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Oct 23, 2024

How to Clean a Puffer Jacket and Other Down Gear | 2024 Tips | SELF

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission. Even if you identify as a summer child, it’s important to know how to clean a puffer

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Even if you identify as a summer child, it’s important to know how to clean a puffer jacket before fall’s first cold snap—especially if it’s insulated with down. Coats, vests, and other outdoor gear filled with down feathers need some special treatment in order to stay in good condition. Luckily, that treatment isn’t so intense that it’ll throw off your entire laundry routine. Following a few easy steps will keep your trusty top layer clean, warm, and ready for winter.

Your puffer’s exact cleaning schedule depends on how often you use it, Mike Kreis, a sales and service specialist at REI, tells SELF. “If you are wearing it every day, washing it once a month should keep your jacket in great shape for years to come,” he says. Otherwise, it’s fine to go a little longer between scrubbing sessions. Breaking yours out for the first time since last winter and can’t recall when you last washed it? Might as well give it a quick cleaning now.

Great news: Like jackets made with polyester and other synthetic fills, most down items can go in your washer. It’s best to use a front-loading washing machine, as opposed to a top-loading one with an agitator, Kreis says, adding that you can put your jacket in a mesh laundry bag for a little extra protection.

Instead of your regular detergent, use very mild detergent—or better yet, a down-specific cleaning product. Kreis likes Nikwax’s Down Wash Direct and Grangers’s Wash + Repel Down 2-in-1 cleaner (Revivex’s wash is another top-rated option). They’re formulated to be gentler than standard laundry solvents to keep your jacket’s insulation fluffy and its weatherproofing intact (they also work great for items with synthetic insulation). Avoid using fabric softener or bleach, and don’t take your jacket to the dry cleaners, Kreis adds.

Nikwax

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Grangers

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Dick's

You can spot-treat stains with a down-specific detergent before cleaning the whole piece, Kreis says. Dab the liquid on without diluting it, then proceed with your washing routine.

Absolutely—some pieces may even require it. You can use the same soaps we recommended above when hand-washing your items (just check the labels to see if you should wear gloves while handling them directly). Let the gear soak in your sink or tub for a few minutes before giving it a very gentle scrub. After rinsing your jacket, resist the temptation to wring it out, Kreis says—you could damage the exterior and compress its down filling.

We have more great news: Unless otherwise noted, you can put your puffer jacket in the dryer too. In fact, Kreis says, that’s the best way to make sure the filling re-fluffs without getting too clumpy. He recommends using a tumble dry spin cycle on a low heat setting and throwing a couple dryer balls or clean tennis balls in with your jacket. The balls will help break the feathers up inside, so your coat emerges as puffy as possible.

If you prefer to air-dry your jacket, some brands still recommend running it through the dryer at the very end (when it’s almost completely dry) to restore the down’s overall fluffiness. Don’t have access to a dryer? No sweat: After washing your jacket, gently shake off any excess water, then lay it flat. Knead out any clumps by hand, and don’t wear the jacket until it’s completely dry.

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L.L.Bean

Perhaps the best news of all: You don’t have to change up your approach if you’ve got a ton of down gear that’s in need of a clean. Whether you’re washing a jacket, vest, blanket, or sleeping bag, most of the same tips apply, Kreis says. (Still, it’s a good idea to check the tags on your items to make sure.)

Now that you’ve read up on how to care for your down gear, why not add a few more pieces to your collection? Maybe you’ll need some extra insulation on your next camping trip—a fluffy down blanket can give you a boost. Or perhaps you want to stay toasty warm all the way down to your toes (there are down booties and socks for that very purpose). And if you pulled out your old down coat only to realize it’s seen a few too many seasons, we’ve found the best replacements.

The North Face’s 1996 Retro Nuptse Jacket is a streetwear staple, but there’s more to it than its cool colorways and cropped length. It has a plush, marshmallow-y shape that piles on the warmth (I’ve been known to steal my boyfriend’s Nupste on brutally cold hikes). SELF’s associate social media manager has had hers for five years with no major signs of wear and tear. “It really performs exceptionally. It is on the more pricey side, but if you will wear it a lot, it's definitely worth it and it will last you,” she says.

Not into the chunky look? Columbia’s Arctic Crest hooded jacket and REI Co-Op’s 650 Down style have slimmer profiles, but still stand up to the chill. Plus, REI’s clocks in under $130—a rare feat for a down jacket.

For days where the weather is especially unpredictable, we like Patagonia’s versatile Tres 3-in-1 Parka. It comes as two separate pieces (a waterproof outer shell and an insulated puff), which you can wear alone or together.

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Kreis likes Cotopaxi’s Fuego line of down gear, and if you ask us, the vest adds a nice pop of color to any drab winter outfit. It also comes highly recommended by SELF contributors for cold weather jogs. Athleta’s Downtown Puffer Vest is another chic option with a slightly longer hemline—and when the temps drop, extra coverage means extra warmth.

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Athleta

Beyond bigger-ticket items like jackets and sleeping bags, Kreis lists Exped’s Down Socks and The North Face’s Nuptse Apres Booties as some of his favorite pieces of down gear. “These are great for cold weather backpackers and campers,” he says. Either pair are excellent options for wearing around camp or slipping on after you return from a snowy hike.

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Down sleeping bags come in a wide range of temperature ratings for different camping climates. If you want to make sure you stay warm all night, The North Face’s Outdoor Award–winning Trail Lite Sleeping Bag is designed to retain heat in sub-freezing weather. Kelty’s Cosmic 20 Down Mummy Sleeping Bag is another SELF Outdoor Award winner with a slightly higher temperature rating and a clever internal pocket for essentials like your phone or headlamp. Kreis’s pick, REI Co-Op’s Magma 15 Sleeping Bag, ranks in between the two—plus, it comes in three lengths and three widths.

Down quilts, like the Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt and the Therm-a-Rest Vela Quilt (which won Outdoor Awards in 2023 and 2022, respectively) can also level up your nights. Use one instead of a sleeping bag and pair it with a good sleeping pad; layer it under your sleeping bag to add more insulation between you and the ground; or snuggle in and use the quilt as an extra blanket on top.

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The North Face

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Enlightened Equipment

Therm-a-Rest

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