How Often Do You Wash Your Jackets?

Pretty much never. Just hanging them up somewhere out of the way and letting them laze in the breeze for a few days will take any stink out (to my insensitive nose). Fabric durability hasn't been a problem, either.

It’s really easy! Patagonia has good instructions on how to wash down (and other products/fabrics):

www.patagonia.com/product-care.html

www.patagonia.com/stories/from-the-trenches-caring-for-your-down-clothing/story-18839.html

I use a top loader on its gentle cycle with Down Wash by Nik Wax. (You’ll probably want to go to a laundromat and use a front loader if you don’t trust your top loader)

www.rei.com/product/890310/nikwax-down-wash-direct-10-fl-oz?sku=8903100001&store=&CAWELAID=120217890000815203&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=101545962918&CATCI=pla-462045859665&cm_mmc=PLA_Google%7C21700000001700551_8903100001%7C92700053307853771%7CTOF%7C71700000062011430&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5JCw0ov6gwMVszWtBh1nRQhIEAQYASABEgLuA_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Put it in the dryer on low heat with two tennis balls (clean); it really comes out nice after drying.

I also use Nik Wax for waterproofing rain gear and some of my other synthetic jackets (Micro Puff and Nano Puff).

www.nikwax.com/en-us/waterproofing/

Happy Trails,

DR

Apart from spot cleaning, I wash down or synthetic puffy items as infrequently as possible, guided mainly by loss of loft or loss of DWR.

I steam wool clothing once in a while, which greatly increases how long it can go between washing or dry cleaning. I've gotten pretty good at removing stains from wool clothes myself, although it's time consuming.

More reading:

There is a common misconception that washing your shell ruins the DWR when, more often than not, the real culprit is not washing it. Whenever someone calls about their jacket wetting out, my first question is always “When was the last time you washed it?” The answer almost always: “Never.”


eu.patagonia.com/cy/en/stories/the-care-feedin/story-20267.html

Old top loaders with an agitator in the middle (corkscrew thing sticking up) can damage baffles in down garments, quilts, sleeping bags. Modern top-loaders run on gentle are fine for down things.

I second the advice about using down wash - recommend running an extra rinse cycle, because down wash (nikwax is what i use too) can leave a mild but peculiar odor. Tennis balls or dryer balls help loosen up clumps of down in the dryer; use lower heat/longer dry times to avoid damaging the shell fabric.

Down and synthetic jackets, generally once per year in late spring. That sets me up for summer and fall in the mountains. I use nikwax products in a front load washing machine. Since I have just 2 jackets they get worn >100 days per year and if not for loft, then I wash for stink.

Sleeping bag may get washed every 3-4 years. Depends usage, measured by stink. I get more stink than loft loss. Sleeping bag is hand washed in the bathtub with nikwax downwash then a bazillion rinses. Tumble dry on the air setting for a few hours, let set out, then back in the dryer. Takes a few days to get completely dry.