Nikwax Down Wash Specialist Technical Cleaner - 1lt

Product Information

If your down items are relatively new, or have been recently treated with Nikwax Down Proof>, then cleaning with Nikwax Down Wash Direct® will not only remove contaminants, such as dirt and residues left behind by household detergents, but also revitalize insulation and restore DWR. Nikwax Down Wash Direct has been specifically designed and optimised for down items. Use Nikwax Down Wash Direct to thoroughly clean your down items safely, revitalising insulation, breathability and to restore DWR. How you treat your down is as important as the products you use...

Use undiluted Nikwax Down Wash Direct to treat stubborn stains before washing. Remove all non-washable parts. Shake well before use. Follow care label instructions. Do not use conventional detergents.However, once the gear has been thoroughly used, you will need to add DWR, using Nikwax Down Proof>, after cleaning first with Nikwax Down Wash Direct. This will add DWR to the outer fabric of the gear and also the down fill. Down needs Nikwax Down Wash Direct; a specialist cleaner...

Next, make sure you have detergent or wash made for down products. Nikwax Down Wash Direct is the gold standard in the outdoors, but you can find great alternatives at Gear Aid and Allied Feather and Down. There’s only so many adventures your sleeping bag can handle before it needs to be refreshed. When it’s time to give it a clean, make sure you use Down Wash from Nikwax. Water, whether it is rain or condensation from sweat, compromises the insulating properties of down. If down gets wet it loses all of its insulating capacity and also causes weight gain. This reduces the comfort of the user, causing them to feel cold and wet, but more importantly the reduction in insulation is dangerous and in severe cases can lead to hypothermia. When wet, down loses all of its insulating properties, as water conducts heat away from the body up to 25 times faster than air. Use undiluted Down Wash Direct to treat stubborn stains before washing. Remove all non-washable parts. Shake well before use. Follow item care label instructions. Do not use conventional detergents.If care label allows, tumble dry according to manufacturer's instructions on a low setting until 'clumps' have disappeared. Teasing apart clumps repeatedly during drying process will help restore loft to the down.

Wet down is heavy, so it is important to use the right wash cycle to ensure no damage occurs to your machine or your down items. A gentle cycle with a slow spin is recommended.Your down items could be soaking up water because the Durable Water Repellency (DWR) has been compromised by dirt, or because it has been cleaned with a conventional laundry detergent. Dirt attracts water and household detergents leave water attracting (hydrophilic) residues, leading to fabric and down 'wetting out' in wet or damp conditions. Use neat Nikwax Down Wash Direct to treat stubborn stains before washing. Remove all non-washable parts. Shake well before use. Follow care label instructions. Do not use conventional detergents. This cleaner is environmentally-friendly and free of VOC and Fluorocarbon, and it is also Bluesign Certified.

Make sure the detergent compartment of your washing machine is clean of any detergent or softener (for the reasons described above). You may wish to run your washing machine on a hot wash with nothing in it to clear any residues from detergent or softeners. If your down items are relatively new, or have been recently treated with Nikwax Down Proof, then cleaning with Nikwax Down Wash Direct® will not only remove contaminants, such as dirt and residues left behind by household detergents, but also revitalise insulation and restore DWR. If care label allows, tumble dry according to manufacturer's instructions on a low setting until 'clumps' have disappeared. Teasing apart clumps repeatedly during drying process will help restore loft to the down. Make sure to thoroughly dry your down filled gear... Rinse & Spin: So long as there isn’t a center-mount agitator, a special washing machine isn’t required for down gear. If the washer is large enough to handle the load, it’s good to go. The hard and fast rule is rinse, spin, then spin again. Get as much water out before drying as possible.

Through use, dirt and body oils build up on down items. This affects both the fabric and the down fill. Dirt attracts water; if the fabric absorbs water, rain and condensation can easily transfer into the down. If down gets wet it clumps together. This causes it to lose loft and insulation as it can’t trap air effectively. When wet, down loses its insulating properties, as water conducts heat away from the body up to 25 times faster than air. It will also gain weight and its breathability will be significantly reduced; leaving you feeling cold, wet and uncomfortable. They are, of course, suitable to be used with down garments as well, as they help break up the down clumps and fluff up the feathers. Smart Sheep Reusable Wool Dryer Balls Hand wash sleeping bags or wash in a professional machine). Nikwax Down Wash Direct can also be applied by hand...