The essentiality of sleeping bags to campers and adventurers can never be underestimated. Year in year out, they are always loyal and never failing. Now let me ask you something; since you’ve had that sleeping bag, washing seemed vague or perplexing, right, and now that it looks grimmer than when you bought it, you’ve been worried about washing it, right? Well, fret not, as this article is here to help you out and guide you on how to clean a sleeping bag and care for one.

guidelines-on-how-to-clean-and-care-for-a-sleeping-bag

Types of Sleeping Bags

The first thing to note is that when it comes to sleeping bags, there are varieties, i.e., the down sleeping bag and the synthetic sleeping bag, and these varieties come with different cleaning and caring styles. 

Based on temperatures, there are summer sleeping bags for the hotter season with lesser insulation; there are three-season sleeping bags, perfect for adventures in the spring, fall, and the colder summers; and then there are the winter ones suited best for the freezing seasons. 

Based on insulation types, there are down sleeping bags, lightweight, awesome, and lasting insulation; and there are synthetic sleeping bags that use synthetic insulation. 

The most popular and best types of sleeping bags are down sleeping bags and synthetic sleeping bags. These two types require different cleaning and caring processes as their absorption and drying levels vary widely. Therefore one cannot use a generalized cleaning and caring style for both. For this reason, this article will give explicit guidelines on how to care for and wash sleeping bags based on their types.

types-of-sleeping-bags

Cleaning Down Sleeping Bags 

Down sleeping bags are known to have the most efficient insulation as they are top-notch and long-lasting. Despite the bulky insulation, which provides a great deal of warmth, the down sleeping bags are light and very compressible, plus they can come on the high side when it comes to prices due to the high-quality it has. 

In terms of cleaning, down sleeping bags take longer to dry as they absorb and retain water for longer periods, so washing one should be occasional and in the right way to ensure it dries properly. When it comes to how to clean a sleeping bag, especially a down sleeping bag, there are two ways: washing with a machine and washing with hands.  

Washing a Down Sleeping Bag with a Machine 

To wash with the machine, you’ll need the following: 

  • A large front-loading washing machine or a top-loading washing machine without an agitator (if you do not have this type of washing machine, you should use a hand instead)
  • A specialist cleaner like Nikwax Down wash, Granger Down Wash, and others.
  • Tennis balls – for breaking down clumps when drying 
  • A large front-loading dryer

Steps

Before you begin any form of washing, always read the washing and drying instructions on your sleeping bag label. These give clearer instructions on the adequate quantity of water, water temperature, washing product, and washing machine type to use.

  1. Check and rid the machine for the residue of soap from the previous wash by running the machine through a rinse cycle.
  2. Turn the down sleeping bag inside out (if it has a waterproof shell). If otherwise, leave the bag as it is, proceeds to zip it up, and place it in the machine. 
  3. Add a generous quantity of specialist washing soap or cleaner. Do not use regular detergents as these can damage the fabric of the sleeping bag and affect the softness. 
  4. Switch your washing cycle to the most delicate to avoid ruining the fabric. 
  5. After washing, rinse thoroughly as many times as necessary to make sure all the soap is out. You can press down on it gently to check if it’s properly rinsed before proceeding. 
  6. Once properly rinsed, place in the dryer, setting it at the lowest heat to avoid melting the fabric. 
  7. Add the tennis balls to prevent the down feathers from clumping together. Once added, set the timer and wait. The down sleeping bag takes time to dry properly, so be patient with the process. 

To make sure it’s completely dry, you can take it out and spread it on a flat surface outside with some shade to remove any trapped moisture after the drying process. Afterward, store your clean down sleeping bag loosely and uncompressed to avoid moisture trapping.

washing-a-down-sleeping-bag-with-a-machine

Washing a Down Sleeping Bag with Hands

To wash with your hands, you’ll need the following:

  • A bathtub – you’ll need ample space to wash your down sleeping bag, and the bathtub offers that. 
  • A specialist cleaner like Nikwax Down wash, Granger Down Wash, and others.

Steps 

As mentioned earlier, before washing, read the washing and drying instruction on the label of your sleeping bag as they provide appropriate instructions on necessary details like water temperature, washing product, and other things. 

