How Often You Really Need to Wash Your Winter Coat

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

We all have plenty of laundry to do on a regular basis, so a seasonal item we wear less frequently may not work its way into our normal wash routine. How often, for example, do you think to wash your winter coat? No matter how you answer that—because, honestly, most people don't think about that one very frequently—let’s look at how often you should. The answer depends on a few factors, including how often you wear each coat and the material it’s made of.

Wash wool and leather coats seasonally

Wool and leather coats should be cleaned once per season, provided they get less wear than your other coats. If you wear them often, opt for twice per season. So, wash it once around early November and again in late January to make sure it’s clean enough to last through early March. Luckily, says Cheryl Nelson, a laundry pro and founder of PrepareWithCher.com, wool naturally repels dirt and odors, so you can get away with slightly less frequent washing than other coats. For tips on cleaning leather and wool, check out my guide here.

Exercise caution, though: Wendy Saladyga, Fabric Care Expert and Manager of Technical Performance at Henkel for Persil, points out that while some wool coats are fine to wash in a machine, others are dry clean-only and if you accidentally wash non-washable wool, you could be left with irreversible shrinkage. Check your tag, please!

Wash fleece jackets more frequently

Fleece jackets should be washed every few wears, says Saladyga. If you wear yours every day, do it every week. You can get five or six wears out of one, but anything after that is dicier. (Of course, if you notice them getting dirty faster, wash them sooner than that.) Don’t iron them and be sure to dry fleece jackets on a line to keep them soft and fluffy.

Rain jackets need more regular cleaning

Rain jackets should be cleaned regularly, since you only wear those when the weather is bad. If you live in a rainy area, opt for a twice-a-month wash schedule. Otherwise, clean them once per month (as long as you actually wore it that month, which you might not if you don't live in a very wet climate). Make sure the jacket is zipped up when you wash it, wash it per the instructions on the tag, and finish it off with a waterproof coating or repellant after you dry it. I have a complete guide on washing raincoats here, since it's actually a pretty involved process. You want a solid repellant to apply when you're done, so consider this set from Nikwax:

Down coats are similar to wool ones

You might think that because the fluffy, absorbent parts of your down coat are tucked away within a repellant surface, you're safer here—but these still need regular washing. Nelson says the filling can still trap oils and odors inside, which means that if this is your daily-wear coat, you need to wash it pretty often. You want to wash down coats as frequently as other coats, so twice per season at least. You do want this to be a gentle process, however, so don’t use a washing machine with an agitator. Use a gentle detergent—ideally one designed for down coats—and dry it on a low heat. Toss in some dryer balls to fluff it back up while it dries, Nelson says, but remove it while it’s still a bit damp and hang it to dry the rest of the way.

General coat-cleaning basics

No matter what kind of coat you have, there are some general rules to follow for cleaning. Saladyga says that at the very least, you have to wash it once per season, but you also need to spot clean any time you get the coat dirty.

A great time to wash the coat, according to both Saladyga and Nelson, is right before you put it in storage at the end of winter, so it maintains its appearance better and is ready when you need it next year. Dirt and oils can set in deeper if left on the fabric while it's in storage. Plus, Nelson says, "The last thing you want is to drop your coat off at the dry cleaner and then not have it during a late-season cold snap."