How to Wash Down Jacket
What You'll Need
- Per product directions
- Required
- 3-4
- Required
Step-by-Step Method
Close all zippers, Velcro, and snaps. Turn the jacket inside out. Check for rips or tears (down will escape during washing).
Use a front-loading machine only (top-loader agitators damage baffles). Add down-specific detergent. Wash on gentle/delicate cycle with cold water. Run an extra rinse cycle to remove all soap residue.
Dry on LOW heat (not medium, not high). Add 3-4 clean tennis balls or dryer balls. The balls break up clumps of wet down as the jacket tumbles. This step takes 2-3 hours. The jacket must be completely dry.
Down retains moisture in its core even when the shell feels dry. Take the jacket out, shake it, and feel for any damp clumps. If you find any, put it back in for another 30 minutes.
- Never use a top-loading washer (agitator damages baffles and tears stitching)
- Never use regular detergent or fabric softener (strips natural oils from down)
- Never air-dry a down jacket (the clumped wet down will mildew before it dries)
- Never dry on high heat (melts the shell fabric and damages down)
- Store down jackets uncompressed (hang or lay flat) during off-season. Keeping them stuffed in a stuff sack for months compresses down and reduces insulation.
- DWR (durable water repellent) finish on the shell can be restored after washing with a DWR spray or wash-in treatment.
- If your jacket smells musty, it was stored damp. Wash and fully dry following this method.
Frequently Asked Questions
1-2 times per season for regular use. Washing too frequently is unnecessary and reduces down lifespan. Spot-clean surface dirt between washes.
Check the care label. Some down jackets can be dry cleaned, but the solvents can strip oils from down. Wet washing with down-specific detergent is generally preferred by outdoor gear manufacturers like Patagonia and The North Face.
Sources & Methodology
Down care methods from outdoor gear manufacturer guidelines (Patagonia, Arc'teryx, The North Face). Down-specific detergent preserves the natural lanolin oils that give down its lofting ability.
Last reviewed: March 20, 2026