How to wash a down scarf and restore its softness and fluffiness: 3 ways

A down scarf is a very, very delicate product. Despite this, cleaning it is not difficult at all. Regular care boils down to fresh air ventilation and proper storage. If it becomes necessary to wash a down scarf (which happens rarely), use cool water and liquid detergents. The product is not wrinkled or twisted, and efforts are made to minimize mechanical impact. Recommended washing time is 15-30 minutes. It is important to dry the item properly so that it does not lose its shape, but becomes beautiful and clean.

Is it possible to wash a down scarf at home?

It is recommended to wash down scarves as a last resort. For example, if the fluff is covered with a sticky coating, stains, or yellowed. It is better to remove small stains point by point by washing or wiping the contaminated area.

If possible, it is better to take the Orenburg down scarf to the dry cleaner.

This way you will have guarantees that nothing will happen to the product. Washing at home can lead to deformation of the scarf, especially if it is a cheap Orenburg fake. A product of low quality, even without washing, quickly loses fluff so that only cotton threads remain.

Note! A real Orenburg scarf, immediately after purchase, is inconspicuous and not fluffy. But every day when worn, it becomes softer, more beautiful and fluffier. The fake is immediately very fluffy. The fluff on the scarf is combed and seems to hang from the product.

In addition, the original is very light and weightless. The “web” easily passes through the wedding ring.

The ability to wash a down scarf depends on its type:

• Down shawls of “tight knitting” are durable and dense. The products can be washed following the recommendations.
• Good quality stoles can be washed, but very gently.
• Openwork down scarves (so-called “cobwebs”) are not recommended to be machine washed. Products are cleaned with freshly fallen snow or washed by hand.

Three ways to wash a down scarf

Down scarves became popular thanks to Orenburg craftswomen. They used the very warm and soft undercoat of local goats to make them. The yarn turned out to be weightless, and the patterns applied by Russian Cossack women made the products famous throughout the world.

The Orenburg scarf has become a symbol of Russia.

The demand for it has not subsided since the 19th and 20th centuries. Down scarves are especially loved by older people, who value above all else the naturalness, softness and warming properties of the materials. Many of them know how to care for the accessory.

Even before the advent of washing machines and powders, down scarves were cleaned with clean, freshly fallen snow.

This method is considered the most gentle, but it cannot always be used. In urban environments, products are more often washed by hand or in a washing machine. We will describe in detail how to do this correctly below.

Manually

Hand washing is especially recommended for openwork down scarves and shawls. Before the procedure, be sure to remove bracelets and rings so as not to accidentally snag or damage the fabric.

It is strictly forbidden to intensively rub the product, stretch it, lift it out of the water by the edge, or use brushes for washing.

How to properly wash a down scarf by hand:

1. Heat the water to 30 degrees.
2. Fill the basin.
3. Dissolve detergent in 5 liters.
4. Place the shawl (stole) in the basin.
5. Leave for 10 minutes.
6. Carefully run your hands over the fluff, as if smoothing it, squeeze and unclench it under water until the product is clean.
7. Also rinse gently in 10 liters of clean warm water.
8. Squeeze and dry.

In the washing machine

Modern washing machines are capable of carefully and effectively cleaning even such delicate items as downy scarves. To do this, use programs with minimal rotation of the drum - “Delicate wash”, “Hand wash”, “Wool items”. It is recommended to check and, if necessary, adjust the temperature, spin cycle and wash duration.

The advantage of machine washing a down scarf is that the product dries quickly. This reduces the risk of a damp smell coming from the product.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Place item in a delicate wash bag or white cotton pillowcase. The pillowcase must be tied tightly.
2. Fill the washing machine with detergent. The dosage can be halved from that indicated on the package.
3. The use of fabric softener is encouraged.
4. Select the “Delicate Wash”, “Hand Wash” or “Wool” program.
5. Check the temperature. It should not exceed 30-35 degrees.
6. Remove spin or set 400-600 rpm (only for thick down scarves).
7. Adjust the wash time to the minimum value.
8. Click "Start".
9. After finishing washing, immediately straighten the scarf and dry it.

"Snow" cleaning

From time immemorial, products made from wool and down were cleaned with snow (carpets, scarves, fur coats, etc.). It absorbs all the dust and dirt, and at the same time minimally moisturizes the product. Features of the procedure:

1. “Snow clearing” must be carried out when there is freshly fallen snow in the cold. It should be loose and small.
2. The scarf is spread on a clean area.
3. A 0.5 cm layer of snow is poured on top.
4. Lightly tap with a beater.
5. Sweep away the snow with a soft cloth.
6. Shake the product several times.
7. Dry.

Cleaning a down scarf with snow is very similar to cleaning a carpet, the only difference being that the product is handled as carefully as possible.

Suitable products for washing a down scarf

To wash down items, it is important to use gentle products with a minimum amount of alkali, liquid or pre-diluted.

The ideal option is to use special wool washing products.

