Reinflating a down jacket?

[CandyApple]

I have a down jacket that ended up getting cat pee on it. When I tried getting rid of the scent with a bucketful of water mixed with a cup of vinegar I squeezed all of the air out. It kept floating to the top so I squeezed and squeezed HARD until most of the air came out. It must've taken 10 or 20 minutes. Afterwards I let it dry, and when it did it was flat and the smell was still there. The vinegar did deodorize my non-down items, though.

I had it cleaned for $17, and the cleaners got rid of the smell. It's fluffier than it was, but it's still somewhat flat. The lady said the dryer would fluff the down up and it would be puffy again. It did, but not as much as it should be. My jacket is supposed to be puffy, to the point that I almost look like a balloon, but it's not.

How do I get the air back in? Do I just keep running it in the dryer until it reinflates? Would that even work? Have I deflated it permanently? Is there another way to get the air in? Has anyone had this problem?

I tried blowing air in through the holes that the air came out of with my mouth, but the air wouldn't go in.

[thecuban]

Originally Posted by CandyApple

I have a down jacket that ended up getting cat pee on it. When I tried getting rid of the scent with a bucketful of water mixed with a cup of vinegar I squeezed all of the air out. It kept floating to the top so I squeezed and squeezed HARD until most of the air came out. It must've taken 10 or 20 minutes. Afterwards I let it dry, and when it did it was flat and the smell was still there. The vinegar did deodorize my non-down items, though.

I had it cleaned for $17, and the cleaners got rid of the smell. It's fluffier than it was, but it's still somewhat flat. The lady said the dryer would fluff the down up and it would be puffy again. It did, but not as much as it should be. My jacket is supposed to be puffy, to the point that I almost look like a balloon, but it's not.

How do I get the air back in? Do I just keep running it in the dryer until it reinflates? Would that even work? Have I deflated it permanently? Is there another way to get the air in? Has anyone had this problem?

I tried blowing air in through the holes that the air came out of with my mouth, but the air wouldn't go in.

I have always had a down sleeping bag during my camping years. A friend told me never to wash it with regular laundry soap for that very reason. In fact he gave me some stuff that he bought at sports store. I don't remember what it was called but I looked up one for you on line called ReviveX Down Cleaner. They give you directions how to use it on line and they also tell you to throw tennis balls in the dryer to break up the lumps. Good luck.

[NHYRNUT]

Yes the tennis balls work. I have done this. with a down sleeping bag and it worked good.

[CandyApple]

I have always had a down sleeping bag during my camping years. A friend told me never to wash it with regular laundry soap for that very reason.

Actually, I washed it once before with regular laundry soap, no tennis balls in the dryer, and didn't have this problem. Of course, it was so long ago I don't remember if the washer had deflated my jacket or not, but it was definitely fluffy out of the dryer.

Can vinegar ruin down? But then it would've come off in the wash at the cleaners, so I don't think that's it. Could I have broken the down feathers and made them unfluffable?

They give you directions how to use it on line and they also tell you to throw tennis balls in the dryer to break up the lumps.

So that's what the tennis balls are supposed to do. I was wondering about that. I thought, "How would they make it fluffy? Wouldn't it just squish the air out?"

I guess I could buy some tennis balls and try it. I just don't understand how the air can get back in those tiny thread holes, considering how hard I had to squeeze to get the air out. Could someone explain that for me? I'm having a hard time conceptualizing it.

[Cotero_FL]

Here are the dryer balls that you could use .... http://www.amazon.com/Amazing-Dryer-.../dp/B0009WK23Y .... $7.92

I bought them at Walgreens in the "as seen on TV section".... $9.95

I think they would work just as well at fluffing as the tennis balls... plus they are made to stay in your dryer.

[thecuban]

Can vinegar ruin down? But then it would've come off in the wash at the cleaners, so I don't think that's it. Could I have broken the down feathers and made them unfluffable?

So that's what the tennis balls are supposed to do. I was wondering about that. I thought, "How would they make it fluffy? Wouldn't it just squish the air out?"

I don't think the vinegar ruined it. The reason for the special treatment is to keep the insulation from clumping. Then the tennis ball helps to create air pockets between the insulation while it dries.

[RodFarlee]

Down has a natural oil, lanolin, that allows the fibers to slip past one another and not clump. They say be careful cleaning down so as not to remove this. Maybe that "reviveX" stuff might restore it, I don't know. Best wishes!

