Coats need careful attention just like any other garment. The cleaning materials you need for each type of coat vary widely since some you can clean using laundry detergent, while others shouldn’t touch the water and will require a brush. If you wear your coat daily, you’ll need more frequent washing, at least twice per season.
With the right techniques and this guide, you can keep all of your coats looking their best without shrinking, fading, or ruining your garment.
Read on for these simple steps to care for everything from wool, leather, faux fur, fleece, and other winter coats.
How to Clean Wool Coats?
Wool is a natural fiber spun from the hair of sheep or goats. Almost all wool coats are dry-clean-recommended. They are good-looking and fragile, which means they will likely dissolve or become misshapen in water. Additionally, wool coats may also be lined with fabrics that aren’t washable.
Take your wool coat to a professional dry cleaning service for the best results. Dry cleaning prices differ from one company to another, but the most important thing is: it is WORTH it. However, if your coat needs to be freshened or spot-cleaned, you can also use a home dry cleaning kit. According to some care labels, specific wool coats can be washed at home if done correctly with a gentle wool wash or detergent, low water temperatures, and gentle agitation.
First of all, brush away loose soil and pretreat any stains as you would before hand washing it. Be sure to empty pockets and turn the coat inside out.
Secondly, set the washer to the wool or gentle cycle and the water temperature to lukewarm or cold. If possible, select the slowest final spin cycle to reduce stretching.
Thirdly, place the coat in a large mesh washing bag to prevent snags and when the cycle is complete, remove the coat and turn it right side out.
Finally, air-dry the coat flat on a mesh drying rack or towels.
How to clean down coats and vests?
Down is the soft, insulating layer in ducks and geese under their feathers; it is lightweight and super. Keeping the down clean, dry, and fluffy is the secret to lasting success with a down coat or vest. This is what every dry cleaning service expert will tell you. If done improperly, wet down can clump.
Down garments can be successfully washed and dried at home with a specially formulated detergent. Always read the care label to be sure that the outer fabric, which can be a natural or synthetic fiber like olefin, is washable.
First of all, pretreat any visible stains following the guidelines for the type of stain.
Then, load the down coat into a front-load washer or a high-efficiency top-load washer without a center agitator for gentle agitation. Be attentive to buy the detergent formulated specifically for down and start washing using cool or warm water.
Finally, place the coat in a dryer on low heat. During the drying cycle, stop the dryer and massage the coat with your hands to help break up any down clumps.
How do you clean fleece coats?
Outerwear made of fleece is a high-tech, lightweight synthetic polyester-type of fabric that provides incredible warmth. It’s called fleece since it simulates wool fabric. Fleece often wicks away perspiration to keep you dry during strenuous activities, so dry clean it more often than other coats.
First, pretreat any visible stains following the guidelines for the type of stain.
Secondly, check the jacket pockets for tissues and paper that can stick to the fleece. Close all zippers, buttons, and fasteners and turn the jacket inside out to prevent snags.
Use a regular or heavy-duty laundry detergent. Wash in cold or warm water on the permanent press cycle, which has a cold rinse and does not spin excessively fast, as that can set wrinkles.
Finally, air drying is best for fleece.
Here at Hollywood Dry Cleaners, we know exactly how to wash your coats and jackets. We are available in more than 50 spots in the greater LA area, so it is quite easy to reach us!
