Dirt, sweat,
and body grime cause goose down to clump
together, reducing the puffiness and warmth
of your sleeping bag or jacket. So puff it back
up with the following cleaning tips:
- Handwash
in the bathtub using a mild powdered detergent
or down-specific cleaner (available from
Nikwax, Granger’s, and others).
- Never use a top-loading
washing machine. The agitator can damage
the delicate internal baffles; agitator-free, front-loading
washing machines are safe.
- If your gear has a water-resistant
outer fabric, turn it inside out to help moisture escape.
- After thoroughly rinsing and
squeeze-drying, run your gear through a spin cycle in the washing machine to force
out maximum moisture.
- Dry on low heat in your dryer; add tennis balls to break up
the down clumps and speed up the long drying process. Never dry clean down; the
chemical process strips it of the oils essential for its puff.
This column originally appeared in the print edition of AMC Outdoors along with the column "Get a Bead On: Restore your gear's water repellency."
Photograph by iStock.Labels: Down, Gear Repair, Sleeping Bags, Winter