Geese aren't dry clean only.
Every down coat I've ever had has been washed and actually came out better. Some feathers will give off an oily residue when you dry clean it.
I'd wash it and do the tennis balls or clean tennis shoe in the dryer. It will take forever to dry the clumps of feathers, so shake it out periodically and dry some more.

Because of the goose down, you may not be able to wash it. Do you have a large sporting good store in your area?? There is a special soap that can be used, check with R.E.I. which sells excellent hiking and camping stuff. Also Cabellas has good items. Ask a good cleaner also, especailly for your first time. I am not sure about the dryer, unless you have no heat-fluff etc.

Susan, I have ruined two nice warm down jackets by washing and drying them myself. I would not.

Generally anything I buy gets washed, but that one I would get dry cleaned. Even if you get it done right, and have to pay for it, the jacket is still a GREAT bargain.

Moni

Sorry if I gave the wrong information--I am only going on what they told DH when he bought a goose down jacket, but that was many years ago. Connie may have better up to date information

I think I would dry clean it. But what a fabulous bargain. Good job.

Linda

On the Eddie Bauer site, I found a down jacket and checked the care instructions. They said Machine Wash or Dry Clean.

I have always washed my down duvets and jackets. Those tennis balls and/or clean runners are really necessary, though.

Great score!

Here is a link that might be useful: Another Eddie Bauer jacket

I think I'd use the dry cleaning bags that go in your dryer. I've used mine for men's suits, heavy jackets and other dry clean only garments (never tried goose down though). I just don't like paying the cost for dry cleaning and I think the Dryel kit works well.

May I offer that the goose down is not the problem to be considered. It's the water/wind repellent/fabric treatment of the outer fabric. Machine washing it and/or drying it in a dryer is more than apt to remove the manufacturer applied fabric treatment. And...let me add that I learned this the hard way several winters ago. ;-)
Reconsider your decision to throw the garment in the washing machine unless you can see that it was handled this way previous to your purchase. In that case...the harm has more than likely been done.

Anne

You did better than I on the Eddie Bauer site, Homemaker.

I found this on eBay, though. It looks very much like mine, except the fabric is different. If I thought mine was treated with Teflon I wouldn't attempt to wash it.

Yes, Dryel is what I have, and I think that may be the way I'll go, at least for now. I expect I'll have to reconsider the cleaning issue in the not-too-distant future because I'm planning to wear this jacket to walk dogs, etc., when the weather is very cold. It's a little big on me, but that's okay as I wear layers in winter, even in the house. I bought it for this purpose, not to wear to town (where I would not only be too warm in the stores, but I'd look like a fullback to boot!).

I try to wear bright colors when walking on the road, but I figure this black jacket will show up well against the snow.

Thanks for the help. I knew I'd get good advice!

I have been known to wash a down filled pillow, so I think I would wash a down filled jacket. I would use the gentle cycle and hang to dry though. And cold water.

I had a beautiful down jacket from EB that said Dry Clean only. I felt sure that I could put it in the washer...wrong! I think the down was ok but the finish on the outside of the jacket that kept me dry in wet weather was distroyed. What a mess. I loved that jacket and felt so dumb for washing it myself. Good luck with yours.

sooey

Fantastic find!

Fantastic find!

No water repellency lasts forever. Wear and tear and detergents and dirt actually are really odd things affect water repellants. It is applied at the factory and can be and usually is reapplied at a dry cleaners. You can buy a can of Scotchguard and do it yourself too!
As far as wind proof that is in the weave of the fabric. Washing, nor dry cleaning will affect it.
Who knows if it was washed or dry cleaned before. I'd guess since the tag reads that that it may have been dry cleaned....you should be able to take a deep sniff and tell.
My opinion of Dryel isn't very good at all. It is not a deep down cleaning like dry cleaning and it doesn't remove stains etc. For freshening up it may be ok...but its not dry cleaning.....

I've washed down coats before but have never owned an EB brand one so they may be different. They all come out fine.

Instead of using detergent use SOAP. Real soap. Ivory or Charlies.

REI does carry nikwax for down. It adds the water repellent to the fabric. I've used the other nikwax product for my gortex rain coat and it works great.

Here is a link that might be useful: nikwax for down

What did you decide to do? My opinion is, if it says Dry Clean Only, that's what you do. I've ruined several items of clothing by trying to hand wash something I shouldn't.

