Here’s How Often You Really Need to Wash Your Winter Coat

Unless you’ve just splashed the contents of your commuter mug on yourself, chances are you haven’t thought too much about how to wash your winter coat. Sure, you give it a shake to clear snow or ice before hanging it up, but washing a winter coat isn’t likely to be high on your list of priorities. Nor anyone else’s, apparently: Whirlpool Canada found that a not-small number of people (16%) never wash their coats, and in the U.K., nearly 40% of respondents washed their coats once a year or less, according to a survey by the retailer Hammonds.

And don’t get me wrong, some coats are tough enough to withstand sub-zero temps and coffee spills. But most could do with a tumble through your washer or even a VIP trip to the cleaners every now and then. How dirty can you let them get? I’ve considered burning my winter coat after a crowded mass-transit trip in New York City, so I am particularly here for this question.

To get to the bottom of how, and how often, to wash a winter coat, I talked to Jill Roberts, a professor in environmental health microbiology at the University of South Florida College of Public Health, and Linsey Morgan, owner of Linsey’s Laundry, a personal laundry service in St. Louis. They set me straight before I resorted to the most drastic measures. Pull up a laundry basket and keep reading to learn more.

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How often should you wash your winter coat?

Once a season is a good baseline, and Morgan says to do it when the winter’s over, “so that way, it’s stored away clean.” You could, of course, wash your winter coat more often if you, say, spill something on it (ahem). Outerwear worn closer to the body while exercising, like that fleece thermal layer you wear running, should be washed more often. (Likewise if it smells like a bonfire.)

How about the germs? Is that anything to worry about? “I don’t think it’s as bad as you think,” Roberts says. (Deep exhale!) “Fabrics can hold microorganisms for a short time period,” she says, but otherwise they don’t support growth very well. “Bacteria and viruses both need nutrient sources, just like we do, and coats don’t provide that.”

“I would take the word of a microbiologist over mine,” Morgan says. “If your coat stinks, by all means, you need to wash it,” Roberts (the microbiologist) says, adding that her advice stands regardless of whether you’re dealing with spilled food or body odor. But otherwise? Once a year is fine.

What can happen when you don’t clean your coat enough?

From a purely superficial perspective, winter coats will lose their looks over time if you don’t wash them when they start looking or smelling dirty. But aside from appearance, dirt and sweat can start to break down fabrics, shortening their lifespan. We owe it to our outerwear to give it a wash at least once a season.

What’s the best way to clean a winter coat?

It depends on the material, so check your coat’s care label—it’s there for a reason. It’s fine if you want to live on the edge with, say, a T-shirt. But when it comes to costly outerwear that’s meant to last you through (hopefully) several seasons, you need to pay attention to laundry symbols. Be aware that coats might have multiple care labels for individual components, like the liner, shell or detachable hood.

Many coats are machine-washable, but even if the label says you can wash it, dry cleaning is always an option. “The dry-cleaning processes will kill everything,” Roberts says. So if you want a sanitized coat—at least until the next time you wear it—you might consider taking it to the cleaners.

If you do wash it at home, Roberts recommends air-drying it in the sunshine. “Exposure to sunlight will kill viruses,” she says.

How to wash a winter coat

Ahead, we have four expert-approved washing methods for different types of winter coats. One thing to note, regardless of the material: Zip up any zippers before tossing the coat into the washer. Morgan says this prevents your coat from getting twisted up—or worse, snagging the washing machine baffles or any other items you’ve tossed into the wash.

How to wash a down coat

A dirty down jacket seems almost better than one that’s been completely flattened by the wrong cleaning method. Always read the label first for proper care. Typically, you’ll do this:

1. Run your coat through the gentle cycle using a gentle detergent and cold water. Morgan suggests using Nikwax Down Wash Direct or another detergent made expressly for down fabrics.
2. Dry on low heat, adding tennis balls or wool balls to the dryer. The constant battering from the bouncing balls is key to restoring loft to the down insulation.

