Nikwax Down Wash Direct

Speciality cleaner designed to revitalise the water repellency and insulating properties of down filled gear. Easy to use in your washing machine, non flammable and PFC free.

For cleaning hydrophobic and regular down
Technical cleaner for both hydrophobic and regular down clothing and sleeping bags

Cleans effectively, revitalises insulation and restores the water repellency of hydrophobic down

Revives the performance of your down gear, keeping you warmer and drier

Recommended for Nikwax Hydrophobic Down™, Hydrodown™ and all other down clothing and sleeping bags

Speciality cleaner designed to revitalise the water repellency and insulating properties of hydrophobic and regular down filled gear. Easy to use in your washing machine, non flammable and PFC free.
For cleaning hydrophobic and regular down
Why down items lose their insulating properties when they get dirty...
Down filled items are used to provide lightweight insulation to keep you warm. The structure of down allows air to be trapped between its filaments and warmed by body heat to provide insulation for the user.

Through use, dirt and body oils build up on down items. This affects both the fabric and the down fill. Dirt attracts water; if the fabric absorbs water, rain and condensation can easily transfer into the down. If down gets wet it clumps together. This causes it to lose loft and insulation as it can’t trap air effectively. When wet, down loses its insulating properties, as water conducts heat away from the body up to 25 times faster than air. It will also gain weight and its breathability will be significantly reduced; leaving you feeling cold, wet and uncomfortable.

Down filled items are most likely to get sweaty and wet inside when used in damp or wet conditions. Therefore it is important to stop down filled gear from getting wet by maintaining Durable Water Repellency (DWR). The outer fabric of your down filled item, as well as the down inside, must be maintained to ensure comfort. Nikwax Down Wash Direct will revitalise the insulation and restore DWR.

Down is ideal for very cold and dry conditions...
Down has exceptional insulating properties, trapping air between its filaments to keep you warm. No other product offers so much insulation for so little weight and bulk. It’s ideal for sleeping bags, jackets, gilets and down clothing in general.

Water, whether it is rain or condensation from sweat, compromises the insulating properties of down. If down gets wet it loses all of its insulating capacity and also causes weight gain. This reduces the comfort of the user, causing them to feel cold and wet, but more importantly the reduction in insulation is dangerous and in severe cases can lead to hypothermia. When wet, down loses all of its insulating properties, as water conducts heat away from the body up to 25 times faster than air.

Nikwax Down Wash Direct revitalises insulation and restores the Durable Water Repellency (DWR) of both the outer fabric and down fill. This prevents water absorption and maintains breathability, keeping you warm, dry and comfortable.

Use Nikwax Down Wash Direct in a washing machine...
Use neat Nikwax Down Wash Direct to treat stubborn stains before washing. Remove all non-washable parts. Shake well before use. Follow care label instructions. Do not use conventional detergents.

Machine wash (down clothing only)

Remove all detergent build-up from the detergent dispenser.
Place maximum 2 items in washing machine.
Add 100 ml.
Wash according to care label, preferably on low setting and slow spin.
To remove excess water transfer item(s) to a washing machine and spin dry 3 times (slow spin).
If care label allows, tumble dry according to manufacturer's instructions on a low setting until 'clumps' have disappeared. Teasing apart clumps repeatedly during drying process will help restore loft to the down.

(Hand wash sleeping bags or wash in a professional machine).

By handNikwax Down Wash Direct can also be applied by hand...
Sleeping bags and very large jackets are best hand washed in a bath or equivalent and then spin dried in a washing machine.

Use neat Nikwax Down Wash Direct to treat stubborn stains before washing. Remove all non-washable parts. Shake well before use. Follow care label instructions. Do not use conventional detergents.

Use gloves.

Add 100 ml to 12-15 L of hand-hot water.
Immerse item and agitate to mix, ensuring complete wetting.
Leave to soak for 5-10 minutes, then agitate thoroughly.
Rinse thoroughly until water runs clear.
To remove excess water transfer item(s) to a washing machine and spin dry 3 times (slow spin).
If care label allows, tumble dry according to manufacturer's instructions on a low setting until 'clumps' have disappeared. Teasing apart clumps repeatedly during drying process will help restore loft to the down.

By handMake sure to thoroughly dry your down filled gear...
If you intend to re-waterproof the washed item there is no need to dry it first.

To get the maximum amount of water out of your down it’s best to spin dry multiple times, each time incrementally increasing the speed of the spin cycle. Wet down is heavy, so if items are spun too quickly while still holding a large amount of water it is possible that internal baffles may be broken.

Tumble drying is recommended (if care label allows) to ensure that the down is dried thoroughly and as quickly as possible. Leaving down wet or damp can ruin it completely. Tumble dry according to manufacturer’s instructions on a low setting until clumps have disappeared. Ensure that there is sufficient room in the tumble drier to house the item once dry, as items will return to their original size during the drying process.

Teasing apart clumps repeatedly during drying process will help restore loft to the down.

After tumble drying it is recommended to air item(s) for at least a day in a warm and dry space, prior to packing away.