Washing coats: a guide

The cold is here! Your favourite coat or jacket has spent the whole summer in the wardrobe & is ready for a new season! Noticed that your favourite coat or jacket has lost its shine? Good news! We're happy to help you freshen it up completely with our washing tips. Your jacket will be as good as new.

Washing wool coats

The fibres of a wool coat are very breathable, elastic and insulating. Perfect properties for cold temperatures. On top of that, wool coats are very durable, as long as you look after them properly, of course. Below you'll find a few tips on how best to do that!

1. Airing is key
To keep a wool coat nice and fresh, give it a good airing. You can do this by hanging your coat in a humid room, which gets rid of nasty smells & creases. A utility room or bathroom is ideal! The warmth & steam in a bathroom help the fibres return to their original shape.

2. Time to wash
After airing, it's time to wash your coat. Read the care instructions carefully first. Jackets are best washed closed and inside out. Wool also doesn't like too much detergent. So use a small amount of wool detergent for delicates. Then run the wash with cold to lukewarm water on a wool programme. After washing, lay the coat flat on a towel. That way it dries properly and keeps its shape!

3. Bye-bye bobbles!
Bobbles can form on a wool coat. This usually happens where there's a lot of friction, like under the arms, at the elbows or around the hips. A fabric shaver or de-pilling comb easily removes those little bobbles! Tip: you always have a disposable razor at home & it works just as well!

Washing outdoor jackets

Rain jackets are breathable & waterproof. These jackets also need washing regularly. That's because tiny particles of dirt or sweat can weaken the properties of the fabric. Most outdoor jackets are made of synthetic fabrics and can simply go in the washing machine!

1. Preparing the wash
Before you wash your outdoor jacket, make sure you have a clean washing machine with no detergent residue left. So be sure to clean the detergent drawer: detergent can build up there & damage your jacket's coating! To clean your washing machine thoroughly, run a hot wash without detergent with a handful of soda crystals. Once the machine is clean, you can start washing. Close all zips, press studs & pockets before you put your jacket in the wash. Use a wool detergent for delicates or a special outdoor detergent suitable for your jacket. Run the wash on a gentle programme at 30°C. Tip: put a maximum of 2 jackets in the machine at once!

2. Let it dry
After washing, it's time to dry your jacket. Ideally, dry it outside or in a well-ventilated room. Careful: never iron your jacket! Synthetic materials can melt at high temperatures. So don't hang it near the radiator either.

3. Treat it
Once your waterproof jacket is dry & clean, treat it with a waterproofing spray. For a long-lasting effect, repeat this treatment twice a year.

Washing down jackets

Your down jacket usually consists of a synthetic outer fabric, a down filling & a lining. These days, duck feathers are often replaced by an animal-friendly alternative such as plastic from PET bottles or recycled nylon. Just like down, these hold in heat.

1. Removing stains
Stains on your down jacket? A small amount of ox gall soap gets them out. Let the soap work for 5 minutes. Then it can go in the wash.

2. Time to wash.
A down jacket can go in the washing machine; check the care instructions on the label. It's best to wash a down jacket like a wool coat. So close the zip & pockets, turn the jacket inside out & wash it on a wool programme at 30°C with a wool detergent for delicates. Don't use chlorine or bleach!

3. After washing
Because the down got wet, it tends to clump together. Unlike wool coats, a down jacket can go in the tumble dryer. Tip: throw two tennis balls in the dryer to fluff the down back up.