in its current state. If you can, give it another wash with Down Wash (or the suchlike) and that’ll do the trick 👍
Good question - and potentially one we should have addressed within the video, although the answer is quite complex. The answer is ‘possibly’, but it depends on a few factors, and it’d be much more challenging to do accurately. If you don’t have a tumble drier my first suggestion would be to go to a laundromat, if there is one local to you. If there isn’t you might be able to do it over a radiator, but there’d be several issues in doing it this way and the biggest by far would be getting it consistently and thoroughly dry throughout. It’d also require a lot of effort working all the clumps out by hand. Another possibility if you live somewhere warm and breezy would be to air dry it outside, but that again would provide inconsistent results. All-in-all I’d highly recommend searching out a tumble drier if you can!!
The process is actually much easier for synthetic jackets. Just wash it in Nikwax Tech Wash and then if the label allows it, you can also tumble dry on a low heat. Be sure to read the instructions on the Tech Wash bottle. It's the first part of this video here: ua-cam.com/video/8GC1WL5PjCo/v-deo.htmlsi=72XoOKAgwwx5hGva&t=257
Interesting question, not least because up until now I'd never heard of an agitator - hence had to Google what one actually was!! As a result I'd be reluctant to say "give it a go" as I really wouldn't want you to ruin your jacket. It sounds like they have the potential to increase wear and tear and that'd certainly be something I'd want to avoid. As such, the laundromat might be your best option - just to be on the safe side.
Should be subtitled 'how to lose a day in your life'. All down and synthetic baffle-style jackets need a tumbledry. Don't buy one without one. I've learned the hard (expensive) way, and now stick to sheet synthetic jackets and good ole fleece. Polartec alpha is god - gets better as it gets older.
Let us know if you've got any questions!
any chance for us people without tumble dryer? do I have to just give it to the professional cleaners?
For professional reasons I watched like 20 videos about down gear care (incl. official brand pages and famous hiking UA-camrs) and yours is my favourite. Well done, thank you!
High praise - thanks so much for the feedback!
Just washed my uniqlo down jacket in fully automatic washing machine.
I used perwoll and WOOL settings ( 2 rinses and light spin) inside a laundry net.
Then I transferred it to my tumble dryer using DELICATE SETTING for more or less 1.5 hrs .
Every 30 mins I pause the dryer to refluff the jacket
It was a success
Great video - I have discovered that blown synthetic fill materials such as Thermoplume are impossible to wash and dry successfully without clumping - despite following manufacturers recommendations
It's been a few years since I washed anything with Thermoplume, but I remember something similar happening - it just took a bit of time to separate the clumps and spread them back out throughout the baffles. I think there's a few Thermoplum products coming through for this autumn/winter, so we'll be sure to comment further on this when we review them.
A helpful reminder to give my slightly stinky jacket a wash! If I'm washing two jackets at once, would you double up on down wash and proofing?
We never have, and it doesn't say anything about doing so within the washing instructions on the bottle, so I wouldn't say it's necessary. Also worth mentioning that if you do decide to proof it, it basically gets a second wash, so all-in-all it's quite a thorough process. Nick, our cameraman/filmmaker, managed to bring a completely mouldy one back from the dead whilst we were in the process of putting this together - really was amazing to see the end result given how rotten it was!!!
If I washed my down jacket with regular detergent, is it ruined permanently? Or just a matter of rewashing it as shown in the video and it will be fine?
You haven’t ruined it - it’ll just be prone to absorbing a bit more water in its current state. If you can, give it another wash with Down Wash (or the suchlike) and that’ll do the trick 👍
Is there any way to do this yourself if you don't have a tumble dryer?
Good question - and potentially one we should have addressed within the video, although the answer is quite complex. The answer is ‘possibly’, but it depends on a few factors, and it’d be much more challenging to do accurately. If you don’t have a tumble drier my first suggestion would be to go to a laundromat, if there is one local to you. If there isn’t you might be able to do it over a radiator, but there’d be several issues in doing it this way and the biggest by far would be getting it consistently and thoroughly dry throughout. It’d also require a lot of effort working all the clumps out by hand. Another possibility if you live somewhere warm and breezy would be to air dry it outside, but that again would provide inconsistent results. All-in-all I’d highly recommend searching out a tumble drier if you can!!
If the care instrucions say do not tumble dry (its made of polyamide/nylon) should I air dry it instead? or is it still safe to tumble dry?
@@emilio_moctez We advise not tumble drying if that’s what the care instructions say.
Does this work for recycled synthetic down (ie not fathers) too?
The process is actually much easier for synthetic jackets. Just wash it in Nikwax Tech Wash and then if the label allows it, you can also tumble dry on a low heat. Be sure to read the instructions on the Tech Wash bottle. It's the first part of this video here: ua-cam.com/video/8GC1WL5PjCo/v-deo.htmlsi=72XoOKAgwwx5hGva&t=257
In my experience it works for sheet synthetic insulation but not loose blown synthetic insulation
might just dry clean mine
Your jacket will almost certainly not like that!
Man I have a washing machine that has an agitator. Should I even risk trying it or just go to a laundry mat?
Interesting question, not least because up until now I'd never heard of an agitator - hence had to Google what one actually was!! As a result I'd be reluctant to say "give it a go" as I really wouldn't want you to ruin your jacket. It sounds like they have the potential to increase wear and tear and that'd certainly be something I'd want to avoid. As such, the laundromat might be your best option - just to be on the safe side.
Should be subtitled 'how to lose a day in your life'. All down and synthetic baffle-style jackets need a tumbledry. Don't buy one without one. I've learned the hard (expensive) way, and now stick to sheet synthetic jackets and good ole fleece. Polartec alpha is god - gets better as it gets older.
For what it’s worth, I managed without one for years - it’s just that I didn’t wash any of my jackets 🤦♂️