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Washing Winter Coats and Jackets: Our Care Guide

Winter coats are seasonal essentials, they ensure you are kept warm and snug throughout the cold winter season until the weather gets warmer. Given it is the depth of winter at present, your coats and jackets must be kept clean and in good condition until it’s time to store them away again.

PREPARING WINTER YOUR COATS AND JACKETS

Around the beginning of the Autumn season is the right time to reach into your storage facility and bring out your warmer clothing, winter and outdoor coats and jackets. Providing you took the necessary steps to ensure the items were stored away correctly, they will re-emerge in pristine condition ready for use for the season ahead. Steps to ensure good storage practices include the following:

i) Give winter coats a vigorous shake to remove dust and any stubborn debris.

ii) Ensure all zips, clasps, and buttons are fastened to maintain the coat’s shape and integrity and to minimise the risk of creasing occurring.

iii) Place on a heavy-duty, padded hanger either the wooden or plastic kind. Steer away from using metal hangers as these may rust or create dimplings on the shoulder area of items.

iv) Spot clean before storage, targeting specific areas of staining rather than treating the entire area or garment.

v8) Ensure the storage area has adequate ventilation 

LOOKING AFTER COATS AND JACKETS THROUGHOUT THE WINTER SEASON

Caring for winter clothing, coats, and jackets will ensure they are kept looking their best, and ensure they are kept functional. To begin with, it’s vital to make sure to always read and follow the care label on each winter coat and jacket you intend to wash, dry, and/ or iron. After reading the care labels, this will determine whether a coat can be washed at home, or if it needs to be professionally cleaned via a dry cleaning service. It’s important to bear in mind that some coats can be laundered using laundry detergents while for others, no water should be used at all, just a brush down will suffice. Coats or jackets worn daily will require more frequent washing and cleaning, at least 2-3 times per season. 

It is crucial to be aware of how to care for all types of coats and jackets. Different materials will require different cleaning approaches and methods. We have listed below a guide for washing coats and jackets made from different fabrics and materials:

WOOL COATS/JACKETS

As wool is a natural fiber spun from the hair of either goats or sheep, invariably coats and jackets made from this will require to be dry-cleaned. This is because of the very nature of the woollen fiber; it is prone to shrinkage. But also, the makers of woollen coats and jackets use a combination of complex interfacing, padding, and lining to achieve their structure and integrity. If these are washed, there is a high risk that they will dissolve during the wash process or become misshapen in water.

Wool coats and jackets can, however, be spot-cleaned at home using a specialised dry-cleaning kit or laundry detergent. Before attempting this task, it’s good practice to brush away any loose dirt and debris. Following this, air dry the woollen coat or jacket by laying it flat on a mesh drying rack, which will allow the air to circulate around the item. Alternatively, use paper towels as a blotting method to assist in absorbing the excess moisture. 

Drying wool can take time, so remember to be patient! When dry, hang coat or jacket on a hanger. You may wish to lightly steam it using a hand-held steamer to flatten down the fibers to improve the shape, and to improve the appearance of the lining.

DOWN COATS/ JACKETS

Washing a down coat or jacket can often provoke feelings of anxiety for fear of destroying a very expensive item. But fear not as modern-day down fabrics are relatively easier to manage than they used to be by following a simple step-by-step process.

As with most things, there are risks to washing down items so be mindful of this before attempting this task at home. With down fiber the more you wash it, the less efficient and effective it will become. Therefore, it’s wise to limit the number of times you wash it. 

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

i) Non-biological liquid laundry detergent 

ii) 2-3 Laundry balls made from plastic or felt.

iii) Washing Machine

v) Tumble dryer

-STEP ONE

Prep coat or jacket by brushing off any loose dirt and mud, fasten up any zips, clasps, buttons, or Velcro, and ensure flaps and pockets are closed.

-STEP TWO

Be sure to clean the detergent dispenser in your washing machine before use to avoid causing any damage to the fabric of your woollen coat or jackets. Use laundry detergents sparingly and avoid fabric conditioners.

