Down Wash Direct
The easy to use, safe, high performance technical cleaner for hydrophobic and regular down filled clothing and gear.
The only technical cleaner specifically designed for hydrophobic and regular down which cleans effectively, while restoring water repellency and maintaining fill power and insulation.
Why down items lose their insulating properties when they get dirty...
Down filled items are used to provide lightweight insulation to keep you warm. The structure of down allows air to be trapped between its filaments and warmed by body heat to provide insulation for the user.
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 all of 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.
Down filled items are most likely to get sweaty and wet inside when used in damp or wet conditions. Therefore it is important to stop down filled gear from getting wet by maintaining Durable Water Repellency (DWR). The outer fabric of your down filled item, as well as the down inside, must be maintained to ensure comfort. Nikwax Down Wash Direct will revitalise the insulation and restore DWR.
Down is ideal for very cold and dry conditions...
Down has exceptional insulating properties, trapping air between its filaments to keep you warm. No other product offers so much insulation for so little weight and bulk. It’s ideal for sleeping bags, jackets, gilets and down clothing in general.
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.
Nikwax Down Wash Direct revitalises insulation and restores the Durable Water Repellency (DWR) of both the outer fabric and down fill. This prevents water absorption and maintains breathability, keeping you warm, dry and comfortable.
Down items are ideal for people who are outside in very cold conditions...
Anyone who is outside in very cold weather will benefit from down items. Whether you’re a mountaineer, skier or snowboarder or you’re regularly outside in cold conditions, you will benefit from the lightweight insulation of down.
Use Nikwax Down Wash Direct when your down items soak up water...
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.
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.
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...
Conventional laundry detergents leave behind a water attractive (hydrophilic) residue on both the outer fabric and the down fill which masks Durable Water Repellency (DWR). This causes the fabric and down to absorb water and ‘wet out’ in damp or wet conditions, leading to loss of insulation.
Cleaning products that are not designed specifically for the treatment of down items may also compromise the loft properties of down. If you choose the wrong cleaner, you might cause the dirt from the outer fabric to be re-deposited onto the down, which would reduce its loft and insulation. Therefore, they need to be avoided when cleaning down items.
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...
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.
After washing it is important that down items are thoroughly rinsed and very thoroughly dried. Even if you treat your items by hand, spin drying is recommended using a slow spin to get the maximum amount of water out of your down. It’s best to spin dry multiple times, each time incrementally increasing the speed of the spin cycle. If items are spun too quickly while still holding a large amount of water it is possible that internal baffles may be broken.
Tumble drying is recommended to ensure that the down is dried thoroughly and as quickly as possible. Leaving down wet or damp can ruin it completely. Ensure that there is sufficient room in the tumble drier to house the item once dry, as items will return to their original size during the drying process. Teasing apart clumps repeatedly during the drying process will help restore loft to the down.
How Nikwax Down Wash Direct maintains your down items...
Nikwax Down Wash Direct has been specifically designed and optimised for down filled gear. It is a highly effective cleaner which removes body oils and dirt from both the fabric and the down fill. It also restores the Durable Water Repellency (DWR) of both the outer fabric and the down. This protects against rain and condensation, preventing the item from wetting out and maintaining the natural insulating properties of down. Additionally it revives breathability, allowing moisture vapour to pass through the item, optimising performance in cold and damp conditions.
Nikwax Down Wash Direct prolongs the effective life of your down gear. It is the safe way to thoroughly clean your down clothing and equipment. Application in a washing machine is quick, easy, and ensures that the whole item is thoroughly cleaned.
Like all Nikwax products, Nikwax Down Wash Direct is safe to use...
Nikwax takes great care to minimise the effect of Nikwax products on the environment and on you, the consumer. Nikwax avoids materials in its cleaners like palm oil, which may be sourced from unsustainable plantations.
Nikwax Down Wash Direct is environmentally friendly; it is non-hazardous, WaterBased and biodegradable.
People who use Nikwax Down Wash Direct say that it does the job...
Nikwax Down Wash Direct is the product of choice of professional Outdoor trainers.
To find out more about people who are using Nikwax Down Wash™, and other Nikwax products, take a look at our testimonials page.
Use Nikwax Down Wash Direct in a washing machine...
Sleeping bags and very large jackets are best hand washed in a bath or equivalent and then spin dried in a washing machine.
Use neat 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.
Machine Wash (for down clothing only):
- Remove all detergent build-up from the detergent dispenser.
- Place maximum 2 items in washing machine.
- Add 100 ml.
- Wash according to care label, preferably on low setting and slow spin.
- After the washing cycle has finished run multiple spin cycles, each time incrementally increasing the spin speed, to remove excess water.
(Hand wash sleeping bags or wash in a professional machine).
Nikwax Down Wash Direct can also be applied by hand...
Sleeping bags and very large jackets are best hand washed in a bath or equivalent and then spin dried in a washing machine.
Use neat 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.
Use gloves.
Hand Wash (use gloves):
- Add 100 ml to 12-15 L of hand-hot water.
- Immerse item and agitate to mix, ensuring complete wetting.
- Leave to soak for 5-10 minutes, then agitate thoroughly.
- Rinse thoroughly until water runs clear.
- To remove excess water transfer item(s) to a washing machine and run multiple spin cycles, each time incrementally increasing the spin speed.
Make sure to thoroughly dry your down filled gear...
If you intend to re-waterproof the washed item there is no need to dry it first.
To get the maximum amount of water out of your down it’s best to spin dry multiple times, each time incrementally increasing the speed of the spin cycle. Wet down is heavy, so if items are spun too quickly while still holding a large amount of water it is possible that internal baffles may be broken.
Tumble drying is recommended (if care label allows) to ensure that the down is dried thoroughly and as quickly as possible. Leaving down wet or damp can ruin it completely. Tumble dry according to manufacturer’s instructions on a low setting until clumps have disappeared. Ensure that there is sufficient room in the tumble drier to house the item once dry, as items will return to their original size during the drying process.
Teasing apart clumps repeatedly during drying process will help restore loft to the down.
After tumble drying it is recommended to air item(s) for at least a day in a warm and dry space, prior to packing away.
