A puffer jacket keeps you warm by trapping air in its filling. The loftier the filling, the more air it holds and the warmer the coat. When washing your puffer jacket, you want to get it clean without flattening or clumping that filling. The good news: most down and padded coats can go in the washing machine. Always check the care label first, and if you're unsure what the symbols mean, see our guide to care labels.
How often to wash a puffer jacket
Once or twice a season is usually enough. Spot clean marks in between. Washing too often strips the natural oils from down clusters, which gradually leaves them less springy.
Before you wash
- Empty the pockets and close all zips and poppers, to protect the teeth and stop them snagging the shell.
- Brush off loose dirt with a soft fabric brush.
- Spot clean any stains with a stain remover bar or a little soap before the main wash.
How to wash a puffer jacket in the machine
- Choose the right detergent. Use a down-specific wash or, failing that, a gentle wool and cashmere detergent. Standard detergents strip the natural oils that keep down clusters springy, so they flatten and clump. Our [eco laundry collection] has gentle options.
- Skip the fabric softener. It coats the filling, which reduces loft and warmth.
- Use a cold or 30°C gentle cycle, with an extra rinse if your machine has one. Detergent left in the filling makes it clump and attracts dirt, and the extra rinse removes it without extra agitation.
- Keep the spin low or off. Most gentle cycles do this automatically; if not, select it manually.
- Give it room. A front-loading machine is kindest. If your coat is large and fills the drum, a launderette machine will give it space to move.
How to dry a puffer jacket
- Gently squeeze out the excess water. Never wring the coat: wringing compacts the filling and can tear the internal baffles, leaving flat, lumpy patches.
- Lay it flat on a clothes airer to drip dry. Allow 24 to 48 hours, depending on the weather.
- Once it's mostly dry, tumble dry on a low heat with two or three dryer balls, or clean tennis balls. They break up clumps and redistribute the filling as they bounce, and the gentle heat dries the coat right through to the core.
- If you don't have a tumble dryer, shake the coat and pull apart any clumps with your fingers every few hours as it dries.
Why dry fully? Moisture trapped deep in the filling can linger long after the shell feels dry, and damp down quickly develops mildew and a musty smell. Don't wear or store your coat until it's completely dried all the way through.
Synthetic and recycled fillings
The same method works for coats padded with synthetic or recycled polyester wadding. Synthetic fills are more forgiving than down: they don't lose natural oils, and they recover their shape more easily. The rules on fabric softener and full drying apply as above.
How to store a puffer jacket
When the weather warms up, store your coat somewhere cool and dry in a breathable cotton or paper bag rather than plastic, so it can breathe. Hang it on a wide hanger or fold it loosely. Avoid vacuum bags and tight storage for long periods, as compression flattens the filling over time.
Looking for a new layer for the season ahead? Browse our coats and jackets collection.