Nikwax Down Wash vs Castile Soap/Salsuds

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.