The easy to use, safe, high performance technical cleaner for hydrophobic and regular down filled clothing and gear. The only technical cleaner specifically designed for hydrophobic and regular down which cleans effectively, while restoring water repellency and maintaining fill power and insulation.
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.
If your down items are relatively new, or have been recently treated with Nikwax Down Proof, then cleaning with Nikwax Down Wash Direct® will not only remove contaminants, such as dirt and residues left behind by household detergents, but also revitalise insulation and restore DWR. However, once the gear has been thoroughly used, you will need to add DWR, using Nikwax Down Proof, after cleaning first with Nikwax Down Wash Direct. This will add DWR to the outer fabric of the gear and also the down fill.
Use Nikwax Down Wash Direct in a washing machine...
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 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 (for 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.
- After the washing cycle has finished run multiple spin cycles, each time incrementally increasing the spin speed, to remove excess water.
- (Hand wash sleeping bags or wash in a professional machine).
- Nikwax 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 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 run multiple spin cycles, each time incrementally increasing the spin speed.
- Make 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.
Nikwax takes great care to minimise environmental impact. Nikwax waterproofing products are WaterBased, non-aerosol, non-flammable, non-hazardous and environmentally friendly. They contain no harmful solvents or volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and are completely free of fluorocarbons (which have been shown to be persistent in the environment and have been associated with serious health issues). As well as actual compounds, sourcing is considered as well, so Nikwax avoids using materials in its cleaners such as palm oil, which may be sourced from unsustainable plantations. Nikwax Tech Wash® is environmentally friendly, non-hazardous, water based and biodegradable.