Down clusters trap air to retain warmth. When the garment becomes dirty, sweat, dirt, water and other contaminates transfer into the down causing it to clump. Without the trapped air in the down clusters the garment loses its insulation value.
Down should be washed whenever it is dirty, losing loft or clumping in order to maintain its performance. Unnecessary washing should be avoided.
How to wash down
1. Prepare your washing machine
Run an empty rinse cycle in your washing machine to remove any residue.
2. Prepare your gear
Close the main and pit zippers. Open pocket zippers. Release tension on all elastic draw-cords. Loosen and secure the cuff Velcro®. Front load washing machines are recommended; putting your garment inside a mesh bag will help protect it.
3. Wash
Put your garment in the machine, add Arc’teryx Nu Down Detergent. Always check the care label on the product for exact guidelines. Wash on medium heat (40°C/104°F) at permanent press or gentle cycle settings. Double rinse to make sure that no soap or residue is left on the garment.
4. Prepare for drying
Turn your garment inside out.
5. Dry
Place your garment in the dryer on low heat (permanent press cycle) with two “dryer balls” or clean tennis balls to prevent the down from clumping and to help it regain its loft. It will be necessary to periodically turn your garment inside out throughout the cycle to help it dry properly.
6. Reapply DWR if needed
For down garments with GORE-TEX®, test your clean garment with a light spray to see if water beads off the surface. If water is not beading off your product, apply DWR treatment.
Down detergent
Down is a sensitive natural material. Non-down focused detergents can damage the natural proteins and oils that give down its loft. Always use a down specific detergent for cleaning down products. We recommend Arc’teryx Nu Down Detergent.
FAQ
If you don’t have access to a dryer, we recommend taking your down jacket to a ReBIRD™ Service Centre. Proper drying in a machine with dryer or tennis balls is essential to restore loft and prevent the down from clumping — air drying alone won’t achieve this and can impact performance.
Down garments take a long time to dry, be prepared for the process to take upwards of three hours. Down must be completely dried before storing to avoid clumping or mould.
Down Wash is specially formulated to clean down thoroughly while protecting its performance. It penetrates deep into the baffles to remove dirt, sweat, and oils, while preserving the natural oils that keep down soft and insulating.
It’s also free from fabric softeners, whiteners, fragrances, and colorants — ingredients that can damage down and reduce performance. Like a technical wash, it rinses clean without leaving residue, helping restore your jacket’s light, lofty feel after drying.
To check if your DWR needs reapplying, simply wash and dry your jacket, then sprinkle or spray it with water. If the water no longer beads on the surface, it’s time to reapply DWR.
Reapplication isn’t needed after every wash—typically, DWR lasts through about 10–20 washes before needing to be refreshed.