How to Clean a Down Coat With Tennis Balls

Tennis balls are a surprisingly helpful tool with which to clean down coats.

If winter is right around the corner, it's time to pull out your toasty down coat. However, after sitting in a closet throughout the spring and summer months, your coat is likely in need of a thorough washing. As the feathers found in down coats tend to form clumps if washed improperly, it's important to take a number of precautions when washing your down coat. Interestingly, tennis balls are often required to properly wash down coats.

Things You'll Need

• Down-safe detergent
• Tennis balls
• Towels
• Socks

Instructions

1. Place your down coat in the washing machine. Pour in some down-safe detergent.

2. Place two or three clean tennis balls into a sock. Tie the sock shut and place it in the washing machine. This will prevent the wet feathers in the coat from forming lumps. Additionally, the sock will prevent the fuzz from the tennis balls from rubbing off onto your coat.

3. Wash the coat in warm water on a gentle cycle. Once the cycle is complete, run a rinse cycle to remove any remaining detergent.

4. Place the freshly washed coat onto a towel. Press down on the coat with another towel to smooth it out and remove excess moisture.

5. Put your coat and another sock full of tennis balls in the dryer. Once again, the tennis balls will prove useful in deterring feather clumps. Dry the coat on a gentle cycle.

Tips & Warnings

• Since standard detergents should not be used to clean down products, make sure to purchase a detergent that is listed as "down-safe."

References

• The Dollar Stretcher: Cleaning Down-Filled Clothes
• How to Clean Stuff: How to Wash a Down Jacket
• Made Manual: How to Wash a Down Jacket