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Washing down jacket with duct tape on it

Original Post
JeffL · · Salt Lake City · Joined Jun 2012 · Points: 65

I've got a puffy that I climb in.. chimneys and all. Not really concerned how it looks as I have a few other puffy's that I'd wear when I'm not climbing. I've fixed a couple holes with duct tape, and am wondering how the washing/drying process will go with tape on the jacket. I realize now, I should have used something other than duct tape to patch the hole, but you know what they say about hindsight...

I've got a front loader washer, planning on using oxyclean and a mild detergent. For the dryer, planning on putting tennis balls in with the load, but even on low heat, will the duct tape melt or come out for the worst?

frankstoneline · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 30

Hand wash and hang dry is probably your best bet to not shred the tape and make a mess of things.

beccs · · Ontario Canada · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 200

I have a bit of duct tape on my one jacket and I've washed it a few times now.

Wash - gentle cycle, warm water, down wash
Dry - low heat or air dry, toss a couple of tennis balls in there to stop the down from clumping up.

Clos · · newhall · Joined Oct 2014 · Points: 0

yep, you definitely want to use a Woollite type soap, front loading is best and hang dry, but if you must use a dryer then be sure to use tennis balls to keep from flatting or clumping up. oxyclean is very very strong, great for stains and such. but not really for delicate clothing.

TraxFactory · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2014 · Points: 0

I've been using Ripstop tape for similar repairs, I like the sailrite product, not totally waterproof but pretty good.

angus Morrison · · carbondale, colorado · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 25

I have always used SeamGrip. WOrks like a champ for small holes in any jacket. I just gooped a small amount over 1/4" holes with no down leakage. For larger rips, Align tear and compress. get all the down in the jacket or out of it. Apply Seamgrip or Aquaseal (Aqua is thicker) and put masking tape over it and put a heavy something on it till morning. Peel off tape when dry.
For shell jacket tears, tape outside with masking tape and SeamGrip inside. Peel off tape when dry.

grubbers · · West Shore · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 0

Replace the duct tape with Tenacious Tape. The patches on my DAS Parka have been there for over 5 years and have made it through at least a half dozen wash cycles.

evan h · · Longmont, CO · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 360

Reviving this thread. Anyone washed a puffy with a top-load machine? I know the concern about the agitator, but perhaps delicate mode will be fine?

reboot · · . · Joined Jul 2006 · Points: 125

^^^

I've done it multiple times. The annoyance is w/ the down jacket "float" on top of the water, which is less than optimal for a clean wash. What I've done is fill water first, put the jacket in a stuff sack (to get as much air out as possible), and then release it under water. You'll probably still end up squeeze air out of the jacket, but it's a bit easier.

Chris C · · Seattle, WA · Joined Mar 2016 · Points: 396

Get some Gear Aid Seam Grip Repair.  It'll outlast the rest of the jacket.

Robin Rosner · · Cleveland, OH · Joined Aug 2018 · Points: 0

Thanks to all of you!!  I googled about "can duct tape be put in the dryer" or similar because of the crappy material these days of for sheets and bedding.  I have never had stuff tear as easily and have always had my pups share my bed and this has never happened...so I wanted to try and patch from the reverse side.  But now reading your posts I see a couple products I'm going to check into.  I know about the sailrite company and never realized they had some product that might work!  Thank you!!

Stever · · WA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 56

Has anyone had any success with removing the duct tape? I want to replace the tape on my jacket before I wash it but I can’t get the duct tape off

Andre Chiang · · Durham · Joined Mar 2019 · Points: 95

Eternabond Roof Seal is apparently good, Sean Villanueva O'Driscoll uses it so it must work. 

Allen Sanderson · · On the road to perdition · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 1,203
Stever wrote: Has anyone had any success with removing the duct tape? I want to replace the tape on my jacket before I wash it but I can’t get the duct tape off

Carefully warm it (the glue). Use an iron on low heat. But do place the iron directly on the fabric or duct tape, place a towel on top, then iron,

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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