Two people in Eos jackets at a laundromat in Japan with instructions on the wall. Two people in Eos jackets at a laundromat in Japan with instructions on the wall.

Washing & Care

A little bit of care goes a long way towards keeping your down goods in use for seasons to come. Generally, you should wash your down items whenever they are visibly dirty, they have lost loft, or it’s been a year, whichever comes first.

Below are some best practices for cleaning and storing your down products, ensuring that you get the most enjoyment and longest life out of your garment, sleeping bag, or bedding.

IMPORTANT:
⚠️
DO NOT DRY CLEAN. Dry cleaning strips down of its natural, protective oils, clogs the pores of technical fabrics and will void your warranty. If you use a cleaning service, be certain they are using cleaning methods appropriate for down and are not, in fact, dry cleaning your items.
⚠️
NO CENTER AGITATORS. Do not use a top-loading washing machine with a center agitator. Front-loading and top-loading machines without a center agitator are okay.
⚠️
NO HARSH CHEMICALS. Do not use bleach, bleach-alternatives, or fabric softener on your down goods.
How to Wash Your Down Bedding
WASH BEDDING
How To Wash Your Down Apparel Video
WASH APPAREL
Washing Sleeping Bags
WASH SLEEPING BAGS

How to Wash Your Down Bedding

How to Wash Your Down Bedding: Step-by-Step

Before you begin: We generally recommend washing one bedding item at a time. If you’re unsure whether or not your dryer is large enough to fit a comforter, place it in the machine fully-lofted to check if it has room to tumble.

If it’s compressing against the drum, you might consider drying at a laundromat with industrial-sized machines.

Part One: Prepare

  1. Treat Stains: Check your bedding for any specific spots or stains and pre-treat them with a gentle stain remover or a small dab of down soap.

Part Two: Wash Your Bedding

  1. Add Down Soap: Grab your favorite down soap and wash according to the instructions on the bottle.
    Pro-Tip: Detergent measurements are often geared towards outdoor garments. We recommend using the garment measurement for down pillows and the sleeping bag measurement for comforters and throws. When in doubt? Add more!
  2. The Wash Cycle: Wash on a gentle or delicate cycle using warm water and a low or medium spin setting. Always add an extra rinse and spin cycle to ensure all soap residue is flushed out.
  3. Transfer: Carefully transfer the heavy, wet bedding to the dryer. Be gentle to avoid putting too much stress on the stitching while the down is heavy with water.

Part Three: Dry Your Bedding

  1. Dryer Balls: Add dryer balls to the load (optional). These help break up down clumps and significantly speed up drying time.
  2. Drying Heat: Tumble dry on medium heat at hour-long intervals.
  3. Reorient & Repeat: Between cycles, remove the bedding and reorient it (shake it out) to promote even drying. Repeat this until the item is completely dry and lofted.
  4. Finish: Once you are confident it is entirely dry, remove it from the dryer. Your bedding is now refreshed and ready to use!

How To Wash Your Down Apparel

Wash Your Down Apparel: Step-by-Step

Before you begin: Depending on the size of your washer and dryer, we generally recommend limiting the cycle volume to 2-3 lightweight garments (Eos, Ellia), 1-2 midweight garments (Helios, Volant) or 1 expedition garment (Khumbu, Rock and Ice).

This will prevent overfilling the drum during the drying cycle, which can lead to melted nylon and uneven drying.

Part One: Prepare Your Garment

  1. Prep the hardware: Empty out and zip up any pockets, close the main zipper, and loosen any elastic draws. If your garment has any Velcro around the hood or cuffs, re-secure those tabs so that the hook side is covered.
  2. Pre-treat: Treat any stains with a gentle stain remover or some down soap.
  3. Flip it: Turn your garment inside out so that the breathable, inner liner is exposed.

Part Two: Wash Your Garment

  1. Soap up: Grab your favorite down soap, and fill the main wash compartment according to the instructions on the bottle.
  2. The Cycle: Wash on a gentle or delicate cycle using warm water and a low spin setting. Add a rinse + spin cycle to flush any lingering detergent and excess water.
  3. DWR (Optional): If you need to reapply a DWR treatment to your garment, now is a great time to do it.
  4. Transfer: Gently transfer your garment to the dryer.

Part Three: Dry Your Garment

  1. Dryer Balls: If you like to use dryer balls, you can add them in here. They aren’t required, but can help break up the down clumps during the drying process.
  2. Heat Settings: Tumble dry on low heat for hour-long intervals. If your machine has a wrinkle guard setting, use it! This will allow your garment to cool down in the drum during the final ten or so minutes of drying.
  3. The Clump Check: Manually check your garment between cycles. If it still feels even slightly damp or clumpy, manually break up any clumps, and run it for another hour. Repeat this process until the down fill is entirely dry (this can take a few hours).
Note: Even if the nylon feels dry, the down inside might still be damp! If you’re drying one of our larger expedition garments, you might need to run it for an extra hour or two.
  1. Final Step: Once you’re confident your garment is dry, you can remove it from the dryer and flip it right-side-out. Your gear is refreshed and ready for anything!

How To Wash Your Down Sleeping Bag

How to Wash Your Down Sleeping Bag: Step-by-Step

Before you begin: Depending on the size of your washer and dryer, we generally recommend limiting the cycle volume to one sleeping bag at a time.

This prevents overfilling the drum, which can lead to melted nylon and uneven drying.

Part One: Prepare Your Sleeping Bag

  1. Clear the Bag: Remove anything from inside the bag (baselayers, socks, tissues, etc.).
  2. Secure Hardware: Close the main zipper, secure any snaps or velcro, and loosen any elastic draws.
  3. Pre-treat: Treat any stains with a gentle stain remover or some down soap.
  4. Inside Out: Turn your sleeping bag inside out so that the breathable, inner liner is exposed.
Note for Expedition Bags: If you're washing an expedition bag, we recommend presoaking it before washing, as the down can take a while to fully saturate. You can do this in a tub, bucket, or using your washer's prewash setting.

Part Two: Wash Your Sleeping Bag

  1. Limit Volume: Place no more than one bag into the washing machine at a time.
  2. Soap Up: Grab your favorite down soap and fill the main wash compartment according to the instructions on the bottle.
  3. The Cycle: Wash on a gentle or delicate cycle using warm water and a low spin setting. Add a rinse + spin cycle to flush any lingering detergent.
  4. DWR Refresh: If you need to refresh the DWR on the outside of your sleeping bag, now is a great time to do it.
  5. The Transfer: Gently transfer your sleeping bag to the dryer, being sure to evenly support the bag while it’s damp and heavy.

Part Three: Drying Your Sleeping Bag

  1. Dryer Balls: If you like to use dryer balls, you can add them in here. They help break up down clumps during the drying process.
  2. Heat Settings: Tumble dry on low heat for hour-long intervals. If your machine has a wrinkle guard setting, use it to allow the bag to cool down in the drum during the final 10 minutes.
  3. The Clump Check: Manually check your bag between cycles. If it feels even slightly damp or clumpy, break up the clumps by hand and run it for another hour. Rotate the bag in the drum to promote even drying.
Pro-Tip: Even if the nylon feels dry, the down inside might still be damp! Don’t be afraid to add extra time to the drying process.
  1. Final Step: Once you’re confident your bag is totally dry, remove it from the dryer and flip it right-side-out. Now your gear is refreshed and ready for the trail!
Storage Note: We recommend letting expedition bags air out for a day or so before storing. This prevents any micro-dampness from developing mildew in storage.

How To Reapply DWR To Your Jacket or Sleeping Bag

How to Revive Your Jacket’s (or Sleeping Bag's) DWR

Over time, the factory water-repellent coating on your gear can wear down. Follow these steps to clean, apply, and heat-set a new DWR treatment to keep moisture bead up and rolling off your shell.

  1. Start Clean: DWR treatment should only be applied to a clean garment. If your jacket is soiled, give it a thorough wash first using a proper down soap.
  2. The Setup: Lay your jacket on a flat surface or hang it up to achieve a uniform application. Ensure you are in a well-ventilated area.
  3. Apply Treatment: Grab your DWR treatment of choice, shake the bottle, and spray a thin, even coat onto the outer fabric.
    Warning: Be careful not to oversaturate the shell. Excess DWR liquid can soak through and potentially damage the delicate down fill inside.
  4. Heat Activate: Place your jacket in the dryer and run it on low heat for one hour. If your dryer has a wrinkle guard setting, use it! This helps the jacket cool down safely during the last ten minutes of the cycle.
    Critical Note: Never use a setting higher than "Low." Drying nylon on high heat can melt the fabric and ruin the garment.
  5. Flip It: Once the outer shell feels dry, flip your jacket inside out to finish the drying process from the interior.
  6. The Final Loft: Run your dryer on low heat again until you’re confident the down fill is completely dry, clump-free, and lofty.
    Pro-Tip: If you’re drying one of our larger expedition garments, the dense down clusters may require an extra hour or two of tumble time.
  7. Finish: Remove your jacket from the dryer and flip it right-side-out. Your jacket’s DWR is now revived and ready for your next adventure!

In House Wash Service

If you prefer to have your down item washed professionally, we can do that for you.  Please submit a request for wash using the Wash Request button below.

Submit A Wash Request

Repairs

For simple cuts or holes in fabric, we recommend Tenacious Tape and/or Seam Grip.  More info on repairs can be found here.  

If you find yourself needing a more significant repair on your Feathered Friends item, we can do that in-house. Please click the button below and fill out the repair form. We will then contact you with an cost and completion time estimate.

Submit a Repair Request

How To Properly Store Your Down Gear

Store your Feathered Friends products uncompressed, either lightly stuffed in a large, breathable bag or hung in a dry location. All Feathered Friends sleeping bags come with a large, cotton storage sack specifically made for long term storage. To discourage the growth of mildew, make sure your items are completely dry before storing them.

Down Recycling

Have a down sleeping bag, comforter or jacket you want to recycle? Through our partnership with Tersus Solutions, the leading down-recycler in the US, you can send your used down products to the address below to be recycled and used in new gear.

Tersus Solutions - 2nd Rnd Down
5941 Marion Drive
Denver, CO 80216