How to wash a feather and down ski winter jacket

Close the zips and pockets. Once the zip is closed, turn the jacket inside out. This will prevent the outer layer from tearing in the drum of the washing machine.

Deep, stubborn stains should be cleaned with a special down cleaner, and soaked for about 15 minutes.

Empty the detergent drawer of your washing machine, because any remaining conventional washing product could damage your down jacket. Put it in the washing machine on its own so it doesn't catch on anything, and fill the drawer with the cleaning product of your choice. Be sure to check the instructions on the back of the packet regarding the quantities.

Run a cold wash and select the "delicate" or "hand wash" setting if you have one.

As soon as the washing machine beeps - don't leave your jacket in the machine for too long or it will start to smell!

Run a quick rinse cycle to make sure the washing product has been eliminated.

To dry your down jacket, run several spin cycles, then gently wring out the excess water by hand, taking care not to crush the down filling too much and alter its shape.

You can simply dry your down jacket on a drying rack in a well-ventilated space, however, a tumble dryer will produce the best results.

Using a dryer? Set your dryer to the lowest setting and add your down jacket along with two dryer balls or clean tennis balls. As they bounce about inside in the drum, the balls will restore the loft of the feathers, preventing them from sticking together and losing their insulating power. 

It will take a few hours for your jacket to dry completely, and it's a good idea to pause the dryer's drying cycle every half hour to shake it and make sure the feathers aren't clumping. You'll know your jacket is dry inside and outside when it feels light and fluffy.