Wash down-filled gear with a specialized, mild liquid cleaner rather than standard laundry detergents. Regular soaps strip delicate plumes of their natural oils and leave residues that ruin loft. Top-rated, specialized options include:
Mild soap: There are dedicated products for outerwear and down—Nikwax Tech Wash and Grangers Down Care Kit are two popular options. However, we've also had good results with many types of mild soap, including regular Woolite.
The best detergents for down jackets and sleeping bags are specially formulated, gentle, residue-free cleaners. Standard detergents damage down plumes by stripping their natural oils and causing them to clump. The top, most highly recommended options vary by formulation:
We recommend a cleanser that is specially formulated to clean down, such as Le Blanc Downwash. Please do not use Woolite® as it will strip the natural oils from the down clusters, or detergents with bleach. When the wash cycle is complete, wash the comforter again (gentle cycle) with no soap.
For spot cleaning, you can use a blend of warm water with a small amount of dish soap added to it. We recommend Dawn Dish Soap, it seems to work best for removing oil.
Many Amish households use standard, commercially available detergents like Tide or Gain, as they often shop at the same local supermarkets and bulk stores as non-Amish communities. However, many others prefer to live sustainably and avoid harsh chemicals by using simple, natural, and highly effective DIY detergents.
(Always check care label for drying instructions before you start, to make sure that your fabrics can be machine dried, and to check at what temperature.) Follow these tips and you'll soon know exactly how to wash bedding, down jackets and much more. Just be sure to use a quality detergent like Tide.
Comforters are also inviting to bed bug populations. To control bed bugs on a comforter, put it in your dryer on high heat. This helps by killing eggs, nymphs and adults.
The down jackets we recommend call for down-specific detergents. If the manufacturer doesn't specify using a down-specific wash, Woolite would be gentler on clothing than other detergents. For a washing machine, it's generally best to use a front-loading washer because it will be easier on your coat.
When washing down items (jackets or bedding), avoid harsh traditional detergents or dish soaps, as they strip the natural oils that keep down fluffy. The best alternatives are mild, pure soaps or specialized technical washes. Readily available substitutes include Woolite, Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap, or baby shampoo.
A mild detergent is a surfactant-based cleaner free of harsh chemicals, fragrances, dyes, and strong builders. Designed to protect delicate fabrics, sensitive skin, and specialized finishes, these gentle cleaners clean effectively while preventing irritation and material degradation.
The best detergents for down jackets and sleeping bags are specially formulated, gentle, residue-free cleaners. Standard detergents damage down plumes by stripping their natural oils and causing them to clump. The top, most highly recommended options vary by formulation:
Nikwax Down Wash Direct is specially formulated to clean down garments without compromising the loft. Down Wash Direct will also maintain the water resistance of treated down and provide some exterior water repellency.
Steps to Wash Your Down Comforter
Add tennis balls or dryer balls: When you dry your comforter, throw in a couple of tennis balls or wool dryer balls. These help break up any clumps of down during the drying process and restore the comforter's loft. Dry on low heat: Drying a down comforter takes time.
Can dust mites live inside down bedding? No. Dust mites do not live inside down clusters. They thrive in warm, humid environments with skin flakes—not inside the natural fibres of down.
Technically, bed bugs can live through a cycle in the washing machine. The truth is that while washing your clothes or linens will kill most of the bed bugs, the heat of drying your items will ultimately exterminate any remaining bugs. As we mentioned above, bed bugs do not tolerate heat.
Bed bugs ex- posed to 113°F will die if they receive constant exposure to that temperature for 90 minutes or more. However, they will die within 20 minutes if exposed to 118°F. Interestingly, bed bug eggs must be exposed to 118°F for 90 minutes to reach 100% mortality.
The best detergents for down jackets are specialized, technical cleaners that preserve the down’s natural oils and loft, such as Nikwax Down Wash Direct (approx. $14) or Gear Aid Revivex Down Cleaner (approx. $15). Never use standard laundry detergents, as they strip the down of essential oils, causing it to clump and ruining its insulating properties.
Exposure to moisture can cause down feathers to lose loft and clump together. This results in a loss of insulating ability, leaving you susceptible to chill. An outer shell made of waterproof fabric prevents snow or rain from seeping into the downfilling.
Read the care instructions before washing the comforter, as several manufacturers require their products to be dry cleaned. Many quality down comforters are made with highly stain-resistant materials, and using a dry cleaning service prolongs the lifespan of these items.
Amish men generally do not use condoms. Because the Amish view having children as a blessing from God, the use of artificial contraception is typically forbidden by their religious doctrine.
Mexican households and Hispanic communities typically use highly concentrated, powerful powder and liquid detergents, often favoring iconic brands produced by the Mexican company Fábrica de Jabón La Corona. Many consumers prefer these products for their affordability, heavy-duty stain removal, and signature, long-lasting fragrances.
Many traditional Amish communities consider manufactured toilet paper an unnecessary luxury and use resource-saving alternatives instead. In outhouses, families often repurpose old newspapers, magazine pages, or catalogs (like the Sears and Roebuck catalog). To make the paper soft enough to use, they crumple it vigorously multiple times.