How to wash a Thinsulate coat

For coats made from Thinsulate or other synthetic materials, reading the care label is nonnegotiable. But in general:

1. Wash the coat in cold water, using a gentle detergent and either the gentle or permanent-press washing machine cycle.
2. Air-dry.

How to wash a fleece coat

Fleece can generally just be tossed into the washing machine. The steps are simple:

1. Wash the coat on the permanent-press cycle with cool water and regular detergent.
2. Air-dry. (Morgan says you can also dry on low heat.)

In my experience, whenever I take a fleece jacket out of the wash, it feels halfway dry already, so I always lay it over a drying rack to finish.

How to wash a wool coat

I’ve had numerous wool coats in my closet over the years, and I’ve always taken them to the dry cleaners at the end of the season, just as the label says. But Morgan reminded me that there is a gentle/wool cycle on my washer for a reason, so I could do this instead:

1. Start a cold wash on a gentle or wool cycle. You want as little agitation as possible to keep the fibers intact.
2. Add some Woolite or another mild laundry detergent created for woolen garments.
3. Air-dry. (Never put wool in the dryer.)

I’ve only ever tried washing a wool blanket. Despite that success, do I dare try washing my wool coat at home after this season? I’ve had it for a few years now, so I wouldn’t be averse to experimenting on something I’ve gotten my use out of. But I just don’t have it in me to throw a newish wool coat into a tub of water. Of course, you might be up for the challenge.

What’s the biggest mistake people make when cleaning their winter coats?

The biggest mistake you can make when cleaning your winter coat is not following the care label (or labels, depending on the makeup of the coat). That said, if the liner instructions are the same as the outer shell, you could throw caution to the wind and wash them at the same time. “The mom in me says wash it together,” says Morgan, adding that she’ll always go for the most efficient way possible.

But remember that washing them in cold water doesn’t kill germs. “Hot water kills microbes, and cold water does not,” Roberts says. If getting a fresh, germ-free coat is the goal, you may want to play it safe and drop your coat off at the dry cleaners. But honestly: “I’ve never, ever reported an outbreak due to people’s coats in their houses,” says Roberts.

Other tips for keeping your winter coat clean

Although you don’t have to worry about how to wash your winter coat nearly as often as your other clothes, the same tips apply when it comes to keeping your outerwear clean.

• Spot-clean as needed. Use detergent or pretreat with a stain remover that’s appropriate for your coat’s material.
• Sort with like colors. A discolored sock is one thing. Your white puffer jacket is quite another. Wash colors with like colors.
• Don’t wash with towels. Wash linens and towels separately to keep lint off your winter coats.
• Empty all pockets. You don’t want to unintentionally launder money (in the noncriminal way, of course) or get shredded tissues all over everything.

FAQs

Can you wash a winter jacket in the washing machine?

It depends on the fabric, but generally, yes. For machine-washable coats, it’s a good idea to close the zippers and turn the coat inside out to protect the fasteners and finish. If you’re washing down, drying the coat with a few tennis balls will help fluff the fill.

Should you wash a winter coat inside out?

Yes. Turning the coat inside out protects the fabric from the heat and friction of the washing machine and dryer. This will keep the color bright and any fabric protector (like water- or wind-proofing treatments) intact.

RELATED:

• Here’s Why People Are Freezing Their Blankets Outside—And Whether You Should Try It Too
• Here’s How to Get the Fluffiest Comforter Ever—You’ll Feel Like You’re Sleeping on a Cloud!
• This Is the Best Time of Day to Run Your Dishwasher, According to an Appliance Expert

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At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this piece on how to wash a winter coat, Barbara Bellesi Zito tapped her experience as a longtime journalist who covers home topics, including cleaning. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources:

• Jill Roberts, PhD, associate professor of environmental health microbiology at the University of South Florida College of Public Health; phone interview, Jan. 31, 2025
• Linsey Morgan, owner of Linsey’s Laundry; phone interview, Jan. 30, 2025
• PR Newswire: “Take a Load Off Your Mind: Why Laundry Should Be Your Go-To Project for Spring”
• Hammonds: “The Dirty Truth: UK’s Washing Habits Revealed”

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