Jacket Care Tips: Keep Your Jackets Looking New Longer

When you invest in a good jacket, a durable outer layer designed to protect against weather and add style. Also known as coat, it's one of the most-used pieces in your wardrobe. But without proper care, even the best jacket can lose its shape, color, or water resistance fast. The good news? Simple habits make a huge difference. You don’t need fancy products or professional dry cleaning every time—just the right approach.

Jacket material, the fabric type that determines how it reacts to water, heat, and friction is the first thing to check. A wool jacket, a warm, naturally insulating outerwear made from sheep’s fiber should never go in the dryer. Air it out after wear, brush off lint with a soft brush, and spot-clean stains with a damp cloth. For leather jacket, a tough, flexible outerwear made from treated animal hide, use a damp cloth and leather conditioner every few months. Skip the soap—it dries out the material. And if you’ve got a waterproof jacket, a technical outerwear designed to repel rain while allowing sweat to escape, reapply a durable water repellent (DWR) spray when water stops beading on the surface. That’s not optional—it’s how you keep it working.

Storage matters just as much as cleaning. Never hang a heavy jacket on a thin hanger—it stretches the shoulders. Use a wide, padded hanger, or fold it neatly and store it in a cool, dry place. Avoid plastic bags; they trap moisture and cause mildew. A cotton garment bag is better. And don’t cram it into a crowded closet. Give it room to breathe. If you’re storing it for months, throw in a cedar block to keep moths away and smell fresh.

Most people think jackets only need care after they’re dirty. But the real secret? Care starts the moment you take it off. Shake it out, hang it up, and let it air for a few hours. That one step cuts down on odors, wrinkles, and the need for washing. And when you do wash? Always check the label. Machine washing a down jacket without the right cycle? That’s how you end up with a lumpy, flat mess. Hand washing or using a front-load washer on gentle is the way to go.

You’ll find real-world advice in the posts below—from how to remove salt stains after winter to why your denim jacket looks better after a few washes. We cover everything from cotton field jackets to insulated parkas. No fluff. Just what works.