Caring for Your Work Clothes: How to Break in Jackets

Your work clothes are designed to be durable. They protect you from the elements, dirt, debris, and in the case of fire-resistant clothing, even burns. In return, all they need is a little care. Follow these tips to keep your work clothes at their best.

How to Soften a Carhartt Jacket

Carhartt Jackets are among the most popular work clothes on the market, and with good reason--they're rugged, comfortable, and can last for years with the right care. When you first slip into a Carhartt jacket, however, it may feel a little stiff. This is because it needs to be broken in. Here's how to soften Carhartt Jackets:

How to Break in a Carhartt Jacket

If you want to soften a Carharrt jacket like the Carhartt Duck Active Jacket, buy a jacket that is one size larger than your perfect fit. The outer canvas of such jackets is made from 100 percent cotton and will shrink when washed. To break in your Carharrt jacket, follow these simple steps:

1. Close all hooks, zippers, and snaps on the jacket.
2. Place the Carharrt work jacket in the washer by itself. Set washer to the smallest capacity setting and the wash and rinse cycles to cold. Do not add any detergent, bleach, or fabric softener during this process. Chemical softeners can ruin fire-resistant coatings.
3. Allow the washing machine to fill, then add one cup of white vinegar. Run the washer until it reaches the agitation cycle.
4. Let the agitation cycle run, then stop the machine. Let the jacket soak for a few hours. During this time the vinegar will soften the jacket fibers. If the jacket is fire-resistant the vinegar will not damage the garment’s fire-resistant properties.
5. Restart the washer and complete the rinse cycle. Run the rinse cycle again if the jacket still smells of vinegar. When the rinse cycle ends and the water drains, remove the jacket. Do not let the jacket go through the spin cycle.
6. Transfer the jacket to your dryer and dry on a low heat fluff cycle. You can also hang-dry the jacket in a well-ventilated location if you’re concerned it will shrink in the dryer.
7. Allow the jacket to dry completely before trying it on (wearing it while still damp can cause the jacket to dry in an odd shape). If the jacket still feels stiff, place it in the dryer with a clean tennis ball and let the dryer run through a complete cycle. Repeat this step until the jacket feels soft to the touch. 

How to Soften Carhartt Jackets with Cotton Duck Outer Shells

For duck cotton jackets, such as Carhartt Traditional Coat, close all hooks, zippers, and snaps then machine wash on the warm cycle. Tumble dry on medium heat, and remove the jacket as soon as it's dry.

How to Break in Denim Jackets

Denim jackets like the Port Authority Ladies Denim Jacket are easy to break in. Simply machine wash on warm and tumble dry to remove any stiffness.

Breaking in and Washing Fire-Resistant Jackets

Flame-resistant clothing needs special attention to maintain its protective qualities. For instance, when washing Berne Apparel’s Brown Duck Hooded Jacket, you’d need to first close all snaps, zippers, and hooks, then machine wash on warm. The water temperature should not be higher than 140?. Do not wash with any type of chlorine bleach, softeners, or starch.

Tumble dry flame-resistant clothing on low heat. If required, you can iron flame-resistant work clothes using a low heat. Many flame-resistant garments can be dry-cleaned, but check the manufacturer's label to be sure.

How to Wash a Carhartt Winter Jacket

Down and wool liners commonly used in winter jackets have washing requirements that differ from work jackets. To wash winter coats with down linings, follow these instructions:

1. Use detergent designed for down jackets only.
2.  If the hood is detachable, remove it before washing. Hoods without fur linings can be washed with the jacket.
3. Empty all pockets and fasten all zips and snaps.
4. Turn the jacket inside out and wash in cold water.
5. Tumble dry in low heat. Add a couple of tennis balls to fluff up the down. The jacket may take more than one cycle to dry.

If you’re washing winter jackets made of wool, the garment should be hand washed. Remove the hood and fasten all zippers and hooks.

Fill a large sink with cold water and a wool-friendly liquid detergent. Soak the jacket, squeezing it until the garment is soaked through. Let the jacket sit in the water for a few minutes, then drain the sink. Refill the sink with clean, cool water, and rinse the jacket by squeezing and swirling it in the water.

To dry, lay the jacket on an absorbent towel. Roll the jacket and towel into a burrito shape and squeeze to remove water. You’ll have to repeat this process once or twice, using a new towel each time. Finally, press out any wrinkles with your hands and hang to dry.

Looking for more help with softening stiff work clothes? Check out our blog on How to Soften Stiff Work Pants!