Because a winter coat can be costly, it’s important to protect your investment by properly caring for it—which, in some situations, means taking it to a dry cleaner rather than dumping it in the washing machine. However, if you know the appropriate techniques, you can keep them in good form at home. Read the care label to see what material the coat is made of, and then wash it according to the recommendations.
How to Clean Wool Coats
Wool is a natural fiber spun from the hair of sheep or goats. Almost all wool coats are dry-clean-recommended. That’s because the manufacturer must use interfacings and padding to achieve the structured shape of tailored wool coats, and these inner fabrics aren’t washable. They’ll likely dissolve or become misshapen in water. Additionally, wool coats may also be lined with fabrics that aren’t washable.
For the best results, take your wool coat to a professional dry cleaner. However, if your coat just needs to be freshened or spot-cleaned, you can also use a home dry-cleaning kit.
That said, wool coats can be washed at home if done properly. The three essential elements needed to successfully wash a wool coat are a gentle wool wash or detergent, low water temperatures, and gentle agitation.
Brush and Pretreat Stains
Brush away loose soil and pretreat any stains as you would before handwashing it. Be sure to empty pockets and button or zip the coat. Turn the coat inside out.
Set the Correct Cycle and Water Temperature
Set the washer to the wool or gentle cycle and the water temperature to lukewarm or cold. If possible, select the slowest final spin cycle to reduce stretching.
Add the Wool Wash and Coat
Add the wool wash following product instruction to the washer. Place the coat in a large mesh washing bag to prevent snags. If you don’t have a mesh bag, use a white pillowcase and tie the top closed.
Air-Dry the Coat
When the cycle is complete, remove the coat and turn it right side out. Follow the steps to air-dry the coat flat on a mesh drying rack or towels.
How to Clean Down Coats and Vests
Down coats and vests are lightweight and incredibly warm. The secret to lasting success is keeping the down clean, dry, and fluffy. Even though you’ve probably heard disaster stories about wet down clumping, down garments can be successfully washed and dried at home. Always read the care label to be sure that the outer fabric, which can be a natural or synthetic fiber like olefin, is washable.
Treat Stains
Pretreat any visible stains following the guidelines for the type of stain.
Load the Washer
Load the down coat into a front-load washer or a high-efficiency top-load washer without a center agitator for gentle agitation.
Add Detergent
Add a detergent formulated specifically for down, and wash using cool or warm water.
Dry on Low Heat
Place the coat in a dryer on low heat. Add wool dryer balls to help fluff the down as it dries. During the drying cycle, stop the dryer and massage the coat with your hands to help break up any clumps of down.
Hang to Dry
Remove the coat while still slightly damp, and hang to finish air-drying completely.
How to Clean Fleece Coats and Garments
Fleece is a high-tech, lightweight fabric that provides incredible warmth. Some types can even wick away perspiration to keep you dry during strenuous activities—which is why it’s good to clean fleece outerwear regularly.
Pretreat Stains
Pretreat any visible stains following the guidelines for the type of stain.
Sort Laundry
Fleece can be a magnet for pet hair and lint, so be sure to avoid washing it with lint-producing clothes. Follow all tips for reducing and removing lint from the laundry. Check the jacket pockets for tissues and paper that can stick to the fleece. Close all zippers, buttons, and fasteners and turn the jacket inside out to prevent snags.
Select Detergent and Washer Cycle
Use a regular or heavy-duty laundry detergent. Wash in cold or warm water on the permanent press cycle, which has a cold rinse and does not spin excessively fast as that can set wrinkles.
Air-Dry
Air-drying is best for fleece, but you can tumble-dry on low heat to get started. Remove the garment while it’s still slightly damp. Never dry on high heat.
How to Clean Faux Fur Coats and Trim
The key to taking care of faux fur coats is to read the care label. The fur is almost always a washable synthetic fiber, but the inner linings and structural components of the coat may not be washable. The best choice for washing any type of faux fur item is hand-washing.
Never put faux fur in a clothes dryer, as the high heat can melt the fibers and cause them to fuse and become matted. Once this happens, there is little to be done that can reverse the damage.
Mix the Water and Gentle Detergent
For large coats and blankets, the cleaning can be done in a large plastic storage container or bathtub. Fill the sink or basin with cool water and 1–2 teaspoons gentle detergent, such as Woolite or Studio by Tide.
Submerge the Faux Fur
Place the faux fur in the detergent solution, making sure it’s fully submerged. Swish the fur through the water for no more than 10–15 minutes, avoiding excessive agitation and wringing.
Drain and Rinse
Lift the fur out of the water, and gently squeeze out as much soapy water as possible. Drain the basin, and refill with clean water. Rinse until no suds remain.
Remove Excess Water
Gently squeeze out as much excess water as possible. You can roll the fur in a thick bath towel to help remove the water.
Allow to Drip-Dry
Use an indoor drying rack to dry the faux fur flat, or place it on a sturdy, padded hanger, and hang from a shower rod to dry. If you dry it on a rack, place it in the bathtub or shower to catch the drips and avoid a wet floor. Keep out of direct sunlight and heat. It may take 24–48 hours to dry. Do not wear or use until the faux fur is completely dry.
Brush Lightly
After the fur is dry, use a soft-bristled brush to gently brush any matted fur and lift the fibers. A wide-toothed comb can be used to loosen up stubborn fur.
How to Clean Natural Fur Coats
Never attempt to clean a real fur coat at home. Natural fur coats come from the pelts of animals, and the fur is a protein fiber like human hair. Specialized care must be taken when cleaning a fur coat to keep the hide that holds the hair supple. If it becomes too dry or isn’t maintained properly, the fur will shed. A professional furrier or dry cleaner should be used to clean a natural fur coat.
