Proper use and care is a guarantee that the thing will last a long time. This applies equally to sleeping bags. No matter how hard you try, getting your sleeping bags dirty on a hike is as easy as shelling pears. But how to wash sleeping bags is another matter. Read more in our article.
Before going into details, two important points:
- the washing method will be different for different types of sleeping bag fillers. Fillers are synthetic and natural (down);
- washing is the first step in cleaning. In order for the sleeping bag to retain its properties, it must be properly dried.
Down sleeping bags
How to wash a down sleeping bag? Such a sleeping bag cannot be washed often. With frequent washing, the fluff gets lost in lumps and the sleeping bag loses its properties. It is not recommended to wash it in the washing machine. The best option is hand wash.
We fill the tub with warm water and add a special sleeping bag cleaner. We wash gently for a quarter of an hour. Then we drain the water and do not squeeze the sleeping bag hard. We fill the bathroom with cold water and do not rinse the sleeping bag for another fifteen minutes. We repeat the procedure until we wash the detergent out of the sleeping bag.
Detergents impair the moisture-proof properties of materials. Treat your bag with a moisture barrier after each wash.
If, for some reason, it is impossible to manually wash the sleeping bag, then you can also in the washing machine. How do I machine wash my sleeping bag? We use a front-loading machine. Mode - "delicate wash", we use a special detergent for sleeping bags. This washing should not damage the fluff.
If the sleeping bag is not very dirty, use a special spray to remove the stains. Remember not to use dry cleaning products for these sleeping bags, as they can damage both the fabric of the sleeping bag and the down.
Synthetic sleeping bags
Sleeping bags with synthetic fillings are more resistant to washing in the machine. However, it is also better to wash them by hand.
The safest way is to hand wash with plenty of warm water (up to 30 ° C). You do not need to squeeze and wrinkle much, it is better to wait until the water drains by itself. As with down sleeping bags, we use a special detergent.
If you decide to wash in the car, then follow these recommendations:
- wash in a front-loading machine;
- evenly distribute the sleeping bag over the drum surface, select the “delicate wash” mode, the water temperature is no more than 30 ° C;
- wring out should be at low speeds.
To prevent the synthetic insulation from wrinkling and losing its elasticity, place a few tennis balls in the drum. This will prevent the insulation from crumpling and losing its elasticity.
Drying sleeping bags
The easiest option is to air dry your sleeping bag. True, it will take a long time to dry, several hours. And the weather can pump up, if, for example, it rains. Therefore, you can dry the sleeping bag near the heater, which in turn is covered with an awning.
If you have a dryer, then, of course, it is better to use it. The key, experts say, is transferring the bag from the washing machine to the dryer.The water that remains in the bag even after wringing makes it heavy, and internal baffles and seams can break. Therefore, carefully remove the bag from the machine and place it in the basin, then carefully place the bag in the dryer.
Drying is set to the lowest setting, the sleeping bag will dry completely after a few hours. If your bag is downy, then 6-10 tennis balls will help the fluff out. Check the bag from time to time - the fabric should not be hot, so that the insulation does not stick together and do not fold into lumps. If this does happen, take the bag out of the dryer and lay it out on the surface.
If you do not have a sleeping bag yet, then the following review may help you with the choice.
