How to wash and dry a down scarf at home

A down shawl is a delicate product. She does not tolerate rude treatment. This is important to remember not only when wearing, but also during washing. Otherwise, you risk damaging the thin down threads. Let's take a closer look at how to properly wash a shawl at home so that you can enjoy it for as long as possible.

What is the best detergent to wash?

It is best to wash down scarves with a specially designed liquid detergent:

• hair shampoo;
• baby soap dissolved in water;
• professional gel for cleaning down products;
• fabric conditioner;
• natural liquid soap (no dyes or pungent odor).

Basic washing rules

The first thing every lover of down products needs to know is that they should not be washed too often. Down does not like aggressive influences and easily absorbs third-party odors.It is advisable not to wear this delicate product in crowded places where people smoke.

Before you start cleaning, you need to comb the shawl. This action will help prevent the fluff from matting. To comb, use a comb or wooden comb. There is no need to press on the scarf. This way you will catch the loops and tear it.

Another important rule is that you should not wash your shawl in a washing machine. It's better to do it manually. If you still decide to machine wash, set delicate mode and do not put other things in the drum.

Be sure to monitor the water temperature. It should not exceed 30 degrees. Use a special thermometer to measure it. And most importantly, the water in which the scarf is washed and the water in which it is rinsed should be the same temperature.

Preparing for washing

Before cleaning your down shawl, you must do the following:

1. Shake and comb the scarf.
2. Take a large and deep container. If there is none, you can wash the product in the bathroom.
3. There is no need to start washing right away. To begin, soak the shawl for 7-10 minutes, but no longer.

But not every product needs to be washed. Some types of pollution can be dealt with using improvised means. For example:

1. To remove dirt from a spider shawl, take a dry brush and scrub the item.
2. To remove blood stains, take an aspirin tablet and dissolve it in water. Use the resulting solution to wipe off the dirt.
3. To bleach a yellowed scarf, mix hydrogen peroxide with water.Soak the shawl in the resulting solution and then rinse.

If the product can be helped without washing, take advantage of this opportunity.

Rules for washing a scarf by hand

The most suitable option for cleaning a goat down shawl is to take the product to the dry cleaner. But if this option doesn't suit you, wash the scarf You can do it at home. The main thing is to know all the nuances of this process.

1. Take a deep container and pour water into it. The temperature should not exceed 35-40 degrees. If you put the product in cold water, it simply will not wash off. Hot, in turn, will harm the fluff. In water at the right temperature, the product will not form a lump. This will make it easier for you to remove stains and dust.
2. Do not allow the water temperature to change during all stages of washing. This directly affects the strength of wool fibers.
3. Before putting the goat hair shawl into a container of water, dissolve it in it. detergent.
4. Let the scarf sit in soapy water for a while, but no more than 10 minutes.
5. Wash the product carefully. There is no need to twist it or rub the ends together. It is only allowed to squeeze and unclench the scarf. If you neglect this recommendation, your scarf may lose its shape.
6. Rinse the shawl several times until the water runs completely clear. This indicates that there are no soap residues left on the product. And do it very quickly so that the product does not remain in the water for a long time.
7. At the last rinse, add a special product to the water that softens the hair. Something like air conditioner. One cap will be enough. You can replace it with hair rinse. Folk remedies include freshly squeezed and strained lemon juice or white vinegar (a couple of drops).Thanks to these additives, the threads fluff up and the shawl does not lose its softness.

What not to do when washing

What should never be allowed if you decide to wash your down scarf by hand:

• You cannot pull the shawl by the edges in different directions, this will deform the product;
• first place a handkerchief in the water and pour detergent on top;
• rinse the shawl under running water;
• direct a strong stream of water from a tap or shower onto the product;
• roughly rub the folds of the scarf;
• use improvised means for washing, for example, a sponge or a rough brush, which can tear the loops or pull them out.

