Be Smart in Choosing Down Filled Garments - Wash and Maintain Them
Properly - CHOICE # 423 (January 16, 2012)
PDF version
Down filled garments are favourite clothes in cold winter days
because of their great ability to keep warmth and their lightness.
Consumers are reminded however that, while taking budget and
personal needs into account in purchase decision, they should also
be aware of the proper ways to wash and maintain down filled
jackets.
The majority of the down used in garments comprises both down
and feathers of waterfowls. In terms of quality, the down of
grown-up white geese is the best, followed by the down of ducks,
and then other birds. Down and feathers used in garments have to go
through numerous processes, and down filled garments have different
levels of fluffiness and down content, hence the difference in
price.
The Consumer Council received 225 complaint cases regarding down
garments in the past 3 years, most of which (117 cases, 52%) were
about cleaning services of laundry shops. Complaints received last
year marked a sharp rise to more than a hundred cases, in which,
75% concerned with laundry services.
The latest issue of CHOICE magazine highlights some typical
complaint cases on the down filled garments:
A complainant purchased a black colour ladies' down filled
jacket in late December 2010 at HK$3,550. A month later, she found
some down feathers kept coming out from the jacket, she therefore
lodged a complaint to the shop, and she got a replacement of the
same jacket. However, the replacement gave her the same problem.
When she went to the shop to complain again in March 2011, the
salesperson suggested her to choose another jacket of different
model as a replacement. However, the complainant could not find a
suitable one at that time. In June, she was notified by the shop
that the replacement offer would expire by August. Discontented
with the shop's practice, she came to the Council for assistance.
After the reconciliation work by the Council, the shop agreed to
extend the time for replacement offer.
Another complaint case involved laundry services. A complainant
took her black colour down filled jacket to a laundry shop for dry
cleaning and found the colour of the jacket turned grey after
cleaning. She requested a compensation for the cost of her jacket,
which was HK$2,900. The shop suggested to settle the dispute for
HK$450 in cash plus an offer of laundry voucher worth HK$1,000. But
the proposed solution was refused by the complainant. Later when
the complainant re-approached the shop to resolve the dispute, the
shop made no response to her. The Council suggested her to pursue
the claim in the Small Claims Tribunal.
Consumers are reminded to pay attention to the quality of the
down filled garment when purchasing the product, and to carry out
proper maintenance after the purchase. When sending their garment
for washing by laundry shop, they should choose one with good
reputation and high level of responsibility.
The Council provides the following advice to consumers who
intend to purchase a down filled garment which they find
comfortable to wear and which suit their needs:
- Check if the label contains adequate details, including: down
and feathers ratio, fill weight, instructions for washing and
drying and so forth.
- Touch the garment - if you can easily feel the shafts of the
feathers in the down filling, it means there are relatively more
feathers than down in the garment; and hence its warmth keeping
ability is correspondingly low.
- Gently squeeze a corner of the jacket and then let go, and see
how quick it could return to its original shape, and its
fluffiness. The quicker it returns to its original shape, the
higher the down content is, and hence better quality.
- Pay attention to the quality of the stitches sewn on the clothes
and check if the sewing is done well.
For good maintenance of down filled garments, consumers are
advised to take heed of the following:
- Avoid frequent washing of the down filled garment. When wash,
do it according to the maintenance instructions listed on the label
provided by the manufacturer. Consumers are advised to avoid
purchasing those items which do not come with clear labels about
its down content and instructions for maintenance.
- For down filled garments which are labelled as washable, use
appropriate cleaning agents, and follow washing procedures in the
instructions. Do not use fabric softener after cleaning.
- Washable garments should be dried thoroughly with frequent
batting after washing, in order to avoid the development of moulds
which will produce bad odour.
- Store the down filled garment in an air permeable cotton bag
after washing and thorough drying. Avoid using plastic bags as it
will produce a bad smell after the garment is stored in it for some
time.
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