Lifestyle

Learn how to wash a jacket in the washing machine

March 24, 2023
10:42 AM

The cold season dictates its own rules: we take the warm clothes out of the wardrobe and put them back in shape.

And if you’re still afraid to wash your jacket yourself, be sure to read this article and arm yourself with a useful life hack!

The content of the article

A jacket, like a down jacket, is not the easiest thing to wash in a washing machine. The fact is that the jacket can be made of various materials, have polyester padding or consist of a membrane.

These and other characteristics influence the choice of machine washing conditions and drying rules.

To wash your jacket yourself and not spoil its appearance, be sure to follow proven recommendations and do not forget to look at the care icons that are drawn on the factory label.

How to wash a winter jacket in a washing machine: material features

First, find out what the jacket is made of and what it is filled with, which you are going to wash in the washing machine.

Products on a synthetic winterizer are perfectly washed in an automatic washing machine on a mode for synthetic fabrics. The water temperature of such a wash should not exceed 40 degrees.

Down jackets should be washed separately from other items so that the down inside does not fall out. For down jackets, a gentle machine wash at a temperature not exceeding 30 degrees is suitable.

But membrane fabric jackets cannot be machine washed. They are hand washable only. It is advisable to use a special detergent so as not to damage the membrane sheath.

It is not recommended to wash leather jackets by yourself, it is better to dry clean them or take them to a dry cleaner.

Polyester jackets should be washed according to the cycle indicated on the label of the specific product. If there are no special icons, choose a delicate machine wash with a spin no more than 600 revolutions. Add fabric softener to prevent the jacket from electrifying after drying.

How to wash a winter jacket in a washing machine: step by step instructions

It is important to choose the correct water temperature for washing. The symbols on the label will help you with this. For example, if a triangle with two intersecting lines is displayed, it means machine washing is prohibited. This jacket should be hand washed.
The optimum temperature for washing a jacket is 30-40 degrees. At higher temperatures there is a risk of deformation of the product. Also, a jacket, especially a new one, can come loose in hot water.
To prevent the jacket from deforming, it is best to wash it in a laundry bag.
Before putting your jacket in the drum of the washing machine, check the pockets carefully to make sure there are no small parts, chewing gum or anything else that could stain the item.
Before washing, close all the zippers of the jacket, unfasten the collar and hood with buttons, fur and decorative details. Return your jacket.
The extra rinse function will prevent scratches from appearing on the material and protect the jacket from stains or fading.
For machine washing, it is better to use not powder detergents, but liquid ones: they are easier to wash and provide gentle care for the jacket. Instead of conditioner or gel, you can use regular shampoo with abundant lather.
The spin mode is usually indicated on the product label. Spin prohibition is indicated by a square with three vertical stripes. In this case, the jacket can only be wrung out and twisted by hand.
To prevent the padding inside the jacket from rolling, use soft tennis balls or special magnetic balls for machine washing.
Do not soak the jacket for a long time before washing: this leads to the appearance of stains, and the abundance of liquid is harmful to the synthetic winterizer or down.
Wash stubborn stains on the jacket by hand using a paste of laundry soap, stain remover, or wipe with a cloth dampened with an alcohol solution.

How to Dry a Jacket After Machine Washing

Drying is just as important as washing! Dry the jacket horizontally on a flat surface. Lay out the jacket on a clothes dryer, table or wide window sill, it is important that the surface is made of moisture-resistant materials.

To quickly absorb moisture, dry terry towels or cotton sheets can be placed under the jacket.

Smooth the padding with your hands to avoid lumps, straighten creases and pockets: if the jacket does not dry properly, creases can form in the fabric.

Do not dry the jacket near an open flame, on hot batteries or with an iron: high temperatures can damage the material.

How to wash a jacket on a synthetic winterizer in a washing machine

To wash off the synthetic winterizer, choose liquid detergents without abrasive and whitening components. For example, gels for washing wool and other delicate fabrics are perfect.

You can wash products from synthetic winterizer at a temperature of no more than 30 degrees. They should not be soaked or tumble dried.

Before washing, read the label inside the product for care instructions. If it says that machine washing is prohibited, it is better not to risk it. If you can machine wash, then choose the program recommended on the label (if this information is not available, activate the “Hand wash”, “Delicate wash” or “Synthetics” mode).

Do not use powder products – they can damage the structure of the material and leave white spots, which will be very difficult to remove.

Experienced housewives recommend washing synthetic winter jackets, placing special balls with them in the drum. This life hack will not allow the material to clump together and will also increase the washing efficiency.

Load a jacket on a synthetic filler in the drum separately from other things. Stop the spin or run it at low speed. The safest option is to manually squeeze the synthetic winterizer, not twisting it, but gently crushing it.

After washing the jacket on a synthetic winterizer in the washing machine and wringing it out, lay it out on a horizontal surface to dry.

It is better to put the product in the drum in a special case for washing.

Before washing the jacket in the washing machine, remove decorative elements and fur details, if any, and also turn the thing inside out.

It is recommended to set the console to “Double Rinse” mode to completely remove detergent from the jacket and avoid streaks.

Dry padding jackets and coats should be in a well-ventilated place, periodically turn them inside out to avoid the appearance of damp and musty smell. No need to try to speed up the process by placing the jacket next to the radiator or fireplace. It will also be a mistake to hang something on a hanger – under the weight of wet material, the putty deforms.

If there are visible stains on the surface of the fabric, it is recommended to pre-treat them with an appropriate cleaning agent. Traces of foundation can be removed with alcohol or toothpaste, greasy stains with washing-up liquid, stubborn dirt with detergent.

How to wash a polyester jacket in the washing machine

Before washing a polyester jacket in the washing machine, find out what material the item is insulated with. Depending on this, the rules of care will be different.

Jackets filled with hollafiber can be washed at 50-70 degrees and even – unlike many other materials – they can be wrung out in a typewriter.

If the jacket is insulated with a synthetic winterizer, go through the previous paragraph – there we give detailed recommendations on how to properly wash jackets on a synthetic winterizer in a washing machine.

Thinsulate is washed at 40 degrees, and when spinning at low speeds – up to 600.

How to wash a down jacket in a washing machine, read a separate article on VOICE.

Be sure, as with washing other clothes, to consult the recommendations on the label. The recommended water temperature must be indicated there. Most often, this number does not exceed 40 degrees.

It is better to prefer liquid detergent to powder and never use bleach.

In the machine settings, set the program for washing delicate fabrics, turn off the spin and dry.

Before washing a polyester winter jacket in the washing machine, zip the product up and place it in a laundry bag.

After washing, gently wring the item out by hand and let it dry on its own.

How to wash a jacket with a membrane in a washing machine

It is strictly forbidden to wash products with a membrane with washing powder, since the particles will clog the pores of the material. Also, do not use fabric softeners and fabric softeners. Instead, use a detergent to wash fabrics with a membrane. Local pollution can be removed with laundry soap.

Set the temperature on the machine panel to 30-40 degrees. After washing, squeeze by hand. The membrane should not be ironed or dried near heating devices.

Periodically, the membrane material must be impregnated with a special compound that will restore its water-repellent properties. The impregnations are liquid and in the form of a spray. Rinse the jacket with a liquid product diluted with water according to the instructions, and spray it liberally with an aerosol, without missing a single area.

The best way to wash the membrane is to use a 2-in-1 composition that combines the functions of cleaner and impregnator. This saves a lot of time and is absolutely harmless to the material.

Source: The Voice Mag

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.