Your down jacket, filled with natural or synthetic down, will accompany you on all your adventures during the winter season.
To ensure it remains your best ally for as long as possible, it needs to be properly maintained, which means washing it correctly, wringing it out properly, and drying it with care.
The La Canadienne team shares some tips, advice, and golden rules for maintaining your down jacket like a pro.
Our degreasing prices for down jackets
Details and service at 04 78 600 601 (Monday to Saturday).
- Down jackets/Parkas with down filling, without fur: €49.00
- Down jackets/Parkas with leather inserts and/or fur collar: €59.00
How and why to wash your down jacket?
A men's or women's down jacket requires regular maintenance to preserve its properties and original shine. Its water-repellent and waterproof properties can be diminished by dust, dirt, or sometimes even perspiration.
Don't wait until the last minute to freshen up your down jacket. At the end of each winter, wash, dry, and hang your down jacket so that it's like new for the next season.
First, you must strictly follow the washing instructions on the label. Dry clean only, machine wash at 30°C, wash only on a delicate cycle... You will find as many care instructions as there are down jacket models...
If there are no indications, we advise you not to take any risks and to opt for professional cleaning.
Contact us by e-mail or phone at 04 78 60 06 01 for information on a brand we distribute.
If the brand does not allow machine washing, we invite you to entrust your down jacket to a professional.
The dry cleaning of your natural or synthetic padded garment can therefore be done at a dry cleaner with complete peace of mind. However, make sure to empty your pockets of all personal belongings before dropping off your garment at the professional. We advise you to choose a dry cleaner that uses biological or natural cleaning processes, as is the case with the Sequoia chain, for example.
Hand wash
Hand washing should be done gently and thoroughly. To do this, follow these steps:
1 – Empty your pockets
2 – Remove the detachable fur from your hood if there is one
3 – Submerge your down jacket in soapy water at room temperature – It is important not to exceed a temperature of 30°C
4 – Use a mild cleaner (such as a small amount of Marseille soap rather than traditional detergent) or a special down cleaner. Do not use fabric softener or detergent
5 – Gently rub your entire down jacket and especially make sure to insist on stained areas – Don't forget to pay special attention to the cuffs, the inside of the collar, and both external and internal pockets
6 – Rinse and gently wring out your garment without ever twisting
Small tip for hand wringing: press your down jacket flat between two towels or your hands.
Machine wash
If the brand allows machine washing, we recommend the following tips:
1 – Empty your pockets
2 – Remove the detachable fur from your hood if there is one
3 – Close your down jacket whether it has button fastening or a double-slider zip fastening
4 – Leave your inner and outer pockets open
5 – Place your down jacket in your machine with your dirty laundry, which will allow constant agitation and aeration of the down. However, do not overfill the machine.
6 – Use a mild cleaner (or a few small shavings of Marseille soap) or special down cleaner. Do not use fabric softener or detergent
7 – Activate the synthetic or delicate program (maximum 40°C) with the gentlest possible spin cycle so as not to damage the fibers
Small tip: if you wash your down jacket alone, i.e., without other dirty clothes, we invite you to place two to three tennis balls in the drum to ensure constant agitation and aeration of the down throughout the wash, this is not just for drying. It is preferable that the down jacket remains in motion and is not compressed. These balls will therefore allow your down jacket to never become waterlogged by aerating the down feathers
When to wash your down jacket?
We advise you not to wash your down jacket more than once per season to avoid reducing the thermal properties of the fabric (to be adjusted according to your use of the down jacket: sports, hiking, etc.).
A simple stain on your down jacket will not require washing the entire garment. In such cases, it is preferable to gently wash the stain with soapy water and a washcloth, being careful not to wet the inner down. For stains, you can also use Terre de Sommières, a very effective natural product against stains for all fabrics and all skin types (to be applied within minutes of the stain).
Contraindications for washing a down jacket:
We do not recommend washing Canada Goose and Mackage down jackets: these two brands advise against washing their models yourself to avoid any damage. It is recommended to contact the brands directly to find out the procedure to follow, if washing is really necessary (localized stains or internal/external coating requiring degreasing).
General advice:
If you have decided to wash your down jacket, always follow this rule, regardless of the brand of your garment: it is imperative to check that all parts of the down jacket are suitable before starting the process. The following elements are incompatible with classic water washing, so it is necessary to remove them if possible, or to entrust your garment to a professional who will know how to handle them: leather inserts, non-removable fur elements.
How to dry your down jacket?
Once your down jacket is washed and spun, the drying stage comes next: a key step to restore your down jacket to its original loft. When your down jacket comes out of the washing machine, it will be completely flat. Don't be alarmed, this is perfectly normal, as the down will be soaked with water.
Once again, refer to the drying instructions on your down jacket's label. Regardless of the drying method chosen, keep two things in mind. The first is that it is essential never to twist the down jacket. The second is never to place your down jacket near a heat source such as a radiator or hair dryer. (However, your down jacket can be dried in the sun or in a warm place.)
If you do not have a tumble dryer
If you don't have a tumble dryer, you'll be able to dry your down jacket with a little more time and elbow grease. Here are some tips and recommendations:
1 – Blot your down jacket between two dry towels to remove excess water
2 – Once the maximum amount of water has been absorbed, lay your down jacket flat on a dry towel (as far as possible from a heat source), on a drying rack, or on a hanger. The down jacket should have both sides exposed to the air to dry evenly
3 – Pat your down jacket to distribute the down well before the feathers begin to dry. It is important to follow this step of dispersing the down to avoid the formation of small clumps of feathers that are difficult to separate later
4 – Turn your down jacket over and shake it as often as possible to distribute the drying down evenly and restore its original loft
5 – Once completely dry, you can store your down jacket. It is important not to store your down jacket while still damp, as this risks mold developing on the fabric
If you have a tumble dryer
If you have a tumble dryer, your down jacket will dry faster, and you'll soon be able to enjoy its warming properties again. Here are a few rules to follow for optimal tumble drying:
1 – Opt for a cold, delicate, or synthetic drying program
2 – Place a few tennis balls inside your tumble dryer with your down jacket
3 – Run several drying cycles until your down jacket has regained its loft and is completely dry
4 – Hang your down jacket on a hanger to allow it to air for a few hours before storing it
Thin down jackets and thick down jackets will not dry as quickly as each other, just as a long men's down jacket or a short women's down jacket.
In our online catalog, you will find a wide selection of women's and men's down jackets to suit all your desires and body types. You will also find a selection of high-quality jackets, blousons, trousers, and other clothing and accessories.
