WASH A DOWN JACKET

Occasionally washing your winter jacket ensures its insulating fill stays fluffier for longer. Many brands suggest cleaning their down-filled garments ‘once a season’ – in other words, after winter. But if you’re not wearing yours regularly, by all means leave it longer to machine wash your jacket at home. Then again, you might prefer to entrust the job to a professional (see page 64).

The first steps for washing a down jacket are the same as for cleaning a waterproof. Again, always consult the care label and use a specially formulated cleaning product, such as Nikwax Down Wash Direct (£6.75). Wash-in proofers boost the water repellency of hydrophobic down.

Wash your jacket on a cool, slow setting, followed by faster spin cycles to remove excess water. Tumble drying it with dryer balls on low heat cycles of 20-30 mins helps to restore its heat-trapping loft. Drying can take several hours. When it feels fluffy again, hang it up to air dry for a few days.