Caring for down jackets

Assuming you're sure you rinsed plenty, just keep going with the dryer, maybe stick a tennis ball or similar in there.

Dave

Dave, one of the jackets appears to be fine now that I ran another dryer cycle. The other one is still all clumped together so I pulled it out, rinsed it off in the deep sink really well, ran it through the washing machines spin cycle and its back in the dryer. I have never had this problem before with down. Next question I bought some myrazime odor eliminator to get rid of that lovely campfire smell and was unsure as to when to use it the directions make it sound like it should be left to sink in to the jacket in a sink full of it or sprayed on and not removed. Anyone know if that'll work with down?

I wouldn't use the odor eliminator unless its specifically designed for down. Do the jackets still smell after washing with the down soap?

They have a faint campfire smell, down jacket # 2 looks like its doing better in the dryer this time. There are a few clumps in the armpits of the jacket but I am working them out. The last go round with this jacket the entire thing was giant clumps of down.

A couple of clean tennis balls in the dryer with the jackets should get rid of the clumps. As for any sprays, I personally wouldn't use them, though for the most part, my jackets smell fairly clean coming out of the wash and dryer.

I would not use the odor eliminator.

Sounds like you have the washing process correct. I've had to dry sleeping bags and jackets for 4+ hours before to get all the clumps gone and get them completely dry. Even with a tennis ball in the drier I have to manually break the clumps up with my hands every 15-20 minutes. It's a long process.

I would suggest not using the washing machine next time, and hand washing it. The down tends to not clump as much washed this way, and it's a gentler process. Always tennis balls in the dryer, always. I use 3 of them. Incoming blog spam…

http://hikeitlikeit.com/2012/care-and-cleaning-of-down-gear/

Agreed, I am not using the washing machine again. Hand washing works perfectly. I am on hour 5 of the dryer 3 last night and 2 this morning and there is only a clump or two left. Last time I hand washed these jackets it took less than an hour and they both came out perfect.

Heath,

I've never used Mirazyme, (and reserve the right to be 100% wrong) but its name implies that it's enzyme based, therefore intended for "biological" odours (BO, Foot Odour, Vomit etc). Regardless of whether it would damage your jackets I don't think it would work.

Dave

Dave it appears you are correct. Good thing I haven't used it yet. I'll reserve that for funky clothes. The smell appears to have abated from the down jackets after using the down wash. I am still trying to get clumps out. I seriously think using the washing machine caused this issue. So much for doing things the "proper" way.

Don't plan to use it on down items, but I've had very good success using Mirazyme on old coated nylon that developed mold and started smelling vile. I just followed the instructions and the smell (mold) disappeared.

So far I've used it on tents, duffel bags and nylon luggage.

SO important to use tennis balls in the dryer (I have a 3-pack next to my laundry detergent reserved for that use). That is what breaks up the clumps that naturally form when down get wet.

I just did my WM sleeping bag, with an extra rinse cycle and 3 hours of tennis ball pummeling, and it's so fluffy I want to jump on it!

I've used "Nellie's Dryer Balls" (Amazon) for years with all my down gear……not the cheapest but since purchasing them I've never had to buy dryer sheets again.