If you have a Patagonia fleece, you know how important it is to take care of the garment. This article will tell you everything you need to know about washing a Patagonia fleece, from when and how often you should wash your fleece all the way down to what detergent to use. We’ll also talk about some other helpful tips for keeping your favorite Patagonia fleece in good condition for years!
The best way to wash a Patagonia fleece is by hand. If you don’t have time for that, do not put the fleece in the dryer. Machine washing is not recommended Patagonia fleece because it can damage the material and cause pilling to occur.
We’ll cover the best ways to wash your Patagonia fleece, including some quick-fixes if you don’t have time for the whole process of washing by hand and hanging to dry.
How to Handwash a Patagonia Fleece
Follow these steps for best results:
- Fill a sink or basin with cool or warm water.
- Add a small amount of gentle detergent, such as Woolite, for delicate fabrics.
- Swish the fleece around in the soapy water until it is well saturated.
- Let the fleece soak for about 15 minutes.
- Rinse the fleece thoroughly in cool running water until all of the soap is gone.
- Gently squeeze the fleece to remove excess water (do not wring).
- Hang the fleece to dry by attaching it to a sturdy hanger with clips or clothespins.
- If you have a utility room where there is a furnace running, hang your fleece in there to dry it faster.
If you’re in a hurry, here are some tips for washing your Patagonia fleece in the washing machine.
How to Wash a Patagonia Fleece in the Machine
Wash a Patagonia fleece in cold water on the gentle or delicate cycle.
- Use a gentle laundry detergent and add ΒΌ cup baking soda to remove any excess dirt/odor from your item before you wash it.
- Run an extra rinse cycle to ensure all of the soap is removed from the garment after washing.
- Remove from the washer and hang to dry. With the fleece on the hanger, shake several times to fluff it up a bit before drying.
If you want to fluff up the fleece a bit once it’s dry, put it on the no-heat fluff cycle of your dryer.
Can You Take a Patagonia Fleece to the Cleaners?
While you can technically dry clean a Patagonia fleece, it is not necessary. You can easily wash your fleece at home. However, it won’t cause any harm to your fleece to take it to the cleaners. But if you are concerned about the chemicals they use, you can look for a cleaner that uses more eco-friendly practices.
Can You Dry a Patagonia Fleece in the Dryer?
Never, ever put your fleece in the dryer! It will shrink and ruin your garment. It an actually melt the fibers if the heat is too high.
If you don’t want to hang dry, you can use a drying rack to allow your fleece to dry flat with plenty of airflow around it to help it dry faster.
What If My Fleece Is Pilling?
Pilling is a sign that your very durable Patagonia fleece has worn down. Generally, the longer you use it and wash it, the more pilling will occur.
There are some things you can do to minimize pill but there is no way to completely get rid of them without damaging the fabric or making it look worse than before. If the surface is pilled really bad, you may want to consider replacing your garment.
How Do You Remove Stains From a Patagonia Fleece?
Stains can come from anything that gets on the fabric such as makeup or dirt and oil stains like sunscreen or cooking grease. It is important to quickly wash out any fresh stains with cold water before they settle deeply into the fabric.
The Patagonia website has a great guide for stain removal. Some of the recommendations for cleaning include using a gentle detergent or rubbing alcohol to spot clean without causing damage.
Other simple ideas include:
- White vinegar and lemon juice: for berry stains
- Liquid detergent: sap, oils, coffee, chocolate
- Peroxide and water (3:1): wine
You can also try a stain stick. But whatever you choose, it’s always a good idea to do a patch test somewhere inconspicuous to make sure the solution you’ve chosen doesn’t create a new problem!
Cleaning Patagonia Fleece Is Easy!
If you take care not to do anything extreme and if you act quickly, you can tackle almost any stain that befalls your Patagonia fleece. If you handwash your fleece, you’ll be able to steer clear of a number of the biggest risks, including high temperatures and excessive scrubbing that can lead to pilling.