Washing your sleeping bag is essential to maintaining its cleanliness and longevity. Sleeping in a sleeping bag inevitably results in the build-up of oil, sweat, and dirt, which can seep into the insulation. If left unwashed, this will compromise the effectiveness of the insulation to keep you warm and lead to your sleeping bag losing its fluffiness. To keep your sleeping bag in its original state and prolong its life, we’ve put together what you need to know when washing it.
How To Wash Your Sleeping Bag
Consult your sleeping bag maker’s instructions before cleaning. You’ll find that almost all sleeping bags are marked as machine washable. You can follow the instructions listed below unless instructed otherwise by the manufacturer:
- Before washing, inspect your sleeping bag for heavily soiled areas. Often, the locations where your skin is in contact with the sleeping bag, like the head or foot areas, will get extra dirty. Mix a mild detergent and water solution and scrub the soiled areas using a soft bristle brush or toothbrush.
- Zip up all zippers and load your sleeping bag into a front-loading washer. If your home-style washer is too small to fit your sleeping bag, you can take it to a laundromat to use a large-capacity washing machine. Run a quick, delicate cycle on cold temperature.
- Dry your sleeping bag on low heat for at least an hour. If your sleeping bag is clumping up or drying unevenly, pause your drying cycle every 20 minutes and shake the sleeping bag out before resuming.
If you’re drying a down sleeping bag, add a couple of clean tennis balls to help break up clumps of down.
Hang the bag up and air it out before storage. Ensure it is completely dry through and through. If the bag is even slightly damp, mold or mildew can form.
Would you prefer to let the professionals handle your sleeping bag cleaning? Magic Cleaners cleans bedding and sleeping bags. We even offer free pick up and delivery in Calgary. Schedule a delivery here.