How To Make Your Jackets Last Longer

One underestimated reason is not realizing that a jacket actually might not be giving up on you. You might be giving up on them instead. You see, outerwear is meant to be cared for properly. You might be wondering if it isn’t so for any garment. Yes, but outerwear isn’t like other garments. They serve a purpose. They deliver specific functionalities and come with features to be of use in specific environments. They typically cost more too. 

That Port Authority f217 fleece jacket you bought a few months back is not meant to be replaced after a few months. Neither is that absolute masterpiece of a soft shell jacket from The North Face NFOA3LGV. They could stick around for many seasons if they are cared for the right way.

It all starts (and often ends) with the fabric.

Not a lot of American consumers look into the fabric of the jacket they are wearing. If a blank jacket looks amazing and offers the features and functionality they want, they just buy it. Most of us are brand-aware, though. I mean, we love our outerwear brands. We’ve hardcore OGIO fans here at ShirtsBargain. 

Cotton is very breathable, very comfortable, and very much prone to damage. A cotton jacket can quickly lose its charm without proper care (emphasis on proper), even if you wash it regularly. To wash jackets made of cotton and cotton blends, always use cold water. We don’t recommend machine washing cotton jackets unless the jacket label specifically says it’s okay to machine wash. Turning the jacket inside out before washing can help prevent exterior fading. You can use mild detergents, but make sure not to use bleach. You may also want to be careful not to get stains on a cotton jacket. But if it does come to pass, quickly use cold water to prevent any permanent markings.

Drying cotton jackets is pretty straightforward. Air drying is a safe bet. High heat might damage the fabric and cause shrinkage in some cases. Low heat is generally safe. 

Bonus tip: Hang cotton jackets on shaped hangers. This helps maintain the jacket’s structure.

Synthetic or not, polyester jackets are arguably the most common outerwear in America. They are also preferred for the fabric material’s properties like wrinkle resistance and quick drying. However, all that convenience doesn’t make them maintenance-free. If you identified the jacket’s fabric as polyester or a polyester blend (one with more polyester than other materials), that’s your cue to check the care label. That’s the first thing you would want to do.

Most polyester jackets, including ones with GORE-TEX, can be machine-washed. But keep in mind that not every polyester jacket could be washed the same way. The material quality, any color dyes used, and even the manufacturing process need to be considered to figure out exactly how the jacket can be washed to extend its longevity. The care label helps a lot here.

Getting back to washing polyester jackets, know that mild detergent is your friend as long as they are liquid. Don’t go with detergent powders or harsh cleaning agents. If you love using fabric softeners for the fragrance, keep those away too. That stuff can cause serious damage to the fibers over time. Stained areas can be cleaned with gentle stain-remover solutions. Do not vigorously rub the poly jacket, especially if the material is a blend. We recommend drying it out in the air, but low heat works too (care label... again). For storage, folding works better than hanging, as hangers can create shoulder bumps in lightweight polyester jackets.

Bonus tip: High heat drying can easily destroy synthetic materials like polyester. Machine drying often damages the fabric too.

Down jackets also need special handling, especially to maintain their insulating properties. Considering that the fabric is premium and high-quality, care is vital to ensure longevity. Approach it just like you would a polyester jacket, by checking the care label first. Also, before washing, make sure the pockets don’t have any loose items in them that could damage the fabric.

We recommend using front-loading washers, as top-loading ones can cause agitator damage. Gentle cycles with cold water and low-speed spin are the most recommended ways to wash down jackets. Something that’s commonly overlooked in the washing of down jackets is ensuring there is no soap residue. Miss a spot, and it will likely do irreversible damage to the fabric. After washing, it’s best to ensure there are no damp spots on the jacket. You can tumble dry the jacket on low heat or air dry it. Storage is critical for down. Never compress long-term in vacuum bags—this crushes the down clusters permanently. Instead, store loosely in breathable cotton storage bags.

Bonus tip: Add clean tennis balls to the dryer to re-fluff down clusters

Fleece jackets like the ST245 Jacket from Sport-Tek and those from Port Authority Jackets offer exceptional warmth with minimal weight (and at great prices in ShirtsBargain). They are prone to pilling, however. So caring for fleece and fleece-lined jackets is all about preventing that and maintaining loft. These jackets are delicate, and so they need delicate wash cycles. With cold water, of course. To minimize pilling, always turn the jackets inside out. This protects the outer layer. It is possible to restore pilled fleece to an extent using fabric shavers. But let’s just avoid it entirely.

The jackets can be air-dried or dried on low heat. To maintain the cozy texture of fleece jackets, we recommend folding them when storing them.

Bonus tip: Never wash fleece jackets with towels or denim. 

Accidents happen. You’ll be surprised how many people make it worse when their jackets take a hit. Here are some fixes to common disasters.

Coffee spills: Blot immediately; don't rub. We recommend a cold water rinse followed by spot cleaning.

Broken zipper: You can temporarily fix it with a safety pin. But it’s easily replaceable too. We don’t get this a lot from our customers who own CornerStone jackets or premium styles from OGIO Jacket and Eddie Bauer Jackets.

Torn seam: Professional repair is what we would recommend. But if that option isn’t present at the time, try some quick hand-stitching to prevent further damage.

The most effective jacket care happens before problems start. No one wants to spend money on replacements. For organizations that can do the math, it’s pretty evident how surprisingly high workplace jacket replacement costs can get. The whole hassle can be avoided (or at least delayed) with the kind of care that extends the life of jackets dramatically. But if replacement is unavoidable, you can rest assured that ShirtsBargain can help with the best per-unit prices and volume discounts on jackets for every budget range, no matter the brand. 

Quality apparel deserves quality care. We wish to make your investment count.