HOW TO WASH & MAINTAIN A PUFFER JACKET

Washing your puffer jacket may seem like a daunting task. They’re generally quite large and can be quite expensive, which might make you a little nervous. We don’t want to ruin them with poorly informed washing instructions. You might be especially cautious if your puffer jacket or quilted jacket is also waterproof.

We’ve put together some guides to answer any questions you may have about washing and maintaining your puffer jackets and insulated jackets. Including a couple of step-by-steps on how to machine wash your puffer jacket and how to hand wash your puffer jacket. You’ll also find a step-by-step for how to re-fluff your puffer jacket, also known as re-lofting, further below. These instructions also apply to padded or quilted jackets.

Can you put a Puffer Jacket in the Washing Machine

Yes, though be aware you must always check your coat's product care label. These labels will tell you what temperature the jacket can be washed at, as well as any do’s and don’ts. Quite handy, so we’d recommend reading them.

Most of us in the UK have a front-loading washing machine. This type of machine is generally recommended simply because top-loader washing machines have something called an ‘agitator’, which is great for cleaning away dirt but may cause damage to a puffer jacket.

Another important point to make. Please check your manufacturer’s warranty. Washing your jacket in the machine may void this. If any faults become apparent in the future, you may no longer be able to return the jacket if you’ve breached the T’s & C’s.

Washing a coat or jacket in the washing machine may be necessary if it has been worn well enough. You'll, of course, start to pick up dirt around the cuffs, and over time, the coat or jacket will generally look dull, which can be fixed with a decent wash in the machine. For the sake of the environment, we'd recommend only washing in the machine when necessary.

How to Wash a Puffer Jacket in the Washing Machine

Below, you’ll find instructions on how to prepare the jacket before washing, how to wash it, and the best way to dry the jacket after washing.

Machine Wash Preparation

• Empty all pockets of any items, tissues and the odd receipt you may have left in there. Don’t forget to empty the inside pockets. If you’ve left tissue in a pocket, it can cause white fluff to cling to the fabric, which, as we all know, is painstaking to remove, often requiring the jacket to be put back into the machine.
• Zip the jacket up. Zip it fully to the top, including any pocket zips. Or, if you have a touch fasten/Velcro fastening, then fasten these up too. A zip flailing about in the machine is prone to cause a snag. Additionally, zipping and fastening everything up helps to maintain the jackets' original shape.
• Treat any stains now to soften them, ready for the machine wash. You’ll need a warm, damp cloth and a stain remover or mild detergent, unless your jacket is waterproof, then use pure soap instead. Avoid using solvents or products containing alcohol, as they can damage the fabrics. Dilute the soap in warm water, then soak, and wring out the cloth and gently rub, in a circle motion, over the heavy stains. You must allow the warm water to soak into the dirt.

Washing the Puffer Jacket

1. Use either a pure soap, available in most supermarkets, or our Wash-In Cleaner in your machine. If your puffer also has a waterproof outer, you may want to take a look at our guide on how to wash a waterproof jacket if this is the case.
2. Set the wash to a low temperature. 30 degrees Celsius at most. 40 degrees or higher can damage and warp the synthetic fibres, potentially changing the shape of the jacket or ruining it outright. 40 degrees might not seem hot, but over an extended period of time, it may cause these effects. Washing at 30 is also much better for the environment.
3. Add in some dryer balls. The dryer balls bounce around the machine, pummelling the synthetic down, causing it to fluff up like new.

Can you put Your Puffer Jacket in the Dryer

Yes, you can. Your puffer jacket can be put in the dryer, although the settings may vary depending on the jacket. Refer to the label on your jacket before following any instructions.

How to Dry Your Puffer Jacket

1. Set the machine to low heat. It’s very important that you do not have it on high heat. As I’ve mentioned before, high heat can warp the protective layer and the filler if it’s synthetic down.
2. Add dryer balls to help pound out the water and re-loft or re-fluff the jacket.
3. Remove after 30 minutes and give it a good shake to make sure the jacket is puffing up.
4. Repeat this process until fully dry. Tumble drying is recommended to ensure the garment is fully dry and to maintain any DWR.

You can pause the process once the jacket feels adequately puffed up, then let it air dry for the final stage. If possible, hang it on a clothesline outside for an extra boost of freshness.

How to Re-Fluff a Puffer Jacket

There are two ways to re-fluff your puffer jacket. The first, which we have already mentioned, simply involves adding dryer balls to your washing or drying cycles to help ‘beat’ the jacket during tumbling. The second method does not involve a washer or dryer and is a manual process. Spread the jacket out and give it a good shake for a few minutes, then rotate the jacket 90 degrees and repeat the process until you're happy with the results. This can be a little tiring.