How to Wash and Care for Your Down Jacket and Sleeping Bag
Posted by Andy Neil on Oct 22, 2025
Introduction: Why Cleaning Down Feels Scary (But Shouldn’t Be)
Washing a down jacket or sleeping bag can feel nerve-wracking, and with good reason. Many people are afraid that washing will cause down to clump and ruin their expensive gear. It’s a common fear, and one that’s kept plenty of jackets unwashed for far too long. But here’s the truth: regular cleaning is not only safe, it’s essential if you want your down to perform at its best.
Over time, sweat, oils, and dirt build up inside the fabric, causing the down clusters to stick together and lose loft. That trapped grime actually creates the same clumping people worry about. When washed correctly, though, the opposite happens: the down separates, fluffs back up, and regains its warmth and softness.
The good news? With the right products and a careful approach, washing your down gear is straightforward and can make it feel new again.
Before You Wash: Keep It Clean in the First Place
We’ve all done it: pulled on a down jacket halfway up a climb or hike because it’s chilly, only to end up overheating a few minutes later. The truth is, a down jacket isn’t designed for hiking or high-output activity. It’s your “stop and stay warm” piece, the layer you put on when you pause for a break, set up camp, or sit around after dark.
Down jackets aren’t very breathable because they’re built to trap air for insulation. When you’re moving, your body generates heat and moisture, and if you sweat into your down jacket, that moisture and oil soak into the insulation. Over time, the feathers start to clump and lose their loft, meaning the jacket won’t trap warmth as efficiently and can begin to smell. Down shouldn’t be your go-to layer. Instead, use a layer that works with your base layer to move moisture away from your body, like a fleece or mid-layer, to provide your active insulation.
Use it right
● Don’t hike in it. Wear a breathable mid-layer or soft-shell while you’re active and save your down jacket for when you stop moving.
Treating your down piece as a rest layer rather than an active layer keeps it cleaner for longer, meaning fewer washes and better loft.
1. How to Wash Your Jacket
Before you get started, make sure you have the proper setup and products. A down-specific technical wash, such as Granger’s Down Wash or Storm Down Wash, is essential. These gentle cleaners remove dirt and oils without stripping the down's natural oils or damaging the DWR (durable water-repellent) coating on the outer fabric.
Use a front-loading washing machine if possible. Traditional top-loaders with an agitator can be rough on delicate fabrics, so they’re best avoided.
You’ll also need a tumble dryer with a low heat setting, along with a couple of clean tennis balls or dryer balls to help break up clumps and restore the down’s loft as it dries.
Before you load your jacket, take a moment to clean the soap drawer and run an empty rinse cycle on your washing machine. This helps flush out any leftover soap or fabric softener that could contaminate your down wash.
If your jacket’s water repellency has started to fade, you can add a down-proofing treatment at the end of the wash. This will help restore that “beading” effect that keeps the shell fabric drier for longer.
There are also a few things to avoid. Regular soap, fabric softener, bleach, and stain removers can all damage down and coatings. And dry cleaning should be avoided, as the solvents used can break down the delicate materials inside your jacket.
2. Pre-Cleaning
Before washing, empty all pockets, close zips and Velcro, and loosen the drawcords at the hem and hood. Giving the down space to move helps the wash distribute evenly. Spot-clean any minor stains with a damp cloth and a little down wash. If the jacket is heavily soiled, you can soak it for about 30 minutes in lukewarm water mixed with Down Wash before putting it in the machine.
3. Washing the Jacket
When it’s time to wash your jacket, stick to cold or lukewarm water (no hotter than 30°C / 86°F), choose a gentle or delicate cycle, and keep the spin on low. Use a down-specific cleaner, following the instructions on the bottle. Run a full rinse cycle, then an extra rinse to make sure every bit of soap is gone; any leftover soap can cause the down to clump together.
After washing, don’t wring or twist the jacket. Instead, gently press out any excess water. It’s best to wash the jacket on its own so it has plenty of room to move around in the drum.
4. Optional: Restore Water Repellency (DWR)
Most down garments have a durable water-repellent (DWR) coating on the outer fabric. Over time, this finish wears off, allowing water to soak into the outer fabric instead of beading on the surface. Reproofing restores that beading effect, helping the outer fabric stay drier and keeping the down inside fluffy and warm.
You’ll know it’s time to reproof when water stops forming beads on the fabric, which usually happens after a few washes. It’s best to do this immediately after washing and before drying the jacket, while the fabric is still damp.
