How to Clean Your Bulky Winter Clothing at Home

When was the last time your winter coat got a cleaning? What about your chunky sweaters, scarves, and gloves? You know you need to clean your winter gear, but the potential dry cleaning bill is probably incentive enough to put it off for, oh, several years. The good news is you absolutely can—and should—learn how to wash your bulky winter clothes at home.

"Many people think they need to utilize professional dry cleaning for down and other fluffy items, but it's usually fine to wash and dry them," says Laura Goodman, senior scientist and fabric care expert at Procter & Gamble. Follow Goodman's top cleaning and care tips for winter gear to save a little money and keep your belongings as good as new.

How Often to Wash Bulky Winter Clothes

According to Goodman, "winter weather gear, especially waterproof fabric, doesn't need to be washed after every wear unless it gets really dirty." But try to wash jackets and accessories three to five times over the course of the season. Give gloves and mittens a more regular washing, especially if they touch doorknobs or subway poles.

Finally, wash your gloves and other winter gear (hats, scarves, etc.) before putting them away for spring and summer "to avoid stains setting in or odors from body oils, grime, and dirt build-up to remain."

What You'll Need:

To Wash Coats

• Dye-free detergent (such as Tide Purclean Liquid)
• Washing machine and dryer
• A few towels
• Dryer balls or tennis balls

To Wash Gloves

• Detergent
• Mesh bag
• Washing machine and dryer
  

How to Wash a Down Jacket or Puffy Winter Coat in the Washing Machine

Most down or puffy jackets can be thrown in the washer to remove dirt and sweat, then dry according to the fabric label. "Always check the care label for drying instructions before you start to make sure that your fabrics can be machine dried and at what temperature," she says. "Follow these steps to wash your puffy winter jackets at home and ensure they stay puffy, warm, and freshly scented."

Step 1: Check the Label

Read the fabric care labels to check whether your down coat can go in the washing machine.

Step 2: Prepare for the Washer

Zip up all zippers and empty all pockets. Then check puffy jacket seams for durability and mend any loose seams to ensure they don't get worse in the wash cycle.

Step 3: Wash With Dye-Free Detergent

Unless otherwise noted by the care label, choose a normal or gentle wash and normal spin cycle, depending on how delicate your jacket is. Add a dye-free detergent.

Step 4: Arrange the Load

Submerge the coat when the washer is half full and balance the load by adding a few similarly colored towels. Stop the washer occasionally to press air from items. If you have a front-loading washer, there's no need to submerge the items—simply use a gentle cycle and run it through two rinse cycles to wash out all the soap.

Step 5: Dry

Tumble dry on low. "Add a few dryer balls or clean tennis balls stuffed in clean cotton socks to help break up any clumps in the feather or down filling," Goodman adds.

How to Wash Winter Gloves

We're used to washing our hands often, but what about your gloves? After a whole day of wearing a pair, we usually throw them back into the winter clothes mix (germs and all) without giving them a second thought.

"Many of us forget about our gloves, but they're often the dirtiest winter accessory as they come in contact with the most dirt and germs," Goodman says. Here's the simplest and most effective way to keep gloves clean.

Step 1: Check the Label

Read the fabric care labels to ensure your gloves can be put in the washing machine.

Step 2: Treat Stains

Pre-treat stains on gloves by pouring detergent on the stain and letting it sit for 5 to 10 minutes.

Step 3: Wash on Gentle Setting

Place the gloves in a mesh bag and wash them on a gentle cycle in cold water.

Step 4: Dry

Hang to dry, or tumble dry on low, depending on the fabric care label instructions.