How to Clean Waterproof Coats
The key to keeping a waterproof coat in good shape is to clean it correctly to preserve the waterproof finish. Always wash this type of coat in cool water with a gentle detergent that won’t harm the finish. Never place one of these coats in a dryer, and keep it away from high heat.
Pretreat Stains
Pretreat any visible stains following the most gentle treatment for the type of stain.
Select Detergent and Washer Cycle
Use a gentle laundry detergent or one formulated for waterproof clothing. Wash in cold water on the permanent press cycle. Reduce the spin cycle speed, if possible, to reduce wrinkling.
Allow Coat to Air-Dry
Do not place a waterproof coat in a dryer. Instead, hang to air-dry. Wrinkles should fall out during the drying process.
How to Clean Vinyl Coats
Vinyl and faux leather coats are manmade fabrics that are quite easy to care for. Always read the care label first, but most vinyl coats can be machine-washed.
Remove Stains
Stains can usually be removed by just wiping down the surface with a damp cloth.
Select Detergent and Washer Cycle
Use regular laundry detergent, and wash in cold water on the permanent press cycle. Reduce the spin cycle speed, if possible, to reduce wrinkling.
Air-Dry the Coat
Do not place a vinyl coat in a dryer, as high heat can melt the fabric. Hang to air-dry. Wrinkles should smooth out during the drying process.
How to Clean Leather Coats and Jackets
Keeping a leather coat soft and supple takes a bit of care, but it can last for many, many years if properly maintained. Yes, leather can be cleaned at home. However, expensive items should be taken to a professional dry cleaner who specializes in cleaning leather.
Remove Stains
Many stains can be removed by simply wiping them away with a clean, damp cloth. However, removing stains like mildew or ink from leather requires a bit more effort.
Read the Care Label
If you’re a novice with laundry, always follow the label instructions if it says to dry-clean only. Hand-washing is appropriate for aniline leather finishes only; never wash suede or nubuck garments.
Test the Colorfastness of the Leather
Before you attempt to hand-wash leather, test the colorfastness by using a clean white cloth that’s been dampened with water on an interior spot of the leather. If color transfers to the cloth, the dye is not stable on the leather, and you should not proceed.
Prepare for Washing
Begin by emptying all pockets of the jacket, and turn it inside out. Fill a large sink or plastic storage container with lukewarm water. Add a small amount of a gentle liquid detergent recommended for hand-washing delicate items, such as Woolite, and swish to disperse through the water.
Add the Jacket to the Water
Completely submerge the leather jacket. Swish through the water to be sure the entire lining is wet. Gently squeeze the solution through the lining, and allow it to soak for 10 minutes or so. If there are specific stains, use a soft-bristled brush to help lift those away.
Rinse Thoroughly
When it’s time to rinse the jacket, lift it out of the soapy solution. Never wring a leather item. Simply squeeze out the excess moisture. Fill the sink with clean water, and rinse. You may need to change the water several times to remove all of the soap and soil.
Hang to Dry
Turn the coat right side out, and hang it over a bathtub to air-dry. Use a sturdy wooden or padded hanger to prevent marks on the shoulders. Never hang in direct sunlight or near a heat source. It may take 2–3 days for the coat to dry completely.
Condition the Leather
Using a good quality leather conditioner, condition the garment until it’s once again soft and supple.
How to Clean Suede Coats and Jackets
Natural suede is created from the soft underside of a split-grain animal hide. It has a nappy finish that’s easily stained. While some small oil stains and scuffs can be treated at home, suede must be cleaned by a professional dry cleaner who specializes in leather care. Some fabrics that appear to be natural suede are manmade fibers. Read the care label for fiber content and care instructions.
Remove Surface Dust and Debris
Brush the garment with a suede brush after every wear to remove dust and debris and smooth the nap.
Treat Stains
Oil stains and scuffs can be treated at home, but consult a suede stain-removal guide to treat more difficult stains. After each step, brush the stained area with a suede brush to restore and smooth the nap.
For oil stains, treat as soon as possible. Sprinkle the stain with baby powder or cornstarch to absorb the oil. You should see the powder begin to look oily after an hour or so; brush it away with a soft brush. It’s fine to leave the powder on the stain for several hours. Repeat the process until the powder no longer changes color or texture.
Remove Scuff Marks
Use a clean, soft cloth to gently rub the area and remove any dried-on surface stain. The cloth will also restore some of the texture to the nap. If the stain remains, gently rub the area with a pencil eraser or art gum eraser. As a last resort, use an emery nail file to gently rub the area.
Storing Winter Coats
Storing a winter coat the right way will help retain its shape. Gently fold and then loosely stack cloth winter coats into a plastic bin. Keep the bin in a cool, dry, dark place or under your bed. Puffer coats and vests with synthetic fill can be put into space-saving vacuum-sealed bags. Other winter coats can stay on a wood hanger and continue to hang in a cool, dry, dark place so they can breathe during the off-season.
Repairs
Fix rips and tears in winter coats, including linings, before cleaning or storing. If your coat has a large or jagged tear a few inches long, seek out a professional to try repairing the damage. Cloth coats and linings can be repaired with normal household thread. For tears in leather and vinyl winter coats, look for leather repair kits and vinyl seam sealant kits. When researching a kit, make sure the label says it can be used on coats and jackets.
Tips for Cleaning Winter Coats
- Before washing, cleaning, or taking any coat to the cleaners, fasten all buttons and zippers to keep any protrusions from becoming snagged in the process.
- Use durable wooden hangers for all coats to help retain their shape.
- Mend loose or ripped seams before cleaning to retain the coat’s shape and to keep the fill from coming out.
- Take this opportunity to also clean your winter accessories, such as wool or fur gloves, hats, and scarves.
