Stone Island — Care & DWR: washing a down jacket / Soft Shell without damage
Always follow the inner label of the garment. This guide provides general rules (Down-TC, Soft Shell-R, Micro Reps, etc. down jackets).
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Introduction
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Down jacket: 30°C delicate, special down detergent, long rinse, gentle tumble dry with 2–3 balls to restore loft.
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Soft Shell: 30°C delicate, no fabric softener, air dry; then reactivate the water repellency (DWR) at low heat or with a DWR spray.
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Never use bleach, spin gently, close zips/velcro before washing.
Washing a Stone Island down jacket
Simple steps
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Prepare: close zips/velcro, empty pockets, turn inside out if indicated.
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Detergent: choose a special down detergent (liquid, no softener).
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Cycle: 30°C – delicate program + long rinse. Low spin.
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Drying: low heat tumble dry with 2–3 balls (tennis/laundry) to break up clumps of down. Remove, untangle by hand, restart for 10–15 min if necessary.
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Storage: hung/flat, not compressed for long periods.
Tip: if any areas remain “flat”, pat and redistribute the down between the baffles.
Washing a Soft Shell / technical jacket (Soft Shell-R, Micro Reps, etc.)
Simple steps
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Prepare: close zips/velcro, lower the hood, turn inside out if desired.
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Detergent: mild liquid, no softener (softener kills the DWR).
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Cycle: 30°C – delicate; light spin.
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Drying: air dry (on a hanger) or 10–15 min low heat to reactivate the existing DWR.
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Re-waterproof (DWR) if water no longer beads (see §3).
Micro Reps (tight fabric): same rules; priority on no softener + DWR reactivation.
DWR: maintaining (or restoring) water repellency
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Quick test: put a few drops of water on the outside.
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If it beads → DWR OK.
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If it soaks in / darkens → DWR needs reviving.
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Two options
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A) Thermal reactivation: 10–15 min low heat in tumble dryer or very gentle ironing (cloth between iron and fabric) if the label permits.
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B) DWR spray / wash: apply an outdoor textile water-repellent spray (follow instructions), let dry, then reactivate for 10 min on low heat.
Never use fabric softener. It clogs the surface and prevents water beading.
Stains & odors: what to do?
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Local stain: mild soap + lukewarm water, dab (do not rub hard).
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Odors: air out for 24 hours; if needed, short 30°C re-wash + full drying.
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Salt/rain: rinse with clean water before washing (prevents salt rings).
Errors to avoid
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❌ Bleach / whitener.
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❌ Fabric softener (kills DWR, weighs down fibers).
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❌ Strong spin (deforms, clumps the down).
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❌ Overloading the drum (poor rinsing).
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❌ Harsh drying at high heat (risk of delamination/glue damage).
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❌ Compressing the down jacket for long periods (loft lost).
Quick Reference Table
| Stone Island Item | Washing | Drying | DWR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Down jacket (Down-TC…) | 30°C delicate, down detergent, long rinse | Tumble dry low + balls to restore loft | N/A (often treated fabric, not a priority) |
| Soft Shell-R | 30°C delicate, no softener | Air or 10–15 min low | Reactivate low heat / spray if water doesn't bead anymore |
| Micro Reps / other technical fabrics | 30°C delicate | Air / short low heat | Beading test → reactivate if needed |
FAQ
Can I wash at 40°C?
Better to stick to 30°C to preserve membranes, dyes, and glues.
No tumble dryer at home, how do I restore the down jacket's loft?
Dry flat + knead the baffles regularly. Takes longer, but it works.
My water doesn't bead on the Soft Shell anymore, is this normal?
DWR wears out. Reactivate with low heat or apply a water-repellent spray.
Can I use fabric softener?
No. It smothers the fabric and kills the DWR.
How many washes per season?
As few as possible. Air out often, treat stains locally, do a full wash when necessary.