  1. Turn the down sleeping bag inside out (if it has a waterproof shell). If otherwise, leave the bag as it is, and zip it up. 
  2. Fill up your bathtub with lukewarm or warm water.
  3. Mix a generous amount of specialized cleaner with the water. If there are particularly dirty spots, you can add a little amount of cleaner to such spots. 
  4. Lay the sleeping bag into the tub and gently massage it to get the cleaner properly inside the bag. 
  5. Let the bag soak for about an hour.
  6. Drain the bathtub and refill with clean water to rinse and remove the soap by gently massaging the sleeping bag. 
  7. Refill and rinse until all the soap is removed. 
  8. Once soap-free, tumble dry in the dryer at low heat or air dry it. 

Cleaning a Synthetic Sleeping Bag

Unlike a down sleeping bag, the synthetic one doesn’t absorb so much water and dries faster but functions just as good and well as a down sleeping bag. There are two ways to clean a synthetic sleeping bag: machine wash or hand wash. 

Washing with Machine 

You’ll need: 

  • A front-loading washing machine 
  • A specialist cleaner like Nikwax Down wash, Granger Down Wash, and others.
  • Tennis balls 

Just like with the down sleeping bags, before any wash, consult the instruction label on your sleeping bag to get the right details on how to wash.

cleaning-a-synthetic-sleeping-bag

Steps

  1. Unzip the sleeping bag and place it in the washing machine.
  2. Add a reasonable quantity of specialist washing cleaner. Again, do not use regular detergents as these can damage the fabric of the sleeping bag. 
  3. Wash using the most delicate cycle to avoid ruining the fabric. 
  4. Rinse thoroughly as many times as necessary to get all the soap out. At intervals of rinsing, press down on the bag to check for soap bubbles. If none, then it’s soap-free.
  5. Once properly rinsed, place in the dryer, setting it at the lowest heat to avoid melting the fabric. 
  6. Add the tennis balls to break down clumps. Set the timer and let it dry or air dry it by laying it flat on a clean surface where there is low humidity or hanging it up to dry, making sure that the bag’s weight is evenly distributed. 

Washing with Hands

To wash with your hands, you’ll need the following:

  • A bathtub – 
  • A specialist cleaner like Nikwax Down wash, Granger Down Wash, and others.

Steps 

As mentioned earlier, before washing, read the washing and drying instruction on the label of your sleeping bag as they provide appropriate instructions on necessary details like water temperature, washing product, and other things. 

  1. Fill the bathtub with lukewarm or cool water.
  2. Add a reasonable amount of specialized cleaner to the water. 
  3. Lay the sleeping bag into the tub and gently massage and rub it together to get the cleaner properly inside the bag. 
  4. Soak it for about an hour.
  5. Drain the bathtub and refill with clean water to rinse and remove the soap by gently massaging the sleeping bag. 
  6. Refill and rinse until all the soap is removed. 
  7. Once soap-free, tumble dry in the dryer at low heat or air dry it by laying it flat on a clean surface where there is low humidity or hanging it up to dry, making sure that the bag’s weight is evenly distributed. 

FAQs 

Are there other ways of cleaning a sleeping bag?

In cases where only specific areas of the bag are dirty, you can spot clean the soiled and dirty areas gently with the aid of a toothbrush, specialist cleaner, and a wet sponge or a clean piece of cloth to wipe clean. In cases where you cannot afford to stress while cleaning or feel that your sleeping bag needs a more professional touch, there are specialized companies that dry clean sleeping bags for a fee and deliver it to you clean and fluffy.

What other ways can you care for your sleeping bag?

  • Sleep in clean clothes
  • Protect the outer part of the sleeping bag from the ground with pads
  • Consider sleeping bag liners to avoid direct skin contact with the bag
  • Always air out the bag after every use for several hours and before storing. 
  • Use slightly bigger sacks to store the bag to give it space and avoid excessive compression for extended periods, damaging your sleeping bag. 

You can also watch this video below to see more on how to clean and care for your sleeping bag.

Conclusion 

Maintaining your sleeping bag, be it down sleeping bags or synthetic sleeping bags, is not as easy as using it, but it is always worth it as it keeps it hygienic and long-lasting for you. With the above instructions and guidelines on how to clean a sleeping bag, we hope you can properly care for your precious movable bed and ensure it remains a faithful companion in all your great adventures.