Jannie, I was hoping for a unanimous opinion here. :-)

Failing that, I'm still on the fence but leaning on the side of washing--using soap like Dilly Dally said. My cousin called this morning, and I asked her advice. She looked at the label of her J. Crew down jacket, and it said to machine wash, delicate, and machine dry with three tennis balls.

I'd be much more wary of washing if I intended to wear this jacket in a more public way. But for its intended use--keeping me warm on the property--I figure, how badly can I ruin it? Of course, the answer could be, "VERY badly," but somehow I doubt it.

After considering what Nodakgal said about Dryel, and the fact that this jacket has been worn by strangers (so I want to get it clean), and then also considering the price of professional dry cleaning, machine washing is looking better all the time.

Whatever I do with it, I'll be sure to report back!

When I washed my EB jacket, the outside layer of water repellentcy came off, peeled off in sections. I found bits of it left behind on the inside of my washer. It seemed to be a rubber or teflon-ish coating on the fabric. On my EB jacket, it was not Scotchguard.

sooey

I have washed my DH's heavy duty water resistant down jacket 5 or 6 times. The outer fabric is a cotton/poly blend with a nylon lining. The directions say not to use detergent and suggest Woolite in cold water. This is a work jacket and I use warm water instead on this grease spotted coat. After about 4 washings, it became notably less fluffy and does not keep him as warm says DH. He has been wearing it for about 7 years, so I really don't expect anything more.

Years ago (in the late '70's and early '80's) I made several down vests and jackets from Frostline Kits. These were made with rip stop nylon and at least 2 of these are still in use after probably once yearly washings. They are pretty flat, but DD still drags out her vest and jacket every year.

Gazania, I made one of those Frostline vests, too! I admire you for making several! The one (1) I made turned out beautifully, but it was the hardest thing I'd ever sewed, and I was not tempted to start another. Good for you!

Sooey, the fabric on my jacket doesn't seem to be coated with anything. Would I be able to tell?

If I bought a used coat at Salvation Army for $6.99, then, yes, I would probably wash it in the washer. The coat could be dirty, really dirty (like a kid threw up on it, a cat urinated on it, etc) and you wouldn't even know it. Dryel may be good for into between freshups of your own clothings, but doesn't really clean clothes especially when you don't know where they come from.

Granted, dry cleaning may be your best option if you want to invest and prolong the coat. But, at what price? I guess you really need to consider how much it would cost to dry clean it and how often you would need to dry clean it. Do you want to invest that much money into a coat that it sounds like you weren't really looking to buy? And, are you talking a once a year $4 cleaning or more like $30 dry cleaning bill every month or so? If you weren't intending to buy an expensive coat and take good care of it, this may be more than you want to fork out for a 'walking' coat. Do you know how much it would cost to dry clean the coat?

I would not wash it.
Dry cleaners have ruined more of my garments then my washer and dryer has.
Use a gentle cycle, cold wash and low temp dryer.
OR hang until dry then send it through the dryer with no heat to unclump the feathers.

Lori

Susan, wasn't it fun chasing down all that down that escaped from the tubes while filling the compartments in that vest? After I would finish one of those down garments, floating fluff would entertain the dog for weeks. Opening a drawer or cabinet door invited the escaped fluff to show itself and would set the dog on a chase. Somehow she never seemed to catch on to how slowly that fuzz moved. Her frantic premature snapping jaws always missed by a mile.

susan...I'm not sure if you could tell that your fabric had a coating on it. I had no idea that such a coating was used on fabric and the surface of my coat seemed completly normal to me.

Are the tags still on your coat? Not the price tags but the tags that identify it as an EB coat with it's style number/s. You should be able to track it down using that number through EB. If you can't find it on the web site I would call customer service. I think that most/some/all of EB outerware/coats are 'satisfaction guaranteed'. I'm not saying that that guarantee is transfered to subsequent owners of the garment, but you should be able to use those numbers to get all the info you would need on the coat.

It may have only cost you $6.99 but if it's a good coat, one that would keep you warm and in good condition it is worth the time and effort.

Good luck.

sooey

Definitely wash it!

I've always washed all our down coats, comforters and sleeping bags (and we have lots). We've never had problems. Use a a mild soap, an extra rinse and make sure that you dry it on air only with some CLEAN tennis balls. It will take quite a while to dry, but it will be wonderfully clean.

