Originally Posted by
Squeezebox
Technically down is washable. You do need to use the real big front loader at the laundrymat, and the right soap. It can be done. But it is certainly more of a project than synthetic.
I've always heard you're supposed to put a tennis ball in the dryer, with down. I've never tried it yet, with my down jacket, because I don't play tennis, and just never think of it, at stores. 😉
But I just scored an old North Face synthetic (100% polyester filling) bag yesterday, in like new condition. It has the old brown logo on a sewn-on patch, so probably from the early '80s, or maybe '70s. The bag and it's storage bag are both still super crinkly, like they were never washed yet. Oh, and long enough for my 6'2"-ish height, with a few extra inches. 😎