– STEP THREE 

After washing, set your washing machine on several spin cycles to ensure excess water is removed.

-STEP FOUR

Having spun the down coat or jacket thoroughly remove it from the washing machine and place it into your tumble dryer on a low heat temperature. At this point, we would also recommend throwing in some drying balls. This is a tried and tested drying aid used to effectively beat the down and fluff it up into shape in a safe way. 

Drying down is a lengthy process, so we would suggest you remain patient! It can take anywhere up to 2-3 hours to dry a lightweight down coat or jacket.

-STEP FIVE

During the time your down coat or jacket is in the tumble dryer, we would recommend you stop the tumbling intermittently to give the items a good shake to break up any clumps that might form. Do this several times to puff up your newly washed-down coat or jacket.

FLEECE COATS AND JACKETS 

Fleece coats and jackets are wonderfully warm and cosy, and are typically made from a water-resistant fabric, either made from natural or synthetic sources. They are very versatile and ideal for those chilly nights, those winter walks, or just for day-to-day casual wear.

There are broadly two types of fleece fabric available used to make coats, jackets, blankets etc. Natural fleece, as the name suggests, comes from animals that bear wool, typically sheep. On the other hand, synthetic fleece is made from man-made fabrics such as polyester. 

To keep your fleece items looking good and in pristine condition throughout the winter season will require you to follow three basic steps, which are listed below:

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

– Non- biological laundry detergent 

– Stain removal treatment 

– Washing machine 

-Tumble dryer 

-STEP ONE

To spot-treat your fleece items just spray the areas you need to clean with a spot-cleaning treatment and leave on the item for the length of time instructed.

-STEP TWO 

To avoid damage occurring turn your fleece items inside out before washing and place your washing machine on a gentle wash cycle using cold water.

-STEP THREE 

When using a tumble dryer to dry fleece items, always use the lowest temperature setting. When the drying cycle is complete remove the fleece items promptly, without delay, and place on them on a hanger to avoid crumpling and creasing.

VINYL COATS AND JACKETS

Caring for vinyl coats and jackets requires a consideration towards preventative maintenance. An effective way to achieve this aim is to give your vinyl items an occasional brush down to remove dirt and debris to prevent build-up and accumulation of such matter.

Vinyl coats and jackets typically require specialist care, not only when cleaning them, but when wearing them. It’s worth bearing in mind that vinyl fabric doesn’t respond well to traditional laundry techniques and methods. It’s also important to understand that owing to the rubber-like fabric, you’ll need to safeguard against over-stretching the items when wearing them. It’s also important to try to avoid coming into contact with anything too abrasive or too hot when wearing these items as this may damage the texture and affect the finish and appearance of the items.

HOW TO REMOVE STAINS FROM VINYL COATS AND JACKETS 

Removing stains from vinyl coats and jackets will require a spot-treatment approach. Start with using a paper towel and some rubbing alcohol. Work this in and around the stain starting from the edges and into the middle section of the affected areas. Use several paper towels during this process to avoid spreading the stain. Repeat this until the stain is adequately removed. To complete the task, wipe the surface with a clean, dry cloth dipped in water to remove traces of alcohol residue.

CLEANING VINYL 

After removing any stains, an assessment should be made regarding the next cleaning steps. For example, you’ll need to consider vinyl items that have been worn close to the body. In these circumstances, the items may have picked up sweat and body odours that will need be addressed. Below we have provided some basic and simple steps to follow when cleaning vinyl items.

-STEP ONE

Wipe down your vinyl coat or jacket with a sponge and some water, and allow to air dry.

-STEP TWO 

A useful alternative to wiping down vinyl items with a sponge and water is to spray the inside and outside of the items with a fabric refresher and proceed to air dry. This will add freshness to vinyl items and also provide a deodorising affect.

-STEP THREE 

Vinyl coats and jackets should not be stored together in a cramped wardrobe after cleaning them. Ideally, they should be stored in an environment with plenty of air that can freely circulate around the items. Alternatively, vinyl items can be covered with cotton garment bags, but avoid using the plastic variety as these can create and trap moisture.

