Rambo down jacket - can't wash?

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Eceni

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I bought a RAMBO down jacket in the winter It's pretty filthy now and the weather's cheered up so I don't have to live in the equivalent of a duvet. The washing instructions say to tumble dry with a pair of tennis balls (!) and given that I'm trying to be eco-green and don't have a tumble dryer, I took it to the local laundry/dry cleaners - who said they wouldn't touch it.

apparently they've had several of these and the temperatures required to dry the feathers are too great for the outer fabrics and they're wrecked.

If you *don't* get the feathers dry, they go mouldy and stink...


her best advice was to wear it until I can't bear it, sponging it occasionally, then pick the hottest day of the year, wash it as per instructions and spread it out on a rack in the sun....

which for something that cost over £70, seems a bit much

anyone else tried washing them?

E
 
Pop it in the machine. Spin it and then hang it on the line. Beat it up ocassionaly through the day - put it back out tomorrow and do the same. In the airing cupboard for the finale - then it's as good as new!
 
I have a puffa bodywarmer that sounds like its made of the same thing. Basically i wore it till i could stand the smell nolonger and then it was dumped!!! Tried washing it and it stunk afterwards, something to do with the feathers. I tumbled it ( for ages ) and the tennis balls are to break the feathers up as they clump together. Still couldnt get the feathers to seperate and still stunk, i mean REALLY stunk like something had died in it!!! So it was binned!!!!
 
I have a Toggi coat that has feathers in. I put it on a 40' wash with bio washing powder and a dose of softner, I spun it two or three times then hung it on the line/on the radiator. You do need to beat it up though and spend time massaging the feathers - mine dried no problems and smells as good as new
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Does take a while to dry though about 3-4 days until the puffiness is back.

Hope that helps.
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Hb
 
I wait for a HOT day or 2
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,then I wash my Down Impact Jacket, yes, it is filled with down
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, in NIKWAX DOWN Liquid , pop it on a hanger and then on the washing line, I bring it in at night and put in the airing cupboard then out the next day if hot, repeat a few times
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If it's really dirty I'd wash it at 40c a couple of times
Good Luck and don't blame me if it goes horribly wrong
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Seriously, I haven't had a problem doing it this way.

ETS : For bad stains I'm liberal with ACE stain remover too
 
I have a Rab down jacket, and it says on the label to send them back to the makers for a clean!! I think I might have to do this, as the outer layer is very "technical", and obviously filled with down!! I think they have a website with further details if you wanted to google it, I'm off to have a look.

Yeah, it's down jackets putting away time!!!
 
Did mine on a 30 wash with a small amount of detergent. gave it a good spin and then pegged out on the line to dry. Every so oftenI just went out and thumped it a bit.

It was fine and it never occured to me to tumble it to be honest.

Oh and word of warning if you are going to do the tennis ball thing.....make sure they are colour fast. I wrecked a duck down bed cover by putting yellow tennis balls in the tumbler with it.
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I found you needed to remove straight from the washing machine not leave for a day. I found out the hard way! Then straight into tumble drier with tennis balls and lots of shaking.
Also needs to be washed on a delicate cycle. Is a bit nervewracking especially on an expensive jacket. Good luck.
 
Ta

might head for the laundrette some time later this week with nerves a-shaking... (and a handful of tennis balls - will they throw me out, do you think?)

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E
 
I used to wash mine on a normal wash then put it in the airing cupboard to dry. I had to spend time pulling the feathers apart and beating it but it did come up like new.
I now put it in the dryer with tennis balls which is much quicker but it is possible to do it without.
 
I've got a few Toggi down jackets and wash them with down wash, you can buy it from camping shops. Then I either tumble dry them with tennis balls, or after hanging them on the line (in summer time I don't use the tumble drier) shake them lots and lots of times. That has worked for years. An old fashioned carpet beater would work too, if I had one.
 
I have three Rambo Downy jackets and wash all on a 30 or 40 deg wash, whatever I feel on the day. I dry them in the tumble-drier on hot (and it is hot!) and don't bother with tennis balls. Daughter's has embroidery on the back, too. Never had a problem.

The Dublin ones, however, took months before they stopped smelling like roast duck and feathers leak out of the pockets like nobody's business.....
 
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