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When it comes to clothes, jackets are our ultimate protectors. They shield us from the cold and keep us safe from dirt and rain.
However, that means they’re constantly exposed to the elements and can accumulate lots of dirt and smells. In this article, Electrolux Singapore will show you how you can wash your favourite jacket in a washing machine without damaging it.
Firstly, why you should always consult a clothing item’s care labels or any other care instructions you receive when you’ve purchased that jacket, t-shirt or any other type of clothing.
How these labels look and how detailed they are depend on the brand. Some clothing brands enclose in-depth care guides with their products to make sure you know exactly what to do in any conceivable care scenario. However, most garments just come with standard care labels, usually fixed to the back of the collar or another seam on the inside of the item.
These labels can also look quite different. The easiest to understand are labels that give their care instructions in plain words – “Dry clean only” or “Hand wash only”, for instance. These rules are easy to follow, so any person will know not to put a jacket with such care instructions into the washing machine.
The more common form of care label uses symbols, however. And these symbols can often lead to misunderstandings – with potentially disastrous consequences for your favourite clothes. Here are some of the most important symbols you need to know if you want to wash a jacket:
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This depends on the material and the usage of your jacket. Here are some examples:
For all these jacket types, keep in mind that you can still wash them any time they get stained.
Before putting your jacket in the washing machine, inspect it for stains. With jackets you’ve worn for a long time, old stains may have dried up and gone deep into the garment fibers, so it’s a good idea to do some pre-treatment of particularly nasty stains.
You can either use specially designed stain remover or regular liquid laundry detergent for this. Take a small amount of the liquid, apply it to the stain and rub it in gently. Then let it do its job for 10 minutes before you put the jacket in the washing machine. If you don’t have liquid detergent or stain remover available, dish soap will do as well.
Loose zippers or buttons can damage the fabric in the washing machine, so it’s best to close them completely. The same goes for pocket zippers. In the process, also make sure that the pockets are empty.
To avoid any damage to the material, you should wash every jacket on its own. This avoids jackets getting caught on each other, which could lead to damage.
All jackets should be treated as delicate garments when it comes to washing them in the washing machine, so choose a gentle cycle for them. Depending on your washing machine, such a cycle might be called “Delicate”, “Gentle” or “Handwash”, but consult your user manual to make sure which is the gentlest wash cycle your washer offers.
Check out more expert guide from Electrolux to wash shoes in washing machine: Can you Put Shoes in Washing Machine? Easy 7 Step Guide
Read more: Top-load vs front-load washing machines – what are the differences?
To fully dry your down jacket, tumble dry it for 3 hours, fluffing the jacket every 30 minutes. If it's still not dry after 3 hours, continue to dry it in 30-minute increments until it's fully dry.
Start by placing the jacket on a hanger and leaving it in a cool, dry place to air dry. Every 30 minutes, take it down off the hanger and fluff it by hand to ensure it maintains its shape and puffiness.
In general, it is best to wash fleece jackets and performance outerwear using cold water and the washer's regular cycle. Using cold water can also help extend the life of your clothes.
In general, it’s best to err on the side of caution when it comes to washing and drying your jackets. Unless the care label explicitly says that putting them in the washing machine is fine, opt for hand wash or even dry cleaning.
You should use even more caution when it comes to tumble drying your jackets, since the heat can easily damage sensitive fibers or shrink your garments.
With an Electrolux washing machine with features like Woolmark-certified wool cycles and flexible delicate and temperature settings, washing your jackets becomes easier than ever – with peace of mind, knowing that your favourite jacket is getting the perfect care.
Find out things you need to know when purchasing a washing machine.
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