NikWax Down Wash Direct is the only technical cleaner specifically designed for hydrophobic and regular down which cleans effectively, restores water repellency and maintains fill power and insulation. 

Down-filled apparel, blankets, sleeping bags, etc. are used to provide lightweight insulation to keep you warm: down allows air to be trapped between its filaments and warmed by body heat. Through use, dirt and body oils build up on down items, affecting both the outer 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, causing it to lose loft and insulation, as it can't trap air effectively. Water conducts heat away from the body up to 25x faster than air. Wet down will also gain weight and significantly reduce breathability, leaving you cold, wet and uncomfortable. Therefore it is vital to stop down-filled gear from getting wet by applying Durable Water Repellency (DWR). Through extended use, all DWR will eventually wear off and need to be renewed.

Use NikWax Down Wash Direct when your down items soak up water. They could be absorbing water because the DWR has been compromised by dirt, or because it has been cleaned with a conventional laundry detergent, which leave hydrophilic (water-attracting) residues.

NikWax Down Wash Direct will:

• Remove contaminants such as dirt, body oils and detergent residues - from both the fabric and the down fill
• Restore Durable Water Repellency (DWR) - protects against rain and condensation
• Revitalise insulation - optimises performance in cold and damp conditions
• Revive breathability - allows moisture vapour to pass through the item
• Prolong the effective life of your gear - leaving down wet or damp can ruin it completely.

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.

HOW TO USE

• Do not use conventional detergents
• Remove all non-washable parts
• Use neat NikWax Down Wash Direct to treat stubborn stains before washing
• Use a front-loading washing machine only
• Remove all detergent build-up from the detergent dispenser
• Place maximum 2 items in washing machine
• Add 100 mL of NikWax Down Wash Direct after shaking well
• 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.

Sleeping bags and very large jackets are best hand washed in a bath or equivalent and then spin dried in a washing machine.