Cerium Vest Women's

Hi Jaime, we appreciate the time you took to provide your review. Clumping occurs when the down insulation is dirty and requires a cleaning. The optimum state of the Cerium Hoody is to be both dry and lofted. Air pockets caught between clusters of down feathers retain body warmth. This loft is what provides down insulation. Over time, dirt, sweat, and moisture can contaminate the down feathers through the outer jacket material and cause them to clump and lose their loft. A gentle wash and thorough drying will restore the jacket’s insulating performance. We recommend the following steps to clean your jacket. How to Wash: Step 1: Prepare for washing • Close the main pit zippers. • Open pocket zippers. • Release tension on all elastic drawcords. • Loosen and re-secure the velcro cuffs. Step 2: Wash and rinse • Choose a front load washing machine, ideally. • If using a top loader (agitator), protect your garment inside a mesh bag for added protection. (If you don't have a mesh bag, don't worry. We use Guppy bags at our Service Centres, or putting your garment in a pillowcase can also work in a pinch.) • Put your garment in the machine and add cleaning agent as indicated on bottle. • Wash on medium cycle heat (40C/104F) at permanent press or gentle cycle setting. • Use a second rinse cycle to remove any residual soap. How to Dry: Step 1: Prepare for drying • Turn garment inside out. Step 2: Choose normal low heat • Place in dryer alongside two clean tennis balls or "dryer balls" to help prevent clumping and redistribute down. • Dry completely and thoroughly, to avoid clumping or mold. • This may take upwards of 2 hours of drying time. Step 3: Re-apply DWR if needed • Lay garment on a flat surface. • Shake bottle well and spray a thin coating evenly on outer surface. • Don't saturate the surface. A thin coating is adequate. • Rub DWR into the outside of your jacket with a clean sponge or cloth to keep the treatment application even and prevent streaks. • Allow garments to dry for 12 - 24 hours. • Hang in a well-ventilated space. • Air drying is fine, but heat may improve the treatment's effectiveness. (Put dried garments in the dryer for 10 - 20 minutes.) We suggest that you utilize some dryer balls to redistribute the clumps or attempt to gently pull the clumps apart periodically during the drying process to remedy the clumping issue.