How To Guide ·Oct 26, 2022

How to care for your down jackets and sleeping bags.

two people sitting in the snow wearing down jackets by a tent and skis.

Down jacket looking clumpy? Sleeping bag Lumpy? And needs a good clean?

Down is an excellent material, super light and cosy warm it’s a staple filling for sleeping bags and jackets when you need lightweight and warmth. Here are our top tips for getting the longest life out our your down-filled products.

Storage: To help keep the down poofy, store it in a dry place, either hanging it up in the wardrobe or on a shelf. The most important thing is that it isn’t stored compressed.

Nice clean jacket.

Care instructions for use:

Jackets are best used with long sleeve base layers; this will stop you sweating directly into the down and means you won’t need to wash it as often. Avoid using down with a heavy pack as this can crush the down.

This jacket has body oil stains all through the hood - needs a really

goooooooood wash!

For sleeping bags, always use them with a liner; this is important, so you don’t sweat directly into the sleeping bag or the down. Silk liners are the lightest weight option, but an added bonus if you feel the cold, you can get synthetic liners that can add up to 10° warmth to your bag!

Spot Clean:

You can spot clean the outside of down products if they just have a small patch that needs cleaning, gently wipe the area with a damp cloth and dry thoroughly before storing.

Nikwax Down Wash Direct and Down Proof.

Washing your down:

So, your down sleeping bag or jacket has been keeping you all toasty but now it’s time to give it a wash, where to start?

You will need:

- Nikwax Down Wash

- Nikwax Down Proof

- Bath (for sleeping bags), sink (for smaller down garments) and/or a washing machine.

- Dryer – ideally a commercial one

Hand Washing:

Always consult the individual product care directions on the label first.

If washing a sleeping bag or big jacket, use a bath to avoid crushing the down. For smaller garments the laundry sink should be plenty of space.

Use 100ml of Nikwax Down Wash with 12-15L of hand-hot water. Fully immerse the garment and agitate to mix (splash your hands about). Leave to soak for 10-15minutes.

Rinse *thoroughly* until the water runs clear. Gently squeeze out the excess water, supporting the garment so the weight doesn’t damage the seams (especially true of newer uber lite products!). Next add an optional waterproof repellency to your garment or bag. If not, head straight to Drying Your Bag/Jacket.

Washing in the Machine:

Always consult the individual product care directions on the label first.

Make sure to wash no more than two items at a time - unless it's sleeping bags, then do one at a time.

Add two capfuls of Nikwax Down Wash Direct into the detergent dispenser (make sure the dispenser is clean of leftover residue first).

Pouring NikWax into the washing machine.

Two Capfuls of Nikwax Down Wash Direct.

Note: On some jackets it will say you can use a "non-biological" detergent instead of a specific down wash, which we find far too confusing, so we just keep to Nikwax.

Then it's 30 Degrees, gentle wash.

Waterproofing:

Nikwax Down Proof will add water repellency to your garment, this helps your down not collapse when wet and help moisture bead off your jacket.

Use 150mL of Down Proof for the sink or 300mL for a bath (sleeping bags and large jackets). Fully submerge your down and agitate to mix (splash your hands about). Leave to soak for 10-15minutes.

Rinse *thoroughly* until the water runs clear. Gently squeeze out the excess water, supporting the garment so the weight doesn’t damage the seams.

Drying your down:

Gently squeeze excess water out of the sleeping bag/jacket this will protect the seams from tearing under the weight of the water.

Use a tumble dryer to dry your jackets. Ideally use a commercial dryer for a sleeping bag (this will fit your sleeping bag properly and will let it fully loft).

Use the dryer on a *low* heat. Chuck a couple of tennis balls in the dryer with your sleeping bag/jacket, this will help any clumping of the down.

Thanks for the loan, Badger!

Make sure your down is fully dry before you store it. It can take longer than you think. But the end result is a light fluffy and clean piece of kit that will last you longer than keeping it stored dirty and compressed.