Sleepingbag

HOW TO WASH A SLEEPING BAG
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Wrtitten by Barbara Ann Kipfer, Ph.D.

Just like any bedding, you want your sleeping bag to be clean and fresh. Sleeping bags, which are made from
down or a synthetic-fiber fill, have specific ways of keeping them cleanand in good condition.

Steps:

1. Follow the instructions on the sleeping bag or the tag that came with the sleeping bag. The manufacturer
knows best about what works for the particular bag.

2. Clean stains and spills off with a sponge when they occur.    Pre-treat stains on synthetic-fill sleeping
bags before washing.

3. Wash either a down or synthetic fiber sleeping bag by hand    or in a large washing machine. Hand-washing is tough because   it takes a lot of rinsing to get the soap out.

4. Use a front-loading washer or a commercial washing machine.
   A sleeping bag can be hard on the machine and vice versa because the machine agitates roughly with a large bulky item.

5. Zip the bag before washing.

6. Wash a down bag in warm water with a mild soap like Woolite or Ivory Snow, not detergent. Do not add bleach or fabric softener. Synthetic-fill bags may be washed with regular laundry detergent, and fabric softener may be used.

7. Process the bag through another wash cycle -without soap to completely rinse it. Soap residues can cause clumping of   the insulation and loss of loft.

8. Handle the bag carefully when wet. Press - don't wring -    the water out. Wrap it up in a ball and transfer it to   the dryer.

9. Clean a down-filled sleeping bag occasionally to keep it fresh but also to maintain the loft (fluffiness) of the   down. Do not dry-clean down bags unless the manufacturer   insists on it, as the cleaning solvents can strip the   feathers of natural oils.

10. Dry a down bag on very low heat with a clean, rubber-soled   athletic shoe or a tennis ball. This fluffs
the down and breaks up clumps in the batting. Thoroughly dry the bag before storing, though this may take some time.

11. Dry a synthetic-fill bag on low heat, but it can also be dried outside. Lay it flat to dry.

Tips:

* Use a ground cloth and sleeping bag liner.
Sleeping bags   don't hold up well if overwashed. Only Polargard-filled bags can be washed a lot.

* Store the bag properly. If you stuff it into its sack,   the sustained compression of the insulation (down or
synthetic) will cause the bag to lose its loft. It's   better to hang the bag in a closet or in an extra-large storage sack.

* Air a down-filled sleeping bag out for at least a week before using it if it has been dry-cleaned. Dry-cleaning solvents   are toxic.

* Air any bag in the sun for a few hours to remove odors   before use.

* Put the sleeping bag away for the season with some baking soda sprinkled inside. It will absorb odors
and then just brush the baking soda out before you use it again.

* Place a large plastic bag in the bottom of the sleeping bag compartment of your pack. If you expect rain,
you can wrap   your stuffed sleeping bag in the plastic for extra protection.

Warnings:

* Check inside the bag for items before washing.

* Never use a top-loading, agitator-type machine.
      The batts of synthetic insulation and fragile baffles that hold down in place will be stressed, and the bag could be ruined.