There’s nothing quite like bundling up in a warm sleeping bag that feels like a home from home when you’re on an outdoor expedition.
Whether it’s mountaineering somewhere across the globe or camping in your own back garden in the UK, you want your sleeping bag to be as comfortable and cosy as can be, which is why keeping it fresh and clean is so important. In this helpful sleeping bag guide, we will take you through:
Yes, you do need to wash your sleeping bag to ensure that it stays hygienic, smelling fresh, and feeling fluffy so that it can do its job of keeping you warm, comfortable, and dry on your outdoor adventures.
Over time, sleeping bags can become stained or impacted by things like:
All of these things can cause your sleeping bag to become smelly, unclean, and even quite uncomfortable if you don’t make sure to wash it whenever it needs a good laundering.
Oil-like substances can also damage the filling in padded sleeping bags and cause them to become flat and less insulating than they should be. Not only does this make it unpleasant to use, but it also reduces the lifespan of your sleeping bag meaning you’ll have to spend more money on replacing it sooner than necessary.
You certainly don’t need to wash your sleeping bag after every single use however, it is important to give it a good once-over each time to check what condition it is in.
If your sleeping bag tends to stay looking clean, smelling fresh, and feeling fluffy, you probably only really need to launder it once a year. If you’re an avid camper and use your sleeping bag regularly, you might want to increase this to every 6 months or even every 3 months.
If you’ve been on a particularly muddy camping trip or taken your sleeping bag to a festival, for example, you’ll probably want to wash it as soon as you get home. If you notice your sleeping bag is dirty, smelly, or feeling a bit flat, it’s worth laundering as soon as possible to extend its lifespan and keep it in good condition.
The first thing you’re going to want to do, before anything else, is to open the sleeping bag out fully and shake any loose dirt or debris from it. This will help get your sleeping bag as clean as possible but will also prevent things from getting trapped in your washing machine and damaging it.
Next, decide if you need to do a spot clean or a full launder.
If the majority of your sleeping bag is still clean and fresh, but there is a small spot of dirt or staining, you can tackle this patch (or patches) by spot-cleaning. Use a soft brush and some mild soap to lightly scrub the problem area until it’s clean again.
Yes, you can put a sleeping bag in a washing machine but there are some important things to consider if you do.
Firstly, does the sleeping bag fit in the washing machine? Secondly, you need to use a front-loading washing machine, as opposed to a top-loading machine, so that there’s no risk of an agitator damaging the fabric or filling.
Next, you need to make sure you use a very mild detergent or even a technical detergent designed for cleaning specific fabrics. Don’t use any fabric softener as this could leave a residue on the shell or filling of your sleeping bag.
Use a gentle cycle and a short rinse cycle; wash at a low ‘handwash’ temperature or no higher than 30°. If there are still soap suds left on the sleeping bag once the cycle is complete, rinse on a short, gentle cycle one more time.
Handwashing a sleeping bag is a good way to clean it gently but thoroughly. Apply all of the same principles as you would when using a washing machine:
Pro tip: Use a liner and a sleeping mat to prolong the longevity and cleanliness of your sleeping bag interior even further. The liner is machine washable and is less cumbersome to wash and dry regularly than a full sleeping bag.
No matter what type of sleeping bag you’ve got, whether it’s down-filled or padded with synthetic fibres, the best method is always air drying. Don’t be tempted to wring your sleeping bag out as this can damage the filling and prevent it from fluffing back up once it dries.
Although air drying your sleeping bag after washing it will take longer than if you put it in the tumble dryer, this is the best way to preserve the outer fabric, lining, and filling. Drying in a tumble dryer runs the risk of the materials being exposed to temperatures that are too high and then becoming damaged or compromised in terms of performance.
If you really want to use a tumble dryer to dry your sleeping bag, follow these top tips to make sure it stays protected:
However you choose to dry your sleeping bag, make sure it’s completely dry before packing or storing it to prevent any problems arising from dampness or mould.Pro tip: Never iron your sleeping bag as this could melt the shell and the insulation.
Winfields Outdoors: the home of premium sleeping bags, mats, and accessories
Whether you’re shopping for a new sleeping bag for your next great adventure or looking to buy your little ones their first sleeping bag, we’ve got everything you need right here.
From single junior sleeping bags to kingsize square sleeping bags, we’ll make sure you stay comfy in the great outdoors.
We’ve also got all your most important essentials to hand too: air pumps, sleeping mats, inflatable pillows—you name it—so you can kit yourself out from the Winfields Outdoors one-stop-shop.
Shop the full range of sleeping bags at Winfields Outdoors today!
We hope you found this helpful. If you are looking to wash a down sleeping bag, we recommend the Granger Down Wash Kit. On the other hand, if you’re researching for the best cleaning product for a synthetic sleeping bag, be sure to check out our Nikwax Loft Tech Wash.
For more news, information, and product tips, read the Winfields Outdoors Blog.
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