Getting ready for winter: how to clean a jacket without washing

It's still early fall and the weather is almost summer-like. Nevertheless, it's time to take warm clothes out of the closet and prepare them for the cold weather. If you have washed your winter jacket after the season is over, it may need a lighter cleaning. Just like a down jacket, it's often not advisable to machine wash them, so you have to use other approaches.

OBOZREVATEL tells you about several ways to clean your winter outerwear. And you can do it yourself and with the help of improvised means.

What to prepare for home jacket cleaning

To clean the fabric without washing, you will need some tools. The main principle of choice is that they should all be soft so as not to damage the fabric in the process. So, you need to prepare:

• a container for the cleaning solution;
• a container for clean water;
• a clean sponge
• cotton pads;
• microfiber cloths;
• wet wipes;
• dry wipes - textile or paper.

And don't forget to test the chosen product for safety for the fabric and its dye somewhere inconspicuous. It is best to do this on the back of the product.

First of all, you will have to clean the places that are in most contact with the body - cuffs, collar, pockets. Also, inspect the item for stains - it will be better to treat them as well.

Cleaner with ammonia

Ammonia is good at removing dirt from fabrics. To prepare a winter outerwear cleaner, take

• 100 ml of warm water;
• 1 teaspoon of ammonia;
• 1 teaspoon of laundry or dishwashing gel.

Mix all the ingredients. Use an iron to steam the areas to be cleaned. It is best to do this from a short distance so that only a little moisture gets on the fabric, or steam it through cheesecloth. Even better, use a steamer.

Dampen a sponge or cotton pad with the cleaning solution and gently rub the stain on the area. Move from the edges of the stain to the center to avoid spreading the dirt further on the fabric. Leave the mixture on for 30 minutes, then wipe up any remaining cleaning liquid with a cloth and rinse the area with a damp microfiber cloth.

Laundry soap

Rub a small piece of laundry soap on a fine grater. Lay the jacket on a horizontal surface and moisten the areas that need cleaning. You can steam them or spray them sparingly with a spray bottle. Sprinkle a thin layer of soap shavings on these areas and leave it on for 30-40 minutes. After that, remove the product with dry wipes and wipe the treated area with a damp microfiber.

Hydrogen peroxide

This liquid dissolves sebum that collects on the cuffs and collar. But it can also lighten the dye, so be sure to test it in an inconspicuous place. If everything is in order, dilute 3 teaspoons of pharmacy-grade peroxide in a glass of warm water and apply this solution to the stained areas with a cotton pad or sponge. To remove the stain, you can use the hard side of the sponge, but avoid excessive pressure to avoid damaging the fabric. A soft brush, such as a toothbrush, is also suitable for this treatment. If the product does not work, you can additionally treat the contaminated area with a weak citric acid solution and leave it on for 20 minutes, then rinse the cleaned area with a damp microfiber cloth.

Vertical washing

To avoid immersing the jacket completely in water, you can clean it completely with detergent in a hanging position. Hang the garment over a bathtub so that the cleaning solution can drain freely into the bathtub. Dissolve a small amount of your laundry detergent - powder, gel, etc. - in a bowl of warm water. Dip a sponge into this soapy water, wring it out well so that nothing drips out, and scrub the surface of the fabric. Do this all over the jacket. Make sure that it does not get too wet, so that the soapy water does not penetrate the filling. Afterwards, wipe off the soap solution with a microfiber cloth. Wipe until all traces of foam disappear. But also avoid excessive moistening of the fabric. Finally, shake the jacket well and let it dry.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL told you how often you should wash out erwear and other things to keep them clean but not wear out too quickly.

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