It doesn’t look very good: why do down jackets lose their appearance when stored in a closet for a long time and how to avoid this?

A down jacket can protect against severe frosts, and it is also light and comfortable to wear. However, a real down jacket costs a lot, and caring for it is quite difficult. If you do not follow the rules of care and storage, you can permanently damage the product.

How to properly store a down jacket?

Today, down jackets are called any voluminous jackets and coats. However, initially a down jacket meant a jacket filled with natural down and feathers of birds (mainly ducks). Down has high heat-saving properties, while it is light, airy, and almost weightless. Thanks to its airiness, a thermal insulation effect is achieved: air is retained in the down and feathers, which prevents frost from penetrating inside the clothes. However, a significant disadvantage of real down jackets is that the insulation can become loose. It is not advisable to get it wet or even just fold it compactly.

Real down jackets marked “down” (literally translated as “bottom”, that is, the lower part of the feathers) should be stored correctly on hangers in the closet, straightened out, in a breathable fabric cover.

Down jackets are stored in a dark, dry place. The product should not be exposed to direct sunlight, otherwise the color of the fabric will fade. And dampness can cause mold to form.

Storing down jackets with synthetic insulation

Today, natural down and feathers are increasingly being replaced by synthetic substitutes. Artificial fibers are formed into granules or so-called bio-fluff. Outwardly, it looks like natural, but is not inferior in warmth. And synthetic insulation does not absorb moisture, it is very elastic and light. After compression, they very quickly restore their shape and are not afraid of detergents. They are easy to care for, wash and store. Such down jackets are usually folded compactly or stored in a vacuum bag.

Synthetic insulation materials include: polyester, holofiber, isosoft, thinsulate, thermofin, shelter, holofin, polyfill, dupont and others.

How to compactly fold a down jacket for storage?

As mentioned above, it is better not to fold a jacket with natural down and feathers at all. Down jackets, in which the down moves freely under the fabric and is not sealed in separate “pockets,” are especially vulnerable in this regard. Expensive models can be folded without compacting.

How to compactly fold a down jacket for storage is shown in the photo:

For jackets with synthetic insulation, you can use another progressive method. If they are filled with modern microfiber, such as Isosoft, Thinsulate and others, the product is turned inside out through the pocket. It turns out very compact:

To store the jacket, place it in a breathable fabric bag. In polyethylene, a thing can “suffocate”. It is especially not recommended to use bags for storing products with fur: without access to air, the fur becomes dull and loses its attractive appearance.

Is it possible to store a down jacket in a vacuum bag?

Vacuum packaging is an ideal option for storing jackets with artificial insulation. As you know, a large volume of a down jacket is achieved by retaining air.By removing it using a special pump, you will get a very compact package.

To pack the jacket, it is carefully folded to the bottom of the bag and the air is gradually pumped out. The fewer folds there are on the jacket, the better. If you crumple it up at random, it may look very wrinkled after storage. But gradually the fabric and insulation will smooth out (of course, if there is synthetics inside, and not real down and feathers).

What about a natural down jacket, many will ask. Manufacturers do not recommend this storage method. When the air is pumped out, the feathers break, and the down becomes confused and caked. After storage in a vacuum, a down jacket loses some of its heat-saving properties and becomes noticeably “thinner.” However, most housewives ignore the ban and are quite satisfied with the result. According to reviews, if you pump out only part of the air (70%), the down jacket is completely restored after storage within a few days.

How to fluff a down jacket after storage?

Compactly folded outerwear can retain its given shape for a long time. It happens that the down jacket becomes very thin and wrinkled. But don't worry ahead of time. Usually it is enough to shake it well a few times and hang it on a hanger. Over the next 2 days, the insulation will absorb air and the fabric will smooth out. If this does not happen or you need outerwear urgently, you can fluff up the insulation in a short time. The following methods will help:

• Steaming. The jacket will smooth out best and fastest when treated with steam. Treat it with a special steam generator or an iron with a steam function. The device must not come into contact with the fabric. It is only necessary for the steam to penetrate inside the jacket and fluff up the insulation.
• Bathroom method. If there is no device that generates steam, you can use steam from hot water. Hang the down jacket on hangers in the bathroom, run a full bath of hot water and leave the item behind the closed door for 30–40 minutes. It is best to place the jacket directly above the water.
• Knocking out. To fluff up a natural down jacket after storage, you can use a carpet beater. Hang the jacket on your hangers and give it a good tap on all sides. Shake it and evaluate the result.
• Exposure to cold. Everyone knows that frost is good for fur products. In the cold, the hairs smooth out very quickly and become fluffy. Sub-zero temperatures have a similar effect on natural down and feathers. Try taking the down jacket outside or onto an unglazed balcony for 15–20 minutes. Shake the product vigorously several times. Soon the down jacket will fluff up and become voluminous again.
• Dry cleaning. If the jacket is heavily caked and, moreover, dirty, it is best to turn to professionals. They will help restore its original properties and appearance using chemicals, steam generators, special products and machines.

Preparation for storage

Before storing your down jacket, you need to perform a number of actions:

1. Inspect the product for defects. Sew up all the holes, replace the zipper if necessary, hem the lining and pockets. It is better to eliminate all defects now. Cold weather may come unexpectedly, and then you will have no time for repairs.
2. Wash the down jacket or take it to the dry cleaner. It is not recommended to store a dirty down jacket. Fresh dirt and stains are much easier to remove than old ones. Over the course of a year, they can become deeply ingrained into the fabric, and then nothing will help.
3. If only the sleeves or pockets of a down jacket are dirty, you can avoid a full wash, so how to wash greasy spots on a jacket faster and easier.
4. Fasten your pockets and all zippers and buttons on your jacket. Properly store outerwear buttoned. This way, fewer creases and folds are formed, and the fabric is not deformed.
5. Make sure the down jacket is completely dry. Even slight dampness can lead to mold formation.
6. Unfasten the edge, fur collar. They should be stored separately in a breathable fabric case at a temperature of +10–15 degrees.
7. Treat the storage area with moth repellent. Or you can put cedar pendants and balls next to the product. They also repel pests.

So, down jackets are stored in different ways depending on the type of filling. If there is fluff and feather inside, the product is placed in a special case and hung in a closet. A down jacket with synthetic insulation can be folded into a vacuum bag or even into a regular one. It is important to prepare the clothes in advance: mend, clean, fasten all zippers and pockets.