[MyAzi]

Originally Posted by CandyApple

I have a down jacket that ended up getting cat pee on it. When I tried getting rid of the scent with a bucketful of water mixed with a cup of vinegar I squeezed all of the air out. It kept floating to the top so I squeezed and squeezed HARD until most of the air came out. It must've taken 10 or 20 minutes. Afterwards I let it dry, and when it did it was flat and the smell was still there. The vinegar did deodorize my non-down items, though.

I had it cleaned for $17, and the cleaners got rid of the smell. It's fluffier than it was, but it's still somewhat flat. The lady said the dryer would fluff the down up and it would be puffy again. It did, but not as much as it should be. My jacket is supposed to be puffy, to the point that I almost look like a balloon, but it's not.

How do I get the air back in? Do I just keep running it in the dryer until it reinflates? Would that even work? Have I deflated it permanently? Is there another way to get the air in? Has anyone had this problem?

I tried blowing air in through the holes that the air came out of with my mouth, but the air wouldn't go in.

Just so you know...don't get it wet again. Even a little! That smell will come back. Something about cat urine and down doesn't mix!!!!

[CandyApple]

Ok, this is something the ReviveX (http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-...n_cleaner.html ) says:

Hand Wash (Use tub or basin) Guidelines:

1. Mix Down Cleaner with warm water according to table below.
2. Compress item to remove air & place in water.

So, either the manufacturer is as foolish as I, or it's ok to squeeze the air out.

Not seeing any info on what happens if you've already destroyed the lanolin in the down. It just says it preserves what's already there.

And it says:

Proper drying is essential for best results. For maximum loft and to avoid damage, use a large commercial dryer on LOW HEAT. Note: High heat or small (home) dryers can melt synthetic fabrics, causing severe damage. Clean tennis balls may be added to dryer to break up down clumps. Check progress periodically. Dry thoroughly. Open item and allow to air overnight before use or storage.

I'll give the tennis balls a try, and if that doesn't work I'll try something else. How many tennis balls do I need? And I could've sworn I've set the thing on high last time I dried it, but if both the cleaning lady and this product says low heat, I guess I'll do that. I'll just give it an extra round in the dryer.

Thanks, guys, I was afraid I broke the darn thing when I squished it.

EDIT: I found some info on restoring lanolin http://www.butterflymom.com/article2.htm:

There are also wonderful covers made of wool, which is naturally absorbent enough to be considered waterproof, as well as naturally resistent to bacteria and breathable! So baby's skin is healthier. When it gets wet you just let it dry somewhere and use it again--every couple weeks (or when soiled) you could wash it in eucalan, lansinoh (which restores lanolin) or some kind of wool wash.

The Eucalaln website http://www.eucalan.com/ lists a store in Anchorage that sells it's stuff, Knitting Grounds (web: www.knittinggrounds.com ) 907-336-5648 if I want to buy that. I'm wondering, though, if I can just dump some lanolin in the wash (no soap) with my jacket, maybe thin it out a little with water first so it spreads evenly? I have some left over from when I needed it for breastfeeding. I think if anything would restore lanolin, it'd be lanolin. It was... somewhere in the 2-10 dollar range, I forget how much.

Hmmm... on the www.lansinoh.com website, the only thing that could possibly fit the bill was their lanolin, so, yeah, I guess I'll use my lanolin, if the jacket needs it.

Just so you know...don't get it wet again. Even a little! That smell will come back. Something about cat urine and down doesn't mix!!!!

Then I should get it wet ASAP, so I know whether the cleaning worked and whether they need to redo it. The Odoban stuff they used is supposed to get rid of the smell, not mask it. And they said they would wash it several times, too. I don't want a jacket I'm afraid to go out in the rain in!

[MyAzi]

Originally Posted by CandyApple

Then I should get it wet ASAP, so I know whether the cleaning worked and whether they need to redo it. The Odoban stuff they used is supposed to get rid of the smell, not mask it. And they said they would wash it several times, too. I don't want a jacket I'm afraid to go out in the rain in!

I had a sick kitty one time and he wet on a down blanket... I tried everything I could including taking it in and they promised it would be fine. It smelled just fine but Sometime later I spilled bottled water on it and it must have been the same area and the smell was there!!!! I spoke with other cleaners and they told me to toss it.