There are two ways to apply DWR:
● Wash-in treatment (for example, Storm Down Proofer) is added during a second gentle wash cycle.
● Spray-on treatment, applied evenly to a clean, damp jacket straight from the washer.
5. Drying — The Most Critical Step
Down clumps easily when it’s wet, so careful drying is the key to bringing back its loft and warmth. Use a tumble dryer on a low heat setting, as high temperatures can damage synthetic shell fibres. Add a couple of clean tennis balls or dryer balls to help break up clumps and restore the down’s fluffiness as it dries. The process usually takes between two and four hours, sometimes longer, so check on it from time to time and gently massage any lumps apart. Make sure the jacket is completely dry before storing it, because even a hint of dampness can lead to mildew and musty smells.
If you don’t have a dryer, lay the jacket flat on a towel in a warm, airy room, flipping and fluffing it every few hours. Setting up a fan to circulate air around the jacket can help speed things up. Never place it directly on a radiator or heater, as high, direct heat can damage the fabric and cause the down to clump. Avoid hanging the jacket while it’s wet, as the down will settle at the bottom of the baffles and clump together. Air-drying can take anywhere from one to two days, but taking the time to fluff and separate the down as it dries manually will restore its loft and shape just as effectively as a tumble dryer.
6. Aftercare and Storage
Once your jacket is completely dry, a little care in how you store it will help it last for years. Avoid compressing it for long periods; instead, hang it up or fold it loosely so the down can stay lofty. Store your jacket in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight or damp conditions.
After each trip, give it a good airing to let any trapped moisture or body oils dissipate. Down doesn’t need frequent washing; once or twice a year is usually enough for most jackets, but keeping it clean and dry between uses will make a big difference to how well it performs over time.
Washing Your Down Sleeping Bag
The same basic principles apply to sleeping bags as they do to jackets, but there are a few extra things worth keeping in mind.
Some campers use a silk or lightweight liner inside their sleeping bag. A liner acts as a barrier between you and the bag, keeping sweat, oils, and dirt off the down so it stays cleaner for longer. It’s a simple way to extend the time between washes, and many long-distance hikers swear by them.
That said, liners aren’t for everyone. Some people, myself included, just don’t get along with them. If you spend weeks or even months each year in your sleeping bag, it will eventually need a proper wash.
When it’s time to wash your sleeping bag, make sure all zips are done up and drawcords are loosened. Use a large-capacity front-loading washing machine, as sleeping bags need plenty of space to move freely. If your machine at home isn’t big enough, it’s usually best to take it to a laundrette where the drums are larger and better suited to bulky gear.
Handle the bag carefully when it’s wet, supporting it from underneath rather than lifting it by the fabric, as a damp down is heavy and delicate and will clump.
Drying will take longer than it does for a jacket, often four to six hours or more, but the same principles apply, and patience is key. Once it’s dry, store your sleeping bag loosely in a large mesh or cotton sack or on a hangar. Giving it space keeps the down fluffy and ready for the next trip.
Long-Term Care: Keeping Your Down Gear Performing
Good habits between washes will keep your down gear working well for years. After every trip, give your jacket or sleeping bag a chance to air out fully so any trapped moisture can escape. Try to avoid keeping it compressed for long periods, as this slowly breaks down the loft that gives down its warmth. Check your gear for small holes or loose stitching and repair them promptly, since even tiny tears can let feathers escape. Always store your down clean and dry, because body oils and dirt left in the fabric can gradually weaken the materials and reduce performance.
Conclusion
Washing down isn’t something to fear; it’s a simple, essential step in keeping your insulation performing like new. With the right soap, patience during drying, and proper storage, your down jacket or sleeping bag will stay warm, lofty, and ready for many more seasons of adventure.
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| Andy Neil |
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Andy has been a keen long-distance hiker and wild camping enthusiast since he completed the Cleveland Way in 2015. Since then, he has walked thousands of trail miles all over the UK and is an active member of the Wild Camping UK community, being an admin of the largest wild camping community on Facebook. He strongly advocates for responsible wild camping and believes it is important to leave no trace when camping in the wilderness. He joined the UOG team in 2021 and works as a website developer and content creator. |
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Washing a down jacket or sleeping bag can feel nerve-wracking, and with good reason. Many people are afraid that washing will cause down to clump and ruin their expensive gear. It’s a common fear, and one that’s kept plenty of jackets unwashed for far too long. But here’s the truth: regular cleaning is not only safe, it’s essential if you want your down to perform at its best.