How to Clean Parkas

Parkas require special cleaning care.

Parkas are winter jackets, often made with down feathers or delicate synthetic fibers. As with any other type of clothing containing fragile materials, extra care must be taken during the cleaning process to reduce the risk of damage. While parkas come in a variety of different materials, the cleaning process is essentially the same for all parkas. The process is fairly straightforward, but it requires the use of commercial laundry equipment.

Things You'll Need

• Commercial washer and dryer
• Detergent
• Towel

Instructions

1. Grab the parka by the shoulders and shake it to remove loose dirt.

2. Put the parka in a front-loading washer, which can be found at Laundromats. Washers typically found in homes can be too rough on a down-filled parka.

3. Run the washer at its most gentle setting with cold water. Remove the parka after the cycle, and squeeze out water. If the water comes out clear, move on to the next step. If the water appears to be dirty, let the parka go through another rinse cycle.

4. Wash the parka with 2/3 cups of a mild detergent. If it's down-filled, use a detergent made specially for down products. Again, set the washer to the gentle cycle and use cold water.

5. Remove the parka after the cleaning cycle, and lay it on a flat surface, such as a table. Press a clean, dry towel on the parka to remove as much moisture as possible. The more moisture you get out with this method, the less time you have to wait for the parka to dry in the dryer.

6. Fluff the parka if it's down-filled. Put the parka in the dryer, and set the temperature to low. If the parka is down-filled, you must remove it from the dryer every 10 minutes to fluff it.

Tips & Warnings

• Read the washing directions on the tag of your parka before you wash it. This method should work for most parkas, but some may require other special care.

References

• Target Woman: Parkas