During the chilly January weather, many of us will likely be reaching for our snug puffer jackets when we need to venture outdoors.
They’re light yet excellent at keeping us warm, even when the temperatures outside are below freezing. Brands like The North Face are hugely popular, but puffer jackets can also be found in other high street favourites.
However, since we depend on them heavily during cold weather, they can become stained with everything from mud and water splashes to makeup around the collar.
Contrary to common belief, you can actually clean them at home without damaging their soft and fluffy appearance, reports the Express.
Cleaning guru @jack. designs on TikTok, who has amassed over 1.4 million followers on TikTok thanks to his aesthetically pleasing ‘Sunday reset’ videos, says you can make your dirty puffer jacket look ‘good as new’ with a few simple steps.
He demonstrated using a North Face jacket, but any puffer jacket can be cleaned in the same manner – just ensure you check the laundry label before you start.
How to clean puffer jackets
Firstly, take your jacket and fasten all the zips – including the main one up the middle – before turning the jacket inside out.
Then, using a gentle detergent and a laundry sanitiser, put the puffer jacket on a low and delicate wash cycle.
To keep your jacket fluffy and evenly filled, toss it in the tumble dryer at a low heat setting and don’t forget to throw in some dryer balls. This is the secret to maintaining that puffy look and redistributing the filling evenly.
Jack said: “I’m going to check it every 15 minutes and give it a good shake.”
For those without a tumble dryer, Jack reassured in the comments section: “You could line dry it, just make sure you’re constantly giving it a really generous shake every 20-30mins. It will take A LOT longer to dry, but it can be done.”
After the tumble drying process, remove the jacket and give it one final shake to ensure it’s thoroughly dry before wearing it again.
Jack further noted in his post that this straightforward method would make your puffer jacket look ‘as good as new’, and commenters were in firm agreement.
One person said: “Worked at the north face for 6 years. This is exactly how we’d tell people to wash down jackets.”
Another shared: “Done this multiple times couldn’t agree more best way to wash them.”