As we adjust to the autumn weather, it’s time to dig out and brush off our jackets. The best way to ensure that your jacket lasts the whole autumn and winter season is to properly care for it. This is your pea coat care guide. 

• Remove lint, pet hair, and debris
• Make repairs
• Pre-wash 
• Pre-treat 
• Machine wash
• Hand wash 
• Dry

Remove lint, pet hair, and debris 

Pea coats, and coats in general, only need to be washed twice a season. To ensure that your pea coat stays in top condition between washes, remove lint, pet hair, and debris once a week. Hang your coat on a hanger, where you can clearly see it. Using a soft-bristled brush, gently brush away any debris that you can see. Then, use a lint brush to remove any lingering lint and/or pet hair. If you don’t own a lint brush, sticky tape works just as well. Make sure that you do both the front and back of your coat, not forgetting the arms as well. 

Make repairs 

Rips, tears, and holes can be expected when you’re wearing a coat on a regular basis, especially if you have owned said coat for a number of years. Luckily, pea coats are often made from wool or a similar material, so any damage is easily fixed. Simply sew the damage up using a needle and thread the same colour as your jacket. Small rips and holes don’t require any special sewing skills, however, if the damage is more advanced, you may want to take it to a tailor. It’s always better to get small repairs done on a well-loved coat than buy a new one. 

Pre-wash

When the time comes to wash your pea coat, it’s important to make sure that you empty all of your pockets. You don’t want to wash your coat, only to realise that there was a tissue in your pocket that is now stuck to your coat forever. Once you have emptied your pockets, zip-up any zips and fasten any fastenings, except for buttons as this could stretch your pea coat out of shape. After you have made sure that your pockets are emptied and fastened any fastenings, your coat is ready to be washed. 

Pre-treat

Before you wash your pea coat, check for stains. The most important places to check for stains are the collar and cuffs of your coat. If you do find stains, simply mix a solution of mild laundry detergent and water, and gently rub this directly onto the stain. You can use your fingers or a soft-bristled brush, but be gentle to avoid damaging your coat and setting the stain further into it. Leave your pre-treatment for 15 minutes, giving it ample time to penetrate the stains. After 15 minutes, your coat will be ready to wash. 

Machine wash 

To machine wash your pea coat, first turn your coat inside out and place it in a laundry bag. This will ensure that your coat isn’t damaged in the washing machine. Set your washing machine to a delicate, cool temperature cycle. Avoid using a hot wash setting as this will damage the delicate fibres of your coat. If your washing machine has a wool-specific setting, use that rather than a delicate cycle. Finally, add a gentle laundry detergent to your machine. Make sure that you are using a gentle laundry detergent as this will dissolve any dirt on your clothing without being too harsh.

Hand wash 

If you would prefer to hand wash your pea coat, you can do so using cold water and a gentle laundry detergent. Begin the hand washing process by filling a basin with cold water. Make sure that your water is cold and not warm or hot. Once your basin is full, add a small amount of gentle laundry detergent and completely submerge your coat. Use a gentle swishing motion to ensure that your full coat is being penetrated by the laundry detergent. Then, leave it to sit for at least 15 minutes. Once you are satisfied that your pea coat has been adequately washed, rinse it with fresh cold water, making sure that all of the detergent has been removed. After rinsing your coat do not ring it out. Instead, gently squeeze each section of your coat to remove as much excess water as possible. 

Dry

Regardless of whether you are using a washing machine or hand washing your pea coat, avoid using a tumble dryer. Using a tumble dryer can damage the delicate wool fibres of your pea coat. Instead, lay your coat flat on a clean, dry, towel, on a completely flat surface. You may be tempted to hang your coat up to dry, but this will cause your coat to sag and become misshapen. Laying it on a flat surface ensures that it keeps its shape and the fibres aren’t damaged. It can take a few days for your coat to completely dry, however, it is worth it to ensure that your pea coat stays in the best condition possible. 

If you are worried about washing your pea coat, we’re here to help. Book your coat in for a Laundryheap dry clean by heading to the Laundryheap website or downloading the free Laundryheap app.