Sooey, I tried your idea, and ended up calling Customer Service. The woman was very nice, but couldn't find any jacket like mine. It didn't help that I couldn't find a style number. The jacket has six tags and an interior patch, but no style number.

My laundry alcove is still being remodeled, so I haven't taken delivery of the new dryer yet. Therefore, I'm still doing my drying at the laundromat. So I think I'll follow Lori's suggestion to hang it to dry and then run it through the dryer with tennis balls. Any votes against that? I love having so many people interested in my jacket!

Lori, I'm still trying to figure out the first part of your message:

I would not wash it.
Dry cleaners have ruined more of my garments then my washer and dryer has.

LOL

I have always washed...on gentle cycle...all of our down filled coats. And with our Iowa winters and 2 kids, we have had ALOT of down coats! I have never had a problem. I have one that I have had for probably 16 years that I still wear for outside dirty stuff in the cold, and I am starting to lose a few feathers, but it is still washable.

I agree with Lori and dry cleaners!!! I have had soooooo many thing ruined by them!!! One was a prom dress that I made for my niece, had a VERY full skirt and took it to the cleaners for them to press it....2 days before we were to deliever it! Something snagged the dress...ALL THE WAY AROUND IT!!! I was sooooooooooo upset! Sure they paid me for it, and for my 'time', but it really ticked me off.

I have had a lot of experience with down inside and outside a garment and I vote against washing it till you have that dryer ready for it. I somehow can't imagine the dried up clumps of down/feathers seperating well enough to plump up properly no matter how many tennis balls or whatever you put in with it. Also, it would take forever for that down to actually air dry.

Someone above mentioned running it through the rinse cycle twice. That is good advice. Also wash and rinse on 'gentle'.

Gazania, is it unwise to dry it with heat, then? I could do it with heat at the laundromat; I just don't want to wait forever for it to dry on "fluff."

And yes, dealing with the down from those vest kits was a trip! I don't think I realized before that experience that down could act as though it was literally lighter than air.

Drying at the laundromat will be fine. (don't ask how I know!)
I'd use heat. If you'd hang to dry I'd be worried about those damp feathers getting icky, I don't know if they'd mold or mildew? Use tennis balls or clean tennies to help break up the clumps of feathers.

Sorry Alisande.
I didn't proof before I submitted.
I WOULD wash the jacket.

Lori

I was just teasing you, Lori. I figured that's what you meant--and I'm grateful for your input and everyone else's.

This way if it falls apart in the washing machine, it won't be my fault. :-)

LOL
If it does fall apart in the washer you'll only be out seven bucks!

Lori

Susan, I wouldn't take it to the laundromat to dry it unless you plan to spend an afternoon there. It will take a lot of time, especially on a heat setting meant for synthetics or 'delicate' washables. The down will retain a lot of moisture from the 'gentle' wash cycle and seems to take forever to dry. DH and I wore down jackets while traveling by motorcycle and a couple times got them pretty well soaked around the collar/shoulder area. Rain has a way of getting beyond waterproof rainwear in certain areas when riding at 60 mph. Trying to dry these jackets in a public laundromat was not the way we wanted to spend an evening after a long days ride, but nothing beats down for warmth...when it is dry!

Thanks, Gazania. I don't usually sit and wait for my laundry; there are stores a short drive away--including the Salvation Army, which is how I got the jacket in the first place. I was thinking I could do some shopping and come back at intervals to check it.

The dryers have three settings: Low, Permanent Press, and High. Would you recommend Low or PP?

I would start it on low. If it seems to be going to slow, do the permanent press setting for 15 or 20 minutes then go back to low. You might stick in another 10 mins. a couple times at PP during the process to speed things up. Oh, don't use any liquid fabric softener in the rinse. In the dryer, it will probably be necessary to use a softener sheet, but cut it and use just a third of a sheet. That should be enough to eliminate static cling in the cotton/poly blend fabric.

So....how did you clean it? How did it come out?? Maybe I missed a separate post about this, and that is very likely, but please let us know.

Yes, there was a separate thread, Marsha. But I'm happy to report my success again. I machine-washed it in cold water with Woolite, and then put it in a dryer at the laundromat with three (new) tennis balls. It turned out perfectly!

Thanks for asking.

Susan