Will your down jacket explode if you don’t wash it correctly? Remember these tips to safely wash your down jacket →

Cold and windy weather

Down jackets have excellent thermal insulation performance

Become the first choice for everyone to resist severe cold

Most people will

Throw the down jacket to be washed directly into the washing machine

Convenient and fast

However

In recent years, the Internet has

#Washing down jackets improperly can cause explosions# News

But it makes people feel scared

This sounds a little weird.

But in fact

If you don't pay attention to the cleaning method

Down jackets do have certain safety risks

Why does a washing machine explode when washing down jackets?

Down jackets are mainly filled with down, which has a fluffy structure and contains a lot of air. These tiny gaps can store a lot of air, forming a natural insulation layer to bring us warmth. At the same time, the outer fabric of down jackets usually has a certain degree of waterproofness and windproofness, and relatively poor air permeability. This special structure makes down jackets prone to some problems during washing.

Air is trapped and expands: When a down jacket is completely soaked, the air inside will be trapped between the down and the fabric. During the high-speed spinning and drying process of the washing machine, this trapped air cannot be quickly discharged and the volume will expand rapidly. When the expansion pressure exceeds the tolerance of the fabric, it may cause the down jacket to rupture or even break through the inner cylinder of the washing machine.

Static electricity accumulation and heat: During the spin drying process, the down jacket rubs against the inner wall of the washing machine, which generates static electricity and accumulates heat. Static electricity may cause sparks, while the accumulation of heat may further expand the air inside the down jacket, increasing the risk of explosion.

The spin bucket is unbalanced and collides with the bucket wall: Due to the waterproof coating on the outer layer of the down jacket, it is difficult for the water in the clothes to be discharged. When the down jacket is placed unbalanced during drying, the high-speed rotation will also cause the spin bucket to violently collide with the left and right, resulting in an "explosion" phenomenon.

Problems with the washing machine itself: There are defects in the parts of the washing machine, which causes the drum to loosen or even fall off during rotation. The rotation speed of most washing machine drums is more than 1,000 revolutions per minute. When rotating at high speed, it may cause "explosive" noises and consequences. In addition, the methane generated by the sealing of the washing machine's sewer pipe may also cause an explosion under the action of static electricity.

Which type of washing machine is prone to explosion?

The washing machines we usually use in our homes are generally divided into three categories: old-style double-cylinder pulsator washing machines (semi-automatic), single-cylinder fully automatic pulsator washing machines, and drum washing machines. Among them, the explosions are almost all pulsator washing machines, especially the old-style double-cylinder pulsator washing machines .

The old double-cylinder pulsator washing machine has a lid on its dehydration barrel to hold down the clothes. It has a small space and a fast rotation speed. The fully automatic pulsator washing machine has a relatively large space and a slow rotation speed. When an abnormality occurs, the lid can be opened immediately to force the machine to stop, so it is less dangerous.

How to wash your down jacket safely?

Before washing your down jacket, be sure to carefully check the washing label of the garment . If the label clearly states "not machine washable", then be sure to follow this instruction and choose to wash it by hand. If the washing label of the down jacket allows machine washing and your washing machine has a "down jacket special mode", it is recommended to give priority to this mode.

Hand washing is a relatively gentle way to clean down jackets. Soak the down jacket in cold water for 20 minutes, then dissolve detergent in warm water below 30℃ and soak the down jacket for 10 minutes. Do not rub the clothes with your hands, but use a soft brush or an old toothbrush to brush the dirty parts. After washing, squeeze the fabric with both hands along the texture. After washing the down jacket, do not wring it out, squeeze out the water, and then lay it flat or hang it up to dry.

Cleaning tips

1. Wipe local stains with a hot towel:

Every time you wash a down jacket, its life span is reduced, so try to wash it less often. If it is only partially dirty, you can wipe it with a hot towel. Generally, the fabric of a down jacket is not afraid of water. Just drop a few drops of neutral laundry detergent on the dirty area and wipe it dry with a wet hot towel after 5 minutes to remove the dirt.

2. Do not use detergent to wash:

The poultry down in down jackets is protein fiber, so you should not use strong alkaline detergents, soaps, etc. to clean them. Do not use enzyme-added detergents, as this will cause the clothes to become stiff after washing and drying. It is best to choose a special down jacket detergent to reduce damage.

3. Add appropriate amount of rice vinegar:

Add a bottle cap of edible rice vinegar (transparent) to clean water. Soak the down jacket in it for 5-10 minutes, rub it roughly, do not rinse it, skim off the vinegar water and hang it to dry.

4. Use toothpaste to "dry clean" oil stains:

When clothes are stained with oil, squeeze some toothpaste, wet it with a few drops of water, and evenly apply it on the oil stain and rub it gently. When the white foam covers the entire piece of cloth, use a small amount of water to clean the toothpaste foam, and you can say goodbye to the oil stain.

5. Wipe the mold with a cotton ball dipped in alcohol:

In the rainy season in summer, it is best to take the down jacket out of the closet and check whether it is damp and moldy. If mold spots are found, wipe them with a cotton ball dipped in alcohol, then wipe them clean with a clean wet towel, and put them away after drying.

Editor: April compiled from CCTV News, National Emergency Broadcasting, Guangzhou Emergency Broadcasting