How to wash a jacket in a washing machine

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 Indonesia will show you helpful tips on how to wash your favourite jacket in a washing machine without damaging it. You will find washing tips for leather, suede, parachute and other kinds of jackets as well!

1. Read the care labels in your jacket carefully

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.

Care labels in plain words

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.

Care labels with symbols

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:

• A tub with a hand in it: This means “hand wash only”, so don’t put the garment into the washing machine. You may even want to use a laundry detergent that’s specifically designed for hand-washing.
• A tub with an X over it: This means “dry clean only”, so the jacket should not get wet. This may apply to many garments made from animal products like leather, suede or fur, but also some synthetic materials.

>>> Read more: Six easy ways to give your clothes a longer life

2. Pre-treat stains on your jacket

This is one of the must-know tips on how to safely wash a jacket in a washing machine. Before putting your jacket in the washing machine, make sure to 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.

>>> Related post: How to choose the right detergents for front load washing machines

3. Zip or button up your jacket

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.

4. Wash every jacket separately

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.

5. Choose a cold, gentle cycle

All jackets should be treated as delicate garments when it comes to how to safely wash 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. Read our post about how to use a single tub washing machine to find helpful instructions to select the right programs.

Next, choose cold water to further protect the garment fibers and make sure your jacket isn’t damaged.

6. How often should you wash your jacket?

How often to wash a jacket depends on the material and the usage of your jacket. Here are some examples:

Winter coats and down jackets: Wash once or twice per season

If you’re living in a cold place, you’ll enjoy the use of a nice and cozy down jacket. And unless it gets particularly dirty or stained, there’s no need to wash these jackets too often. Once or twice per season should be enough.

Fleece jackets: Clean after wearing them six to seven times

Fleece jackets are great for chilly weather that’s still too warm for a proper winter coat. The fleece surface attracts a bit more dirt than a smooth down jacket, so clean it after wearing it around six to seven times.

Blazers/suit jackets: Clean after wearing them four to five times

These kinds of jackets don’t need to be cleaned after each usage either. Depending on their condition (for example, did you sweat a lot when wearing it?), it’s fine to wash them after wearing them around four to five times.

For all these jacket types, keep in mind that you can still wash them any time they get stained.

>>> Read more:

• How to save electricity when using a washing machine
• How to clean a single tub washing machine

7. How to wash leather, suede & different kinds of jackets: Extra tips

How to wash leather, suede or fur jackets

These materials are not recommended for washing machines. They’re usually dry-clean only. Faux fur, on the other hand, can be washed in the washing machine on a delicate cycle.

Washing tips for down and parachute jackets

Choose a delicate wash cycle and a short, low-temperature option on the dryer. Just 20 minutes in the dryer will keep the jacket fluffy. If you put a few tennis balls into the dryer with it, the effect will be even better.

It’s most recommended to use front load washing machines for down jackets as the agitator of a top loader might do harm to the fragile material in the long run.

>>> Related articles:

• 10 differences between front load and top load washing machines
• 6 Differences between Single tub and Twin tub washing machines

Washing tips for fleece jackets

Fleece jackets should always be washed inside out to protect the fleece surface. For other kinds of jackets, turning them inside out is not necessary. Don’t tumble dry fleece jackets since the material could be damaged.

Washing tips for wool jackets

Only wash wool jackets if the care label allows it and your washer features a wool or delicate cycle. Most modern washing machines now offer dedicated washing program for wool clothes.

Don’t put it into the dryer since it will shrink. Hang-dry it instead.

How to wash delicate clothes & fabrics like silk, lace and wool with Electrolux washing machines

Electrolux washing machines give your jackets the perfect care

In general, it’s best to err on the side of caution when it comes to how to properly wash and dry 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.

If you are looking for a new washer, find helpful tips for choosing a washing machine here or check out some of our best-selling washers below: