Guide for Softening Carhartt Coats
Carhartt jackets are renowned for their durability and ruggedness, but their firm duck canvas fabric can initially feel stiff. To help you break in your jacket and make it softer, here's a step-by-step guide to softening a Carhartt jacket at home.
Materials and Tips
To soften your Carhartt jacket, you'll need the following:
- Mild detergent (avoid fabric softeners)
- Warm water (machine wash around 40°C)
- Dryer (medium heat tumble dry)
- Optional: gentle brushing or rubbing by hand
Steps to Soften a Carhartt Jacket
- Wash the Jacket: Machine wash your jacket using warm water (around 40°C) with mild detergent, avoiding bleach or fabric softeners, which can damage the fabric and reduce water resistance.
- Tumble Dry on Medium Heat: After washing, tumble dry the jacket on a medium heat setting. This process helps break in the fabric and soften the stiff canvas fibers.
- Manual Softening: After the jacket is dry, further soften it by wearing it frequently during activities or by gently rubbing and flexing the fabric with your hands. Some owners recommend repeatedly bending and massaging the fabric or even lightly scrubbing difficult stiff spots.
- Repeat if Needed: If the jacket is still too stiff, you can repeat the wash-dry-soften process a couple of times for better results. The fabric naturally becomes softer with continued wear and washing.
Important Notes
- Avoid dry cleaning or bleaching as these can harm the jacket’s durability and texture.
- Do not use fabric softeners; Carhartt specifically states this as part of care to maintain fabric strength and weather resistance.
- The canvas fabric is designed to soften gradually as you break it in by wearing and moving in it.
By following these steps and allowing natural wear, your Carhartt jacket will become markedly softer while maintaining its rugged durability.
Additional Tips
- The jacket will not shrink because it is already fully dry, and the tennis ball will bounce around during the cycle, making the jacket soft and pliable.
- Iron the Carhartt jacket on low heat to remove any harsh lines and bumps, making it look, fit, and feel better. This step is optional.
- Restart the washer and allow it to complete the rinse cycle, then run an extra rinse cycle if needed to remove any traces of vinegar.
- Move the jacket to the dryer and run it on a low-heat fluff cycle until it's dry to the touch, checking it every half an hour.
- After the rinse cycle, allow the water to drain and remove the jacket without allowing it to go through the spin cycle.
- Allow the jacket to dry completely before putting it on to prevent it from drying in an unusual shape.
Use mild detergent and warm water (around 40°C) to wash your Carhartt jacket, as a part of a balanced home-and-garden care routine for your lifestyle. After washing, tumble dry the jacket on a medium heat setting; this step, when combined with manual softening like wearing it frequently and gentle hand rubbing, can help soften the home-and-garden heavy-duty canvas fibers.
