When you rest in a sleeping bag, oils or salts from your sweat, as well as dirt from the outside world (particularly fine-grain sand), can accumulate within the bag and weaken the insulation, leaving its less-than-fresh smell. Knowing how to clean a sleeping bag and accomplishing it can extend its life and help you sleep more comfortably, so we’ve compiled a list of everything you need to know about washing sleeping bags.
You may get it washed properly by expert sleeping bag cleaners who will do it in person or electronically. However, it is equally simple to do it yourself. And here is all of what you need to know.
How Long Does The Entire Procedure Take?
Based on whether washing your sleeping bag by hand or in a machine, it might take maybe 1 to 2 hours. It will take about three hours to dry. You also should wrap it up overnight to make it dry.
Ways To Clean Your Sleeping Bag
Get out of your unhealthy sleeping bag by cleaning, caring for, and storing it carefully.
It can ensure that you and your bag stay together in the long haul by following these care and cleaning sleeping bag suggestions. The following part is how to do it.
Everyday Sleeping Bag Care
Follow this advice to extend the life of your sleeping bag and the duration between washings:
- When you go camping, wear clean clothing. The filth and perspiration from the outfits you wore all day will be absorbed by your bag. If it isn’t too hot, donning a stocking hat will protect filthy hair from soiling your bag.
- A lightweight cotton and polyester sleeping bag liner can keep the bag tidy and offer around 10 degrees of temperature. A cotton sheet can be used to form a liner.
- Every day of your vacation, air out your backpack in the sunlight for several minutes.
- Don’t keep your bag in its restrictive stuff sack for extended periods. Constant pressure will wreak havoc on the fill. As soon as you get to camp, unpack and puff your bag.
- Use a toothbrush with soap paste to remove grime from certain areas.
- Sleep straight on a foam pad and then use your sleeping bag as a blanket if it isn’t too cold.
- After your journey, let it air out for about an hour or so in the sun. Whenever you put it away, make sure it’s totally dry. It may be stored in a big cotton or mesh bag, or it can be hung (fully supported) on a peg. Several bags feature a loop for hanging.
Sleeping Bag Washing Instructions
Only cleaning sleeping bags when essential. First, mend any rips. The greatest patch is one that has been sewed on. Nylon ripstop tape or even the adhesive wings of a Band-Aid are also useful in the field.
Then, select a cleaning soap; specialized detergents developed for cleaning down and synthetic sleeping bags are highly suggested. However, if you rinse well, any mild soap will work nicely. Avoid using strong washing detergents. You should also grab some cotton towels and 2-3 tennis balls.
Utilize your bathtub to hand-wash your sleeping bag. If you decide to buy a washing machine, go for a massive size, front-loading model.
A highest-level washing machine is not advised since the churning motion might rip the baffles of the sleeping bag.
Hand Washing
It is usually best done on a warm, sunny day. Refill the tub halfway with warm water, then add the soap and carefully mix it in.
Close the bag, flip it inside out, and place it in the suds. Incorporate the soapy water into your bag. Let the bag soak for 1-2 hours, rotating and pushing in the suds periodically.
Fill your tub with cool clean water after draining the soapy water. Rinse your sleeping bag and then repeat at least twice to remove all of the soap.
Drain your tub and roll the sack into such a cylinder, pushing much water out as you go. The bag should not be twisted or wrung!
Place the sack outside in the sunlight on a chaise lounge or even a netted hammock. Shake the bag regularly to break up any fill clumps. This method could take days to dry the bag. To expedite the process, spin-dry the sleeping bag in a front-loading washer before machine-drying it on the lowest setting.
Machine Washing
For anyone who wonders, “Can you put a sleeping bag in the washing machine?” Most bags for sleeping on the market nowadays are washable sleeping bags. Mechanically wash your sleeping bag with warm water on a moderate cycle in a front-loading washer. Use a gentle soap. Rinse and spin the dish twice.
Put the bag inside the dryer on the lowest setting. To retain moisture, toss in some thick cotton blankets and some tennis balls to help remove clumps.