HAND-WASHING VINYL COATS AND JACKETS 

If your vinyl coat or jacket has been worn close to the body you may wish to consider hand washing the items as an option. However, it is very important to be instructed by the care label before attempting the task to avoid causing damage to the items.

If the care label says that you can hand wash your vinyl your items, be sure to follow the instructions to the letter. Typically this will advise you to use a small quantity of non-biological liquid detergent. Avoid using laundry powder detergents as they may not dissolve entirely and leave a residue that may affect the finish and appearance of your vinyl items.

Place the vinyl items into your detergent solution and gently squeeze the solution through the items to clean them. Rinse with cold water but avoid either twisting or wringing the vinyl items. Hang the items up to air dry turning them away from direct heat or sunlight to prevent melting or fading. When dry on one side, turn the items the other way round to complete the drying process.

LEATHER COATS AND JACKETS 

Cleaning a leather coat or jacket at home can be a risky task that requires to be done with due care and attention to avoid damage to the items. Typically, cleaning leather is probably best left to professional services specialising in leather care as they know how to clean both the shell and fabric linings without damaging either.

We would strongly advise against putting your leather coat or jacket into your washing machine at home, as leather reacts badly to being submerged and soaked in water; the texture changes to become thin and therefore prone to tearing. Adding a laundry detergent to this would increase the risk of damage by removing all the natural oils in the hide.

HOW TO CLEAN A LEATHER COAT OR JACKET AT HOME 

Given the many contraindications of washing your leather items at home, just what can be done at home to refresh your leather items to remove surface dirt and dinginess?

Always approach cleaning leather items with caution. Always read and follow the care labels on each item. With leather, always carry out a patch test, this would follow good practice. Choose an area like the inside of a pocket to make sure your laundry products and your techniques are suitable for the task. 

The biggest mistakes to make when attempting to clean leather is to over wet the item and to rub the it too vigorously. To avoid the pitfalls of using at-home-methods we have provided some steps you may wish to follow when approaching home cleaning of leather coats and jackets.

-STEP ONE 

Using a clean sponge, add some leather cleaner and squeeze to produce a foam substance. Gently rub the sponge into the leather using small circular movements to lift dirt from the leather coat or jacket.

-STEP TWO 

Wipe away the excess foam substance carefully with a clean, damp cloth. Repeat the process until the excess is removed, paying careful attention to avoid rubbing too hard or vigorously.

-STEP THREE

Using a clean, dry towel proceed to blot the leather dry, then leave to air dry thoroughly and then the leather item can be placed on a heavy-duty padded hanger, this will minimise the risk of creating dimples to in shoulder area. Make sure you hang the leather item away from heat or direct sunshine, which may cause the leather to dry out and crack. Once completely dry, be sure to apply a leather conditioner to restore any lost moisture and to provide softness to leather items.

HOW TO CLEAN THE INSIDE LINING OF A LEATHER COAT OR JACKET

Cleaning the inside of a leather coat or jacket, particularly the lining can be achieved by following some basic steps. We would, however, always recommend you read and follow the care label instructions on each item you intend to wash before attempting the task. If in doubt, seek the advice from a professional leather cleaning service. 

-STEP ONE 

Mix together a solution of tepid water in a small bowl with some mild dish soap. Dip a clean cloth in and proceed to spot- clean stains or dirty areas, using blotting motions. Pay particular attention to the collar and underarm areas.

-STEP TWO 

To Remove excess soap, use a clean cloth to absorb, and repeat the process as required. Make sure all the soap residue has been removed to avoid creating a stain on the leather item when dry.

-STEP THREE 

Place the leather item on a heavy-duty, padded hanger in a well-ventilated environment and allow it to air dry completely.

We hope you found the content of this Blog interesting. If you require a professional laundry service to help with your winter coats, jackets, or any other items we’d be happy to take the load from you. We pick up and collect in Chester-le-Street and also cover the surrounding areas.