How do you wash a down jacket?
Because our little treasures’ winter outings are rich in discoveries, a Tartine et Chocolat down jacket gets put to the test. Gentle care is the key to ensuring your baby or older kid can return to the comfort of a cosy cocoon after every adventure. At Tartine et Chocolat, we put all our expertise into creating iconic styles that combine technical performance with timeless elegance. Whether your kid wears our famous long navy down jacket or taupe, powder pink down jacket, dusty blue reversibile down jacket, or our lightweight down jackets…every piece deserves exceptional care.
Yet a kid’s life is full of spontaneous adventures. A chocolate stain, a slide through frosty grass or simply the passage of time can dull the lustre of these precious pieces. How can you wash a down jacket without affecting its legendary loft? How can you protect the fine materials in your kids’ wardrobe? Follow our special guide to care worthy of children’s haute couture.
The beauty of fine materials: every style has its secret
Advice from our atelier : Every Tartine et Chocolat creation is unique. Before beginning any care routine, we invite you to read the composition label sewn inside your garment carefully. It contains instructions specific to your style to help preserve its beauty and softness year after year.
Natural down and feathers
Used in our warmest styles, such as the two-fabric down jacket in navy, charcoal grey with imitation fur, charcoal purple with imitation fur… down and feathers offer incomparable thermal insulation. This filling creates that much-loved "cloud-like" look. Down is a natural material that needs air to retain its insulating properties. It is the secret behind the lightness of our styles designed for extreme cold.
High-precision technical padding
For our more urban or reversible styles, such as the long navy down jacket, taupe or the green sleeveless down jacket or even electric blue, we use premium synthetic padding. It mimics the structure of down while offering greater resistance to moisture and easy care, ideal for the everyday lives of older kids up to age 14.
The signature details
Pay particular attention to the finishing touches: the genuine mother-of-pearl buttons, the gold zips on the two-fabric ecru down jacket, the navy broderie anglaise down jacket, the embroidered patches or the exclusive Garda print found, for example, on our navy water-repellent down jacket. These details are the hallmark of our Maison and need to be handled gently to preserve their lustre.
Planning ahead: waterproofing, the invisible shield
It is not something you always think about before the first wash, but waterproofing is the step that extends the life of your coat. Our fabrics, such as those used for the reversibile parka, receive a water-repellent treatment in the atelier. Over time and with rubbing (a backpack for older kids, a pushchair harness for babies), however, this protection can wear off.
Advice from the atelier: Apply a specialist waterproofing spray (silicone-free) to your down jacket when it is clean and dry. Spray evenly from about 20 cm away. This not only stops water from penetrating but also creates a barrier against greasy stains and dust. A waterproofed garment is a garment that stays clean for longer!
The preparation ritual: a precise touch
Do not put a down jacket reversibile or a coat Greige marl for example in the washing machine without careful preparation.
-Empty the pockets: Kids love collecting treasures. Check that no pebbles or little secrets are hiding inside, to avoid tearing the lining.
-Protect the accessories: Always remove the fur trims (real or faux) using their delicate press studs. Fur must never be immersed in water, or it may become coarse.
-Fasten to protect: Zip up the zips and fasten the press studs and hook-and-loop fastenings. This prevents the metal parts from scratching the delicate fabric during the cycle.
-Turn the garment inside out: Always wash your down jacket inside out to protect the vibrancy of its signature colours (powder blue, sugared-almond pink or pearl grey).
The worry-free option: why choose professional cleaning?
For our most luxurious down jackets or those adorned with intricate details, we strongly recommend using a professional. Dry cleaning or wet cleaning at a specialist cleaner ensures that the down in your down jacket does not clump together. It is the "worry-free" option for parents who want an heirloom piece to last. We recommend professional cleaning at least once a year, ideally at the end of winter.
Washing at home: the art of gentle care
If you prefer to care for your down jacket at home, the golden rule is a low temperature.
Choosing a detergent
Always use a liquid detergent for delicates. Avoid fabric conditioner : it coats the feathers and technical fibres of styles such as our down jacket in two-fabric navy or charcoal, making them lose their precious "spring".
The ideal wash cycle
Select a "Wool" or "Delicates" cycle. The temperature should be 20°C or 30°C maximum. Water that is too hot could weaken the fabrics and shrink the invisible seams.
The tennis ball trick
For bulkier styles, place two clean tennis balls in the drum. They will "massage" the down jacket during the wash, preventing the filling from becoming compressed too soon.
The ‘cloud’ spin: protecting the feathers
Spinning is a delicate step. A down jacket saturated with water is heavy. Spinning too vigorously (above 800 revolutions) would put so much pressure on the feathers that they could break. We recommend a gentle spin at 600 revolutions/minute. It is the perfect balance: fast enough to remove excess water from your down jacket, slow enough to protect the delicate filling.
Drying: restoring its softness
This is often the step that causes the most concern, yet it is crucial. Contrary to popular belief, air-drying is not recommended, as the feathers may dry in clumps and lose their insulating warmth.
The secret? Tumble-drying on a low heat. Choose the ‘Delicates’ or ‘Low heat’ programme (40-50°C maximum). Add two clean tennis balls: their movement will ‘fluff up’ the down. Take the down jacket out every 30 minutes and shake it vigorously. Once completely dry, your down jacket should have regained all its airy lightness.
Storing for winter: preparing the wardrobe for warmer days
Once winter is over, proper storage is the final step in ensuring your kid’s down jacket looks as good as new the following year.
Clean before storing: Never put away a down jacket that has not been cleaned. Organic stains (food, perspiration) can oxidise and become permanent over time.
Choosing a garment cover: Never use airtight plastic covers or vacuum bags. Down needs to breathe. Choose a cotton fabric cover or a large canvas bag that protects against dust while allowing air to circulate.
Do not compress: Hang the down jacket on a wide, sturdy hanger to avoid marking the shoulders. If you need to fold it, do so without packing it tightly. A feather compressed for too long will eventually lose its elasticity.
Natural protection: Slip a small sachet of cedar or lavender into the cover. As well as delicately scenting the garment, it protects natural materials from moths in an environmentally friendly way.
Mistakes to Avoid: A Quick Reminder
Never iron: The heat of an iron would melt the synthetic fibres in our technical fabrics.
Drying on a hanger : A wet down jacket is heavy; hanging it would cause all the down to sink to the bottoms.
A scorching radiator: Direct heat can irreparably damage the delicate outer fabric.
Putting it away too soon : Always wait 24h after drying to ensure no moisture remains deep within the feathers.
A well-cared-for down jacket promises countless outings in the fresh air, snugly protected from the winter chill. By caring for these precious pieces, you preserve not only their warmth but also memories of first slides and shared laughter beneath the snowflakes.
Does your little explorer already have their armour against winter? To create cosy layers and complete their wardrobe, discover our beautiful sweaters and cardigans in soft knitwear, our comfortable trousers designed for adventure, and our essential bodies for girls and boys in ultra-soft cotton to wear under a down jacket. Pieces with refined finishing touches, timeless colours and carefully selected materials to wrap them in tenderness all season long.
