Down is both lightweight and super warm, thanks to its feathers ability to trap air inside. But the natural feathers are fragile, and there are some common problems that can really reduce down’s abilities. For one, sweat and dirt cause clumping of the feathers overtime, dropping the gear’s warmth, and sun-drying doesn’t break up these clumps. So if you’ve got a piece of down equipment that you haven’t washed in a while, now is a good time to get that done. This video from Oscar Hikes explores how you can do it.
Make sure to wash down only when it’s noticeably losing loft. Repair any holes first, empty the pockets, close zippers, and turn it inside out, then use a front-loading washing machine and special down-specific detergent to wash on a gentle cycle. Do extra rinse and spin cycles to make sure all of the residue is out.
If you need to waterproof, run a second identical wash cycle with a down water-repellent treatment. Once that’s done, use a front-loading dryer to dry the gear on low heat, throwing 2-3 clean tennis balls into the dryer to break up clumps. For a sleeping back, hang the gear to drip-dry first, then use a laundry bag to protect the thin fabric. Dry the gear until it’s completely dry, then air it out for another 24 hours to prevent molding.
