How to Wash Heated Jacket? | Care Steps That Keep It Working

The right way to wash a heated jacket comes down to one rule: keep the electrical parts dry and protected. Since these garments pair lithium-ion batteries with thin heating wires running through the shell, a mistake like tossing it in with the battery attached can ruin both the jacket and the power source.

There’s no single universal washing spec that fits every brand. DEWALT’s care guidance differs from Milwaukee’s, and both differ from what your jacket’s own care tag says. The steps below cover the safe pattern that works across most models, followed by the brand-specific details that matter.

Before Anything Else, Remove the Battery and Secure the Wiring

Take out the battery pack and any separate battery controller before the jacket touches water. Leaving it in risks a short circuit and permanent damage to the heating system.

After removal, push the power cord back into the pocket where the controller lives and zip or button it closed. This keeps the connector from banging around inside the machine and reduces stress on the wiring during the wash. For jackets where the battery or controller can’t be removed, most care guides advise against washing the garment entirely.

Check every pocket, close all zippers and Velcro, and turn the jacket inside out if the care tag allows it. This protects both the outer fabric and the interior wiring from snagging.

Machine Washing: The Gentle Cycle Method

If your care tag permits machine washing, place the jacket in a mesh laundry bag to keep the heating wires from getting bent or compressed. Use a mild liquid detergent and skip fabric softeners, bleach, and strong or biological powders entirely.

• Cycle: gentle or delicate only. Aggressive cycles can flex the heating elements too much.
• Water temperature: cold for most brands; some manufacturers permit warm.
• Load: wash the jacket alone or with lightweight items. Heavy clothing can press down on the heating layer.

Milwaukee’s official operator’s manual for its M12 heated jacket models takes a slightly different path: machine wash on a Gentle Cycle in warm water, no bleach, no dry cleaning, no wringing or twisting, then tumble dry on low heat. That last step is the notable exception here — most brands tell you to skip the dryer, but Milwaukee explicitly allows it.

Hand Washing: The Safest Option for Most Jackets

Hand washing remains the gentlest method and the default choice when the care tag is unclear. Fill a basin or tub with cold or lukewarm water, add a small amount of mild detergent, and submerge the jacket.

Gently press the water through the fabric rather than scrubbing or wringing. Heated jackets carry thin wires between the insulation layers, and twisting the shell can break or kink them. Rinse thoroughly until all soap is gone, then lift the jacket out and let it drain.

Drying and What to Avoid Afterward

Air drying is the safe default for nearly every heated jacket. Hang it in a ventilated area away from direct heat sources, radiators, or sunlight, and let it dry completely before reinstalling the battery. Reconnecting power to a damp jacket is the fastest way to damage the system.

DEWALT’s support page for its DCJ069 and DCJ067 heated jacket models tells owners to wash and dry according to the garment care tag, using a commercial liquid soap and avoiding fabric softeners, biological powders, strong detergents, bleach, dry cleaning, and ironing. The care tag is the final authority for your specific jacket.

Common mistakes that end heated jackets early: washing with the battery installed, using bleach or fabric softener, hot water when the tag forbids it, wringing or twisting, ironing, dry cleaning, and tumble drying when the manufacturer doesn’t allow it. Skip all of those and the jacket will keep its heat for many seasons.

If you’re comparing models and care requirements before buying, our tested roundup of the best women’s heated jackets covers the options side by side. DEWALT’s official support page for the DCJ069 and DCJ067 models lays out the full care process, and Milwaukee’s operator’s manual for its M12 heated gear confirms the warm-water and low-heat dryer exception.

FAQs

Can you put a heated jacket in the dryer?

Only if the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific model allow it. Milwaukee explicitly permits low-heat tumble drying for its M12 heated gear, but most other brands recommend air drying to avoid damaging the internal heating elements. Check the care tag before risking the dryer.

What happens if you wash a heated jacket with the battery in it?

Water can seep into the battery compartment and cause a short circuit, potentially ruining the battery pack and the jacket’s heating system. The battery should always be removed and the power cord secured inside its pocket before any washing method.

Can you use fabric softener on a heated jacket?

No. Fabric softeners can coat the internal wiring and heating elements with residue that affects performance. DEWALT’s official guidance specifically prohibits fabric softeners, and most other manufacturers give the same warning.