Nikwax Down Wash vs Castile Soap/Salsuds

[Sonnie NewHiker]

I got some Nikwax Down Wash to hand wash my Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer down vest. Do I really need to use this special down wash? It smells bad and they direct you to wear gloves(!) while hand washing.  It just can’t be very good for you to have on clothes you wear. Could I just use a mild detergent or Castile soap or SalSuds or something?

[Mark Fowler]

No – just extra expense.  I have used various forms of wool wash for for many years with no issues – I do not use normal detergents. My down vest and jacket get washed about once a year.  Just allow plenty of time for the garment to soak and knead it several times while it soaks.  Squeeze out the water – don’t wring it.  Rinse, squeeze, then hang out on the line.  It takes a day or two to dry then fluff up.

Take care when moving the garment that it is well supported so that seams don’t get stressed.  I use warm water because it will help with grease and oil removal and is nicer on the hands.

[James Marco]

All soaps are a form of detergent or surfactant. They generally all do *some* harm to down, but some is better than others. Graingers or Nikwax is what most consider soap. Use only about a tablespoon or so in a laundry cycle. Mostly, people oils/sweat and spills can be removed with water. Even water can kill down but very slowly. I usually rinse my stuff out whenever and ignore the problem (after a two-three week week trip, whenever it gets dirty.) I don’t use soaps much and when I do it is half to quarter or less than they call for. It will usually last 20-30 years for a bag and 15-20 years for a vest/jacket. By then, it is usually so full of tape from fire sparks, it is some 2-3oz heavier, anyway. BTW, Check the washer or use your tub after cleaning it out well. Detergents can leave a residue…do an empty wash cycle to help clean a washer or use vinegar to clean it out first. And be careful handling, as was said.

[JCH]

I use Atsko Sport Wash for everything…all of my laundry, day-to-day and hiking-specific.  It is gentle and leaves nothing behind, which I think important for washing down.  The label lists what fabrics is should be used on… Down and GoreTex among them.

[Woubeir (from Europe)]

James

a tiny and pretty unimportant detail but soaps are not a form of detergent. While they are very similar in chemical structure, there is a distinct difference: soaps have a polar carboxylate-group while detergents have a polar sulfonate-group. This makes detergents often more effective, particurlarly in hard water.

[James Marco]

Yup, you are correct and I was wrong. In either case they help wash things that normally don’t mix.

[Woubeir (from Europe)]

Yep.

In fact, I think Granger’s is a detergent. But with no harmfull aditives. The normal commercial detergents contain those harmfull aditives and that’s the reason why you should avoid them.

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