Spot Cleaning
Because the inside lining of the head and foot sections of your bag tends to get especially dirty, try spot cleaning specific areas before washing the entire bag. (Sometimes all your luggage needs is a little TLC rather than a full-fledged wash.) This spot cleaning procedure is straightforward:
Apply a little quantity of mild soap (the same cleanser you’d have used to thoroughly clean your sleeping bag) to the cleaning area.
Gently wipe the shell with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
Use a wet sponge to rinse.
Keep the outer shell and liner fabric separate from the insulating so you may wash and clean this without getting the inside fill wet. If indeed the fill becomes wet, let plenty of time to dry it before storing your baffle.
Dry Sleeping Bag
Synthetic bags dry faster than down sleeping bags. The synthetic bag would take at least 1 hour to dry down sleeping bags completely, whereas a down bag might take many hours.
A well-insulated loft is essential for staying warm. To generate tiny air gaps within the insulator, both down and synthetic fillings must fluff up. These gaps retain body heat, allowing you to keep warm while sleeping.
Here are some pointers on how to dry a down and synthetic bag:
If feasible, choose a commercial-size dryer. Commercial dryers offer higher capacity and can tumble completely lofted sleeping bags. Utilize a home dryer if you’re not accessing the laundromat.
Turn the dryer to low heat. High temperatures can cause fragile nylon textiles to melt. It is preferable to dry at low heat for a longer period rather than blasting it at a high temperature to speed the drying process.
Add 2-3s to down sleeping bags to assist stir the fill back to its original loft. These balls aid in breaking up clumps down, which speeds the drying process. Tennis balls are useful but not required for synthetic bags.
Repeat as many times as necessary to fully dry the bag. Allow it to run for at least 1 hour, if not longer.
Other techniques of drying: You may also air-dry the bag by placing it straight on a clean area in a location with mild temperatures and no direct sunshine, but it will take much longer.
You may also hang it to dry; just be sure to spread the weight evenly to avoid putting too much strain on the nylon fabric.
Caution
Extra drying time is optional but quite helpful. Lay your bag out or you can also hang it out overnight to ensure it is completely dry before storing it in the storage bag.
Even on the setting of the lowest heat, most dryers produce far too much temperature. Periodically unlock the door to let some heat go. If your dryer stops, quickly check on your bag; do not let the bag remain against the heated drum. Before storing the bag, make sure it is totally dry.
A dry cleaning method is not advised. The cleaning fluids will remove the oils from their own and may even melt their synthetic fill. Finally, your sleeping bag will be spotless, but it may not be safe and decrease the warmth.
Maintain The Cleanliness Instructions
Make Use Of A Sleeping Mat
Your sleeping pad is another dual-purpose product, which will not only keep you warmer and more comfortable but will also protect the sleeping bag from the grit that may seep into even for the most cautious camper’s tent.
Air Out Your Sleeping Bag
When you arrive home, flip your bag inside out, lay it over a clothesline, and then let it air out completely before storing it away. Use this time to conduct any needed spot cleaning, wiping away stains and smudges with a damp cloth.
Accurately Storing The Bag
- Don’t put your bag inside the stuff sack that came with it!
- Tightly packing a sleeping bag destroys the loft of insulation, and that’s how the bag keeps heat.
- Instead, loosely fold up your bag in its larger storage sack to allow it to breathe.
- Store the bag as loosely as possible to ensure its lifespan and loft. Never store a bag in that small stuff pouch designed for camping excursions.
- If you have the room, the ideal approach is to spread the bag out or just hang it open or lay this out on top of anything, such as a sleeping mat or beneath a couch or bed. If you’re not using the room for it though, use the larger bag so it’s lightly filled.
Check out this quick guide to see the sleeping bag folding method: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAcQRVZz8GY
Final thought
Your sleeping bag is now clean and dries completely. It is quite simple, isn’t it? We must say that it is absolutely not challenging for you to wash your sleeping bag properly, and this process will maintain any sleeping bag looking beautiful, smelling fantastic, and keep you comfortable for the coming years. So, let’s follow our guide on how to clean a sleeping bag and accomplish it now!