How to Wash Your Bag
Sleeping Bags get funky. Dirt, sweat and oil can cause your bag’s insulation to clump and create cold spots. You can get your bag warm and fluffy by washing it after moderate use.
Do not dry clean your bag. Do it at home or at a laundromat. The most important part of washing your bag is making sure you do it in a front loading washer.
If your machine has an agitator in it- DO NOT USE IT. Top loading washers may shred your bag.
If you have a synthetic bag, use a tech wash like Nikwax Tech Wash. If your bag is down, use a down wash like Nikwax Down Wash. You can find these washes at outdoor shops and online.
You can wash both down and synthetic bags the same way.
- Zip your bag up all the way and turn it inside out
- Wash on a gentle cycle with warm water. Do not use hot water, it can damage the fabric of your bag.
- Set the washer to rinse a few times to thoroughly remove the dirt and soap.
- Dry your bag in a large, front loading commercial dryer. Use a no or low heat setting. Heat will melt the nylon and waterproofing on your bag. For down bags, throw in some tennis balls or clean shoes with your bag. They will gently break up clumped insulation, to re-loft your bag.
- Make sure your bag is BONE DRY before you take it out of the dryer. This may take a few hours. But it is worth it. Even a little moisture can cause mildew to grow in your bag.
- Once you take your bag out, hang it for a few hours. Make sure the down is not clumping in the bag. Clumping down means it is still wet and won’t keep you warm.
Before you store:
Shake the bag out really vigorously. Is it fluffy? Is the insulation evenly distributed?
Then it is ready to be stored in its mesh storage sack in a cool, dry home.
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