How to Fluff Down Jacket? [Quick Tips For You]

Having a down jacket is a must for all outdoor enthusiasts. This type of jacket can protect you even from the coldest weather, keeping you warm and comfy at all times. Even though most down jackets come at a high price, they are worth the investment and are quite durable!

But to make sure that your down jacket will be good for years, you will need to learn how to take proper care of it. That includes washing it and drying it the right way, as well as fluffing it afterward. Today, you and I will go over all tips and tricks that you need to know about fluffing a down jacket.

There will be different methods included in this guide. For some of them, you will need only a regular clothes hanger. For the others, you will need a couple of specific things. All methods will take at least 3 hours of your time, so make sure that you have the time to go through with the full method before you start it. 

I am ready whenever you are to get started with the guides!

How to Puff Up a Puffer Jacket after Washing [Step-By-Step]

Let’s remind ourselves of what you need to remember when washing a down jacket. You will need a front-loading washer, a specific detergent for washing this type of garment, and a couple of tennis balls that you can put in. The machine has to be set at cold water temperature with a small load at a normal cycle.

After you wash the puffer coat, it will be soaking wet. The best thing to go with is to put it in a drying machine to tumble dry it. This method takes the least time – usually, it takes about three hours for the coat to dry. So, if you have a tumble dryer, I recommend that you follow this guide to learn how to dry and puff up the coat using it!

Step 1 – Adjust the dryer settings

When leaving the jacket to dry in a tumble dryer, you will need to adjust the settings as required. The heat should be set as low as possible, while I also recommend that you squeeze the excess water from the jacket before starting the drying process. That way, it will take way less time to dry it.

After you put the jacket in the tumble dryer, you should also place a few tennis balls in it. These will help remove the remaining water from the jacket and break the clumps in it. If you do not have any tennis balls, you can also use a clean sneaker.

Step 2 – Start the drying process

When you start the drying process, the jacket will start turning in the machine with the balls or the sneaker. You should check the jacket every 30 minutes to see if it is completely dry. You can throw it back in and start another drying cycle if it is not.

Step 3 – Check for clumps

When you remove the jacket from the dryer, you should shake it around and even consider turning it inside-out before putting it back in. This will help dry it all around, while the shaking will help with the part of the jacket called loft.

The loft is the part in down jackets made with goose feathers. The jacket’s loft is the part that can clump up. If clumped up, it will not do a good job of keeping you warm. This is why you must fluff this part up every time you wash the jacket.

Step 4 – Hang the jacket the right way

After you dry and fluff the jacket, I recommend that you hang it on a clothes hanger but keep it upside down. This way, the goose feathers or the loft will stay fluffy for longer.

How to Fluff Down Jacket without a Dryer?

Now that I have covered the best way to fluff a down coat with a dryer, I want to give you another guide if you do not have a tumble dryer available. You will only need a hanger to hang the jacket and a dry place to keep it for a while for this second method. Let’s get into this method!

Step 1 – Start the drying of the jacket

Air drying is the second-best drying method that you can use. After washing the jacket, you should put it in direct sunlight to dry. Even though this will be time-consuming, it is the best thing that you can do at this point.

After the jacket is somewhat dry, you can move it to a cool place where you will prepare it for the fluffing and let it dry completely. You should put the jacket on a coat hanger.

Step 2 – Dry and fluff the jacket

As the coat dries, you will need to check it every 30 minutes and ensure no clumps on it. If you see that the jacket’s loft starts to clump up, you will need to break the clumps with your fingers.

This part of the jacket, called a loft, as mentioned before, is the one that will take the longest to dry. It is the most challenging part to dry and keep fluffy, but it is the part that makes the jacket warm. If you want your down jacket to keep you warm, you will need to keep the puffer jacket puffy!

So, take care of those clumps and make sure none of them after the coat is dry. Also, before you store your jacket, check if it is fully dry. It might start to smell bad because of the moisture if it is not.

To keep the moisture from leading to mold and a bad smell, make sure that the jacket is clean and dry at all times. That way, it will take years if not even decades, before you need to get a new coat!

How to Fluff Down Jacket without Tennis Balls?

Down jackets can be problematic to wash, dry, and keep fluffy. To fluff a down jacket properly, you need some clean tennis balls. But what if you do not have any?

Do not worry – there is something else that you can use! You can go with a clean sneaker or some dryer balls. These do not come at an expensive price, so you should be able to get them before the next time you need to clean and fluff your coat!

Wrap-Up

Well, that is everything you should know about how to fluff a puffer jacket! Remember to wash it following the steps given above, then make sure it is dry without any clumps. Make the jacket as fluffy as possible if you want to get the most warmth from it!

I hope that you learned some new information from this guide. Let me know if you have ever tried to fluff a down jacket before and if you did it by hand or by using a tumble dryer. I would love to know all about your experience, so do not hesitate to share it in the comments below!