How to properly clean your sleeping bag

Sleeping bags are abused a lot by outdoor enthusiasts, and they see a lot of places, dirt, rain and dust. That is why it is important to give them a good cleaning every now and then. And since you can’t really throw them in any washer, along with your socks and undies, what are you to do? Here are some guidelines:

• Well, first of all, you should try to protect your sleeping bag as much as you can from getting dirty. You can do that by purchasing a sleeping bag liner, which will also act as a good insulator. Liners usually come in cotton or silk, with silk being the more premium, costly option. Silk is also more effective in terms of insulation. But they all keep your sleeping bag clean. Also, you should always sleep in clean clothes and don’t lay your sleeping bag directly on the ground, especially if it’s damp or wet
• Try to wash your sleeping bag as rare as possible, only when it is absolutely necessary and not after every camping trip you take. What you should do instead is air your sleeping bag as often as possible, to let the material breath and to keep it fresh. Another thing you could do is to only spot-wash your bag, if possible. Sometimes your bag might be 90% clean but there might be a stain here and there. In that case, there’s no need to wash your entire bag. Focus on only cleaning those specific spots
• And now for the actual washing part: the most important thing is to be aware of the differences between down-filled sleeping bags and synthetic ones. They have to be washed differently, depending on the type of material they’re filled with. Down-filled sleeping bags are more fragile than synthetic bags so they require extra care
• Before you start washing your sleeping bag, read the manufacturer’s label and follow the instructions
• Both down-filled and synthetic sleeping bags can be washed manually, in the bathtub for example Synthetic bags can also be cleaned in the washer, preferably a front-loading machine. Don’t ever wash it in a washing machine that has an agitator, because it can ruin your sleeping bag! If you do wash it in the washer, make sure you only use warm water (30 degrees) or cold, and never hot water. Also, use a gentle cycle and turn off the spin cycle
• Pull the zipper up before you wash the bag
• Don’t use regular detergent for your sleeping bag. Use adequate cleaning products, depending on your type of bag (down or synthetic)
• Don’t use fabric softener
• After the sleeping bag is washed, squeeze out the extra water Don’t ever wring or twist the bag because you may damage the filling
• Try to air dry the sleeping bag and avoid dryers as much as possible. Hang it to dry in a warm/sunny spot. If you do want to use a dryer, to save some time on the drying process, only use it for down-filled bags, NOT synthetic ones! When placing your down-filled bag into the dryer, choose the lowest heat setting and also place 2-3 tennis balls into the dryer. Their role is to break up any bundled feathers