The nuances of cleaning a scarf in a washing machine

As previously mentioned, it is better not to use a washing machine to wash your shawl. But if, due to circumstances, you decide to do this, remember the possible risks. The product may be seriously injured and stretched. Although the shawl will most likely survive one machine wash, it is unlikely to survive 2 or more.

First of all, you need to choose the right washing mode - delicate or for woolen items. Water heating should be minimal. Be sure to turn off automatic spin. And under no circumstances should you dry the product in the drum of the machine.

How to dry a product correctly

But it is important not only to wash the down scarf correctly, but also to wring it out and dry it. After numerous rinses, the shawl must be gathered into a ball.The main thing is not to make it too dense. After this, lightly press the product with your palms. Most of the water should flow out of it. Be sure to make sure it is not soapy. Otherwise, the shawl will have to be rinsed again.

To properly dry a down scarf, you must use a special frame. You can purchase it at a hardware store or make it yourself. The cost of the frame does not exceed 300 rubles.

How to dry a scarf correctly:

1. Pull the fishing line along the edges of the scarf. If there is none, take a thick thread, for example, for knitting.
2. Secure the shawl to the frame. Push pins or small nails are suitable for this.
3. Place a piece of fabric on top, the size of a scarf or slightly larger. It is needed to absorb excess moisture. After about an hour, remove the cloth. Then the product should dry on its own.
4. After another hour, remove the scarf from the frame and place it on a laid out terry towel. There is no need to stretch the product. Just straighten it carefully.

For those who do not have a frame, another drying method is suitable:

1. Place the shawl on a towel and roll both items into a roll.
2. When the towel gets wet, unroll the roll and take another, dry one.
3. Repeat the twisting procedure. Do this several times.
4. After most of the moisture has left the product, lay it out on a dry cloth.

However, you should be aware that this drying method can lead to deformation of the shawl. To minimize risks at the last stage, the product must be secured with small, heavy objects. It is important not to pull on the scarf.

How to make a shawl fluffy after washing

There is one tricky way to fluff up a mohair shawl after washing. What should be done:

1. Wait until the excess water has completely drained from the scarf.
2. Carefully roll up the product and place it in a simple plastic bag.
3. Place the bag in the freezer.
4. Every hour, remove the bag from the freezer and shake it.
5. Repeat this action for six hours straight.
6. After this, remove the bag from the freezer and carefully remove the product.
7. Lay the shawl out on a clean, dry towel where it will receive direct sunlight.

How to bleach a light down shawl

If your favorite down scarf has turned yellow, there is no need to throw it away. Try bleaching the product. But under no circumstances should you use substances containing chlorine for this purpose. This will completely ruin the shawl and you will definitely have to throw it away.

To whiten a down shawl you can use:

• hydrogen peroxide;
• hydroperite tablets.

Before preparing the solution, the scarf must be weighed. The amount of active substance you need will depend on its weight. For more accurate calculations, use a kitchen scale. For every hundred grams of product there are 5 tablets of hydroperite or 20 grams of hydrogen peroxide.

After this, add 1 liter of clean water to the bleaching solution, the temperature of which should not exceed 35 degrees Celsius. Additionally, pour in 1 tablespoon of ammonia. Place the down shawl in the prepared solution for 5 hours.

After this time, remove the scarf from the bleach solution and rinse several times in clean water. Moreover, the latter needs to be constantly changed. And remember about the temperature regime.

Next, the scarf needs to be dried.To do this, you can use a net or wrap the shawl in a terry towel. It is also possible to pack the scarf in a bag for further placement in the freezer.

A few more recommendations

In the end, I would like to give a few more tips to those who plan to hand wash their favorite shawl:

1. After washing, a goat down scarf may shrink significantly in size. To avoid shrinkage, wash and rinse the product in water at the same temperature.
2. Under no circumstances should you wash your Orenburg down scarf in a washing machine.
3. In the summer, when you are not wearing a shawl, roll it tightly and place it in a special case. To prevent moths from eating the product, put a little mint or wormwood in the bag.
4. To get rid of wrinkles, you need to moisten the shawl with water from a spray bottle and hang it in the bathroom overnight.