A Simple Guide to Cleaning Your Winter Jacket
October is the perfect time of year to pull winter coats from storage to get them clean, and to ensure that zippers, clasps and hoods are winter ready. Inspect each one carefully for any wear and tear that might need mending. Once they’re mended, the cleaning experts at Molly Maid Burlington, Oakville and Waterdown, have developed the following guide to help you carefully clean all of your winter jackets. And a kind reminder to pay it forward: donate coats that you’ve outgrown to your local thrift shop or winter coat drive.
Wool Jackets
If your wool jacket can be hand washed (be sure to check the label), start by filling the bathtub, a large sink or extra large bucket with cold water.
- Add a small amount of mild wool detergent and agitate the water by swirling it with your hand. Let the wool coat soak in the water for five to ten minutes.
- Drain the basin and rinse the jacket with cold water, gently squeezing the material to remove the soap.
- Once all of the soap has been removed, lay your wool jacket flat onto a thick towel to air dry.
For ongoing care, Vanessa Anderson of Molly Maid Burlington, Oakville and Waterdown recommends using a soft suede or lint brush to gently brush your jacket after each use.
Down Jackets
For down jackets or vests, a front-loading washing machine is recommended, as the centre agitator in top loading machines can cause damage to the material.
- Brush off any loose mud or dirt from the jacket and do up any zippers, snaps or Velcro.
- If possible, turn the jacket inside out.
- Using mild laundry soap, wash the jacket in cold water on a delicate wash cycle.
- Once clean, tumble dry on low heat, throwing in three clean tennis balls to help break up wet clumps of down. Do not air dry your down coat, as this will cause the down to flatten.
Vanessa can not stress enough the importance of adding the tennis balls during the drying process. While the jacket dries, the tennis balls will bounce around the machine, constantly hitting the jacket like you would fluff a pillow back into shape.
WARNING: We can not stress enough the importance of always checking the care instructions for any outer wear before washing. Some items may need to be professionally cleaned to avoid damage.