A brief overview of the most popular brands:

• Gel for washing woolen items Laska from Henkel. It cleans stubborn stains well and is suitable for processing thin, delicate fabrics: mohair, down and llama wool, alpaca, sheep, etc. Helps maintain the softness and elasticity of the product, and prevents the appearance of pilling. It has a pleasant aroma that remains on clothes. Used sparingly. Approximate cost – 350 rubles per 1 liter.
• Hypoallergenic odorless laundry gel Bio-Mio Bio-Sensitive with cotton extract. The product from a domestic manufacturer has a mild composition with herbal surfactants and additives that replace fabric softener.Can be used for both manual and automatic washing of white, colored, woolen linen, lace and other delicate fabrics. Removes fresh stains well. The price of the gel is 550 rubles for a volume of 1.5 liters.
• Gel for washing wool and delicate fabrics Prosept Crystal. Contains a balm with lanolin, which restores the softness of wool products, smoothes the fibers and prevents the formation of pilling. Gently removes major types of stains. Economical to use and 95% biodegradable. The cost of 1 liter of detergent is 300 rubles.

The list of possible detergents for washing down scarves is quite long. For example, you can wash a down scarf with any shampoo or baby liquid soap (by hand). To wash in a washing machine, you should take any liquid laundry detergent for automatic machines, but in a halved dosage.

It is not recommended to use standard washing powders for washing down products. If there is no other way out, the powder is first diluted in hot water. It is recommended to reduce the dosage by 2 times from that indicated in the instructions.

Recommendations for washing a down scarf

The features of caring for down scarves are described in the video:

The following recommendations will help prevent damage to the scarf:

1. “Snow cleaning” is the most gentle way to clean a down scarf. In second place is partial washing of the product.
2. Before washing in water, “tight knit” down scarves are combed to prevent the fluff from tangling.
3. Detergents should not contain dyes.
4. The product must be washed separately from other items.
5. If there is damage to the scarf, it is correct to remove it before washing.

Spin and dry

When wet, a down scarf is most vulnerable. It is unacceptable to twist it with force. But it is also contraindicated to dry the product without first spinning it.

Down scarves absorb a lot of water, become heavy and can become deformed under their own weight. If excess moisture is not removed, mold may develop and a damp smell may appear.

How to properly wring out and dry a down item after washing:

• The wet product should be rolled into a loose ball and lightly kneaded with your hands without twisting.
• The effectiveness of the procedure will increase if you roll the scarf together with a terry towel.
• A voluminous shawl can be placed in a nylon net and hung over the bathtub for 1-2 hours so that all the water drains out.
• Down products should be dried flat on a horizontal plane.
• It is recommended to place a terry towel underneath.
• The towel is removed after 1-3 hours, and a white sheet is laid down.
• The scarf is stretched, straightened and secured to the sheet around the perimeter with needles.
• You can use a hoop or wire to secure it.
• For drying, choose a well-ventilated, warm room.
• In summer, the product is dried in the shade.
• The almost dry scarf is shaken several times to fluff it up.

A detailed step-by-step master class on hand washing a web stole followed by drying it on a wire:

Removing stains from a down scarf

If you find small stains on a down scarf, it is better not to wash the entire product, but to remove the stains point by point. Use oxygen stain removers or folk remedies.

Recipes:

• From greasy stains. Prepare a slurry from potato starch and purified gasoline. Place a paper towel under the stain on the scarf.Apply the paste. Lightly rub into the material. After 10 minutes, wash the treated area in soapy water.
• From chocolate. Dissolve 1 tbsp in 100 ml hot water. spoon of salt. Soak a cotton pad in the solution. Place on top of the stain. Wipe off the dirt.
• From blood. The same saline solution is used, but cold.
• From coffee, tea and milk stains. Heat glycerin to 40 degrees. Moisten a cotton swab and wipe away the dirt. After 10 minutes, wash the section of the scarf in warm soapy water.
• From lipstick. Wipe the contaminated area with an alcohol wipe or cotton pad soaked in medical alcohol. For long-lasting lipsticks, use micellar water.

Questions and answers

How to bleach a yellowed down scarf?

Bleaching is possible if the scarf was originally white and turned yellow due to contamination. It is best to use special bleaches for wool. The products come with instructions that you need to follow. Among the traditional methods, you can try bleaching a down scarf with sodium hydrosulfite. To do this, you need to dissolve 1 tbsp. a spoonful of the chemical in 5 liters of boiled water, cooled to 50 degrees. Cool the solution to 30 degrees. Leave the scarf for 30 minutes, stirring and turning over occasionally. Rinse in 10 liters of cool water with the addition of 2 tbsp. spoons of vinegar. Wring out and dry the product according to standard rules.

How to store a down scarf so that it remains clean and intact?

Down products are best stored cool. But at the same time, the place should be dry, dark and well ventilated. It is extremely difficult to create ideal conditions at home. A good and realistic option is to store a down scarf on a wooden crossbar (hanger) made of natural wood in a spacious closet.It is important that it is kept away from heating devices. You can store the product among things, but be sure to keep them clean. In this case, the scarf is rolled into a loose tube and wrapped in cotton cloth. We must not forget about protection against moths. It is recommended to use balls and sticks. You can spray anti-moth sprays on the inside of the cabinet. It is strictly prohibited to spray the down shawl itself.

If handled with care, the down scarf does not need to be washed. Natural down has a unique ability to repel dirt and dust. It is important not to spray perfume on it or leave it in random places. If the item does become dirty, washing it will not be difficult. Study the features of washing, and the down scarf will not deteriorate, but will become beautiful and fresh, as on the first day after purchase.