I’m a cleaning expert – you should be washing your winter jacket, they get dirty quick
A CLEANING expert has urged everyone to wash their winter jackets this festive season, explaining they get dirty very quickly.
Most of us will only think of digging out our big winter coats when the temperatures drop and the nights get dark.
The rest of the time they will just sit forgotten about at the back of the wardrobe.
So throwing it in the washing machine might slip your mind if you hardly have it on for most of the year.
But one expert has said that everyone should be cleaning their big, cosy jackets to keep them fresh in winter months.
Recent figures revealed that only one in five people in the UK wash their coats just once a year.
And a further 17 per cent have admitted to never washing them at all.
British clothing retailer Joules have partnered with cleaning and laundry expert Sarah Dempsey at MyJobQuote.co.uk to share their advice on how to jeep them good.
But Sarah explained that how often you should wash your coats depends on a number of factors.
She said: “It will depend on several factors including the material, colour, fibre content, how frequently you wear it and how it’s been stored since it was last worn.
“As we tend to wear layers in the winter and our coats are the outermost layer, they do not get as soiled by body odour and perspiration as our clothes.
“However, they will be affected by the weather, getting wet in the rain, and picking up pollutants and dirt through wear over the season.”
Sarah and Joules have broken down the different cleaning methods and frequencies required for specific coat types to ensure you are treating them with the proper love and care they need to last.
Wool coats
The good thing with wool coats is that they don’t need to be washed too often – only once a season if you want to keep them in good condition.
The experts say: “Wool is described as a self-cleaning material as it contains keratin, which kills odour-causing bacteria, so these coats typically only need a single clean per season.
“This can be done as soon as you take your coat out of storage or when the winter season is over.
“If your wool coat gets wet, make sure to air dry it thoroughly before putting it away or it will end up smelling musty.
“If your wool or cashmere coat is mixed with silk, it may need more frequent cleaning to maintain its softness.”
Leather Coats
Although you want to keep your leather jackets clean, if you wash them too often you can actually damage them.
Sarah and Joules advise: “Leather coats can be cleaned once or twice a season depending on how frequently you wear them.
“It’s advisable to wipe down a leather coat in between professional cleaning as dirt and other pollutants can damage the leather if not removed regularly.
“Depending on whether it is made from full-grain, top-grain, bonded, real leather or suede the cleaning process will be different for leather coats.
“For the best grade of leather, wiping your coat down with a moist cloth dipped in a mild detergent solution or leather cleaner is best.”
Quilted jackets and parkas
These jackets can be a lot trickier to wash because they are filled with feathers or something synthetic.
But they should still be cleaned at least twice a year to keep them in good condition.
Experts explain: “Quilted jackets or parkas will be either filled with feathers or with a synthetic filling.
“The cleaning method will differ depending on this, but both should be washed twice a season if worn every day.
“If your coat has a synthetic filling it may be possible to wash it at home, although you should always check the label.
“Down-filled jackets should always be professionally cleaned, but they can be spot-cleaned between professional cleanings.”
Four simple but effective maintenance tips
Regularly cleaning your coat might not be top of your to-do list, but to ensure your coat has a long life regular maintenance is important.
So these tricks are key to keeping them smelling and looking fresh between cleans.
- Air – “Air your coat after wearing, particularly wool coats that have gotten damp.”
- Hang – “Hanging any coat up in a cold environment will help kill bacteria and stop any musty odours from taking hold.”
- Steam – “For some coats, a steamer will help refresh the material and help with any spot cleaning.”
- Spray – “Use a fabric freshening spray as a quick fix if you’re in a hurry.”