How to wash a Columbia jacket

Brand items not only look great, but also serve their owner for a very long time, without any complaints. But caring for such clothes often causes a lot of problems, especially if it is winter. Columbia down jackets are made with a special Omni-Heat technology that most people know little about. If washed incorrectly, such a winter jacket will look more like a spring windbreaker than winter clothes. The fluff will stick together, and ugly stains will appear on the upper fabric. How to wash a Columbia Omni Hit jacket in a washing machine? This question is often asked by fans of this brand on the Internet. This is not difficult to do, but it is very important to follow certain recommendations.

Preparing for washing

Before washing the Columbia jacket, you need to perform several preparatory operations.

Carefully study the label, which should contain information on caring for the down jacket. If the label has a mark that washing is allowed, then you can safely proceed to the process;

In Columbia jackets, the tag can be hidden in the pocket, so not everyone finds it right away.

Fur trims made of natural fur are unfastened from the jacket. Faux fur can be washed, nothing will happen to it.
All zippers, buttons and other fasteners fasten. The laces are tightened and tied.
If there are particularly contaminated areas on the jacket, then they are pre-washed by hand. To do this, you can use gel for delicate fabrics, laundry soap or regular baby shampoo.

If the Columbia jacket has an edge made of natural fur that does not come unfastened, then the product cannot be washed.A down jacket of this type must be dry-cleaned.

Before washing, the down jacket must be turned inside out and placed in the washing machine in this form.

Hand wash down jacket

You can wash the down jacket "Columbia" both by hand and in a washing machine. When hand washing, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

A strong rope is stretched over the bath, on which a down jacket is hung on a coat hanger.
The jacket is poured with water from the shower, and then gently washed with a soft sponge and soapy water. To prepare a soap solution, you can take a gel for washing delicate items or a neutral shampoo.
After the front side of the jacket is washed, it is turned inside out and washed inside out.
The thing is thoroughly rinsed with cool water from the shower.

It is impossible to unscrew or wring out the down jacket. It is enough to leave it for 3-4 hours over the bath to drain excess water. After that, the jacket is laid out to dry.

During hand washing, it is strictly forbidden to use hard brushes and other abrasive products. This may damage the Omni-Heat technology.

Washing machine

You can also wash the Columbia omni heat jacket in the washing machine. In this case, the main thing is to set the delicate washing mode and choose the right detergent. Washing is done like this:

A down jacket prepared for washing is placed in the drum of the washing machine.
Liquid gel is poured into the detergent compartment, designed for delicate items.
Set the delicate mode and the temperature no more than 30 degrees. Washing time should be kept to a minimum.
After the wash is over, it is necessary to rinse the item several more times so that there are no whitish streaks left.

It is very difficult to twist a jacket with a membrane fabric by hand, so it is better to entrust this procedure to a washing machine. The only limitation is the spin speed.For down jackets of this brand, spinning should be done at a minimum speed so as not to damage the mirror surface of the fabric.

Some people advise washing Columbia down jackets with tennis balls to prevent chaffing. In this case, it is not recommended to do this, since the fabric may be damaged mechanically and the down jacket will lose its performance.

You can wash Columbia down jackets with a special gel for just such things. You can buy detergent directly at the company store, which sells Columbia Omni-Heat brand items.

How to dry a down jacket

After washing in the washing machine, the jacket is shaken well and laid to dry on a flat surface. The best option for drying a down jacket is a special dryer. Under which they put a large rag to drain water. Down jackets "Columbia" usually dry for a couple of days at normal temperatures. During this time, the jacket needs to be shaken several times and turned over to the other side.

It is allowed to put the dryer near the heating radiator, but you cannot put the thing directly on the heater. If the fluff has strayed into lumps, then it is carefully separated by hands after the thing has completely dried.

To check if the item is dry, just squeeze part of the jacket in your hand. If a damp spot has appeared on the fabric, then the jacket should be dried.

What to look out for

Columbia down jackets are expensive, so it will be a shame if the thing deteriorates during washing or drying. To avoid such an incident, you need to adhere to the following rules:

Do not use any chlorine-based bleaches to clean contaminated areas.
Do not dry the down jacket on a heating radiator or over a gas stove. This not only contributes to the appearance of yellow streaks, but can also lead to a fire.
Ironing Columbia omni heat jackets is not recommended. Only a special steamer can be used to smooth the fabric.

With proper care, the Columbia down jacket will keep its owner warm for many years even in the most severe frosts. If there is no certainty that the item will be washed normally at home, then it is better to contact a dry cleaner. Experts know exactly how to clean such clothes so as not to damage them.