UKC

Just wondering what people's views on sel-wash with down wash and tumble v taking to drycleaner v sending off to a recommended down washer for Rab jacket? Clearly that is in ascending order of cost.

In reply to nickinscottishmountains:

You shouldn't dry-clean down because of the chemicals although you might have meant a professional cleaner that washes and tumble dries it.

Sleeping bags have sent off for professional cleaning
Jackets might try myself as smaller but would use a laundrette with big tumble dryer and warm settings

Down (sorry) to the price of the jacket

In reply to nickinscottishmountains:

I'd go with doing it yourself, especially if you have your own tumble drying. Just take it slowly and use a long gentle wash cycle.

In reply to nickinscottishmountains:

managed to salvage my PHD down sleeping bag using specialist wash and tumble dryer, we have quite large capacity washing machine and dryer 7kg+
tennis ball in the dryer

In reply to jethro kiernan:

If doing yourself then I would run the washing machine through on a number of cycles with just liquid soap or Techwash and clean out the trays. Also worth running it at 90C if you can with old tea towels and clothes.
Then use down wash jacket.
But does the jacket have any form of DWR layer or "proofing"

When tumble trying must has a warm rather than hot setting and tennis ball to break up clumps.

Loads of advice if you google

In reply to nickinscottishmountains:

I've washed my (alpkit) down jacket in the laundrettes a good few times, with whatever regular laundry liquid/powder I happened to be using, or in the case of some of the spanish laundrettes whatever detergent they put into the wash for you.

Also never bothered with the tennis ball in the tumble drier... stick it on a low heat for 20 minutes, take it out, fluff it up a bit, stick it back in and repeat until it's nice and fluffy and dry

In reply to nickinscottishmountains:

They are never the same again, whatever you do in my experience. Sometimes close, but never the same.