How to wash a sleeping bag in a washing machine

washing a sleeping bag Outdoor activities require you to use your camping gear to its full potential, which means it will need care very soon. Dirty sleeping bags should be washed first, as they come into direct contact with your clothes and body. Whether you like it or not, you might wonder how to wash a sleeping bag, as standard care methods are unlikely to work. We'll discuss how to wash a sleeping bag in this post.

Sleeping bag care tips

Before you thoughtlessly throw your sleeping bag into the washing machine, inspect it more closely and assess the degree of soiling. The thing is, washing a bag in a washing machine is not a problem, but doing it too often is not recommended, because then the item will simply break down. If the sleeping bag isn't too dirty, it can be dry-cleaned on the outside and wet-cleaned on the inside. What should we do? washing a sleeping bag

The outside of the sleeping bag is made of waterproof fabric that is easy to clean, so first of all, the sleeping bag needs to be thoroughly dried.
Next, use a clothes brush to remove any dirt from the outside of the bag. If there are any oil stains on the surface of the sleeping bag, apply a small amount of white spirit to a cloth and wipe them away.
Turn the sleeping bag inside out. Dip a sponge in soapy water, wring it out, and wipe the inside of the bag. Don't get the bag too wet.
We dry the sleeping bag, then fold it and put it away in a dry place until the next hiking trip.

Note: To help the soap solution remove not only dirt but also odor, you can add a pinch of dry potassium permanganate to it.

Automatic washing

If your sleeping bag is too dirty to clean, machine wash it. To wash your sleeping bag properly, follow some expert recommendations.

Do not wash your sleeping bag at high temperatures or on an intensive cycle. The optimal washing mode is considered to be at 600 revolutions at 40⁰WITH.
Make sure your washing machine can handle a sleeping bag, meaning the drum and load capacity are large enough.
Bags in the washing machine should be washed with the spin cycle turned off.
Do not wash sleeping bags using dry laundry detergent, as it will be difficult to rinse out of the fabric.
It is better not to wash old sleeping bags with holes in the machine at all; they can only be washed by hand.
The larger the sleeping bag (for example, a winter one), the more carefully it should be washed. Larger sleeping bags with a lot of filling should be submerged in water for a short period of time, even if the water is cold.

With these simple guidelines in mind, you can begin washing your sleeping bag. Unfold the sleeping bag, turn it inside out, zip it up, roll it up, and toss it into the washing machine drum. If you have a semi-automatic top-loading washing machine, be careful, as the actuators in these machines can often damage tent fabric. It might be best to avoid washing your sleeping bag in a top-loading machine or to hand-wash it. So, with your dirty sleeping bag in the washing machine drum, what next?

You need to add detergent to the container. The exact amount will depend on the fabric and filling of your sleeping bag. If the sleeping bag is synthetic, then any liquid detergent that does not contain bleach or fabric softener is suitable for washing. Well, if the bag is filled with down, then you need to choose a special product for it.
Close the hatch, set the delicate wash cycle in warm water at low speed without spinning and start the program.
Once the wash cycle is complete, don't rush to remove the sleeping bag from the drum. Let it sit in the drum for 30-40 minutes. During this time, some of the water will drain into the drum, making it much lighter.

Important! Don't even try to wring out the sleeping bag using the automatic setting or manually. It can be easily damaged when wet.

We put the drying rack in a well-ventilated place and lay the sleeping bag on it horizontally. If you're drying your sleeping bag at home, it's best to lay some rags or newspapers underneath it, as the bag will drip and possibly leak.
After some time has passed and the water has drained, place a fan heater near the drying area. This will help the sleeping bag dry faster. Occasionally, approach the drying bag and shake it out to ensure the drying filling is distributed evenly; you can do this about a couple of times an hour.

Once the sleeping bag is dry, you can consider the washing and drying process complete. In addition to the sleeping bag, you may need wash the tent in the washing machine and other equipment, read about how to do this in the article of the same name on our website.

We wash by hand

Machine washing a sleeping bag is, of course, very convenient. No need to plop down in the bathtub with a heavy, water-logged sleeping bag and strain your stomach trying to get it out. However, it's important to understand that only a new, sturdy sleeping bag is suitable for machine washing. If your camping gear is "a hundred years old," the drum ribs of an automatic washing machine will simply destroy it. There's only one option left: hand washing! But how to do it right.

We straighten out the sleeping bag, turn it inside out and zip it up.
We fill the bathtub with cool water.
Add a little special detergent for washing sleeping bags.
We put the sleeping bag in the bathroom.
We climb into the bathroom and start trampling our feet on the sleeping bag for 10-15 minutes, doing this carefully.
Next, grab the sleeping bag with your hands and gently swing it in the bathroom for 10-15 minutes.
Drain the soapy water from the bathtub without removing the bag, then fill it with clean water for rinsing. Let the sleeping bag swirl in the clean water for a while, then drain the water and fill it with clean water again.

Please note! The sleeping bag needs to be rinsed thoroughly to remove any detergent residue, so you'll need to fill the bathtub with clean water more than once or twice.

After rinsing the sleeping bag, drain the water from the bathtub and spread the sleeping bag out in the tub, but don't remove it yet. Let the sleeping bag sit in the bathtub for about 40 minutes to allow some of the water to drain.
Next, dry the sleeping bag according to the recommendations we described above.

Funds

When describing how to wash a sleeping bag, we mentioned the care products you need to use. Let's discuss these products in more detail and give a brief overview. So, what do we need to care for our sleeping bag?

Salton Sport. A liquid detergent designed for hand or machine washing of sleeping bags, jackets, and overalls filled with natural down. Sold in 250 ml bottles, the average price is $2.25.
Cotico. A special liquid gel made in Russia, designed for washing a wide variety of sportswear and equipment, including sleeping bags. It's suitable for neoprene, lycra, and membrane fabrics, but is completely unsuitable for down-filled items. Available in 1000 ml bottles, the average price is $3.
Toko Eco Down Wash. A special impregnation designed for washing down duvets and sleeping bags. The spray is applied to the item immediately before washing, and is washed out during washing along with the dirt. Supplied in 250ml bottles, price $4.5.
Heitmann Special Wash. A very good washing gel for sportswear, tents, and sleeping bags with synthetic filling. Not suitable for down filling. This product cleans well and does not contain harmful chemicals. Made in Germany. Average price: $4 for 250 ml.

In conclusion, it's worth noting that almost any sleeping bag can be washed well; the key is knowing how and what to wash it with. If you do everything correctly, your sleeping bag will be clean again and serve you well on many more hiking trips. Good luck!

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