A good winter coat can last ten years, sometimes fifteen. The difference is almost never the quality; it’s the care you give it.
Washing your coat correctly is the one thing that decides whether it comes back from the laundry looking exactly the same, or whether it never fully recovers. Here’s everything you need to know.
How often should you wash your winter coat?
Once a year is enough in the vast majority of cases.
Contrary to what most people think, washing your coat too often wears it out faster and puts unnecessary strain on the fill and the seams. The right thing to do is to wash once, at the end of winter. The goal is to remove the salt, sweat and dirt that accumulated over the season. If it’s not washed before the storage, your coat will absorb those stains and odors over five months of storage.
How to wash a Down coat
Most down coats wash perfectly well at home, as long as you follow a few rules.
Turn the coat inside out before putting it in the machine.
Wash in cold water on the delicate cycle. Always check your coat’s care label to confirm.
Use a gentle detergent, ideally one made specifically for down. Look for the following on the detergent label: enzyme-free (the most important), no bleaching agents, no optical brighteners, no fragrance, no dyes, neutral pH. Regular detergent, especially in large quantities, leaves residue that flattens the down clusters.
If your coat has a removable fur trim, take it off before washing.
Drying down
A down coat must always be dried in the dryer, on low heat, with two or three tennis balls or dryer balls. The balls break up the wet clumps of down and restore the fill’s natural puff.
This takes time, often several dryer cycles. It is essential that the down is completely dry before moving on to storage. If you can still feel any moisture, air-dry the coat on a rack for 24 to 48 hours. A down coat stored while still damp is guaranteed mold, and an odor you won’t be able to get rid of afterwards.
How to wash a synthetic-fill coat
Synthetic fill is more forgiving than down, but the basics are the same.
Unlike down, synthetic insulation does not need the dryer to return to its shape. Simply lay the coat flat on a clean surface, away from any direct heat source, and let it dry completely. In this case too, you should never store a coat that isn’t perfectly dry.
Mistakes to avoid
Some laundry habits can destroy your coat. Here are the things to avoid when washing your winter coat, regardless of the type of fill.
Avoid bleach. It attacks the fibres and the waterproof membrane.
No fabric softener. It coats the fibres with a film that reduces the down’s puff and compromises the fabric’s water resistance.
Never dry-clean. The chemical solvents degrade the fill and the durable water repellent treatments.
No iron. The heat melts technical fabrics and heat-bonded seams.
Never wring a wet coat to squeeze out the water. You risk permanently displacing the fill and tearing the internal seams.
A well-cared-for coat is one that stays with you season after season. A few steps, once a year, and the rest takes care of itself.