Down insulates by trapping air in its loft. Anything that flattens the loft — compression, detergent residue, damp — reduces the warmth directly.
How to wash down
| Garment | Wash | Dry | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Down | 30°C (86°F) | tumble low with dryer balls until completely dry | down-specific wash, never regular detergent |
Use a gentle, double rinse cycle and down-specific wash, never regular detergent. Ordinary detergent strips the natural oils from the plumes and they stop lofting. A down-specific wash is not marketing; it is a different formulation.
Drying and ironing
Dry tumble low with dryer balls until completely dry. For ironing: never.
Drying takes hours, not minutes, and must be finished completely. Down that is put away slightly damp develops mildew inside the baffles.
How long it should last
Ten to twenty years if washed rarely and stored uncompressed.
Quick reference
Down at a glance
- Wash: 30°C (86°F)
- Cycle: gentle, double rinse
- Detergent: down-specific wash, never regular detergent
- Dry: tumble low with dryer balls until completely dry
- Iron: never