How to Wash & Dry Sleeping Bags Without Damaging The Insulation?

A good sleeping bag is an essential item to pack for a long hike or camping. The sense of comfort and warmth of sleeping in a sleeping bag under the night sky in the middle of a lush forest or on top of a mountain is an experience of its kind. With the camping season ahead, it’s time to prepare and start washing and cleaning your sleeping bags so you can enjoy a good night’s sleep the next time you embark on an exciting expedition. Whether it’s a stubborn stain or pet hair stuck on the bag’s outer layer, it’s essential to regularly maintain your sleeping bag. But how can you wash your sleeping bag without damaging its insulations?

In this article, we’ll discuss how to clean and wash sleeping bags at home without damaging them in just 5 easy steps.

Proper Washing & Drying Sleeping Bags in 5 Steps

Washing a sleeping bag at home is often a difficult task and requires time and attention. While you can take your sleeping bag to professional commercial laundry services for specialised cleaning, the costs will add up quickly, especially if you regularly use the sleeping bag and need to wash it properly every month or two.

Guide to Washing a Sleeping Bag Without Damaging The Insulation

With this easy 5-step tutorial, you can easily wash and dry your sleeping bag at home. Just follow the instructions carefully and keep your sleeping bag clean, fresh and ready for the next camping.

#1 Check The Washing Instruction

Generally, there are two types of sleeping bags, divided by the type of their insulation:

Down-filled sleeping bags
Synthetic sleeping bags

While this guide will help you wash both types, it is essential to check the laundry instructions on the label or bag’s manual to ensure you’re using the correct cleaning supplies and the correct washing machine and dryer settings.

Make sure to carefully check the label and symbols printed on it, especially if you just purchased a new sleeping bag or it’s the first time you’re going to clean and wash it. If you already know the instructions on the label, you can skip this step.

#2 Prepare Everything You Need

Depending on the type of insulation, you have to prepare some cleaning supplies:

Mild detergents, non-detergent soap or special cleaning products for cleaning down-filled and synthetic sleeping bags. You can buy them from camping and outdoor sports shops.
A few dryer balls to prevent wringing and keep the insulations fluffed during tumble drying. You can also use a few clean tennis balls instead.

You also need a front-loading washing machine or a bathtub if you should only handwash the sleeping bag.

A tumble dryer with an adjustable heat setting is also an easy way to dry the sleeping bag fast without damaging the insulation. Otherwise, a tall hanging clothes rack can do the job of drying the sleeping bag.

#3 Prepare The Sleeping Bag for Washing

Before throwing the sleeping bag into the washing machine or washing it by hand, there are a few things to do to prepare the sleeping bag for a better cleaning result and prevent damage during the process.

First, close all zippers, velcro and snaps. This will help the sleeping bag to stay in shape and prevent snagging and tears, especially in the washing machine and dryer.

Second, to achieve ultimate cleaning and wash the sleeping bag thoroughly, you can turn the sleeping bag inside out before washing it. This is recommended if there’s an odour or a stain inside the sleeping bag.

#4 Machine Washing or Hand Washing

Now, it’s time to wash the sleeping bag. Depending on the instructions on the sleeping bag label or manual, follow the relevant guide for machine washing or hand washing your sleeping bag:

Machine Washing

If you can wash your sleeping bag in a washing machine, remember to use a front-loading washing machine only. Top-loading washing machines have agitators that may damage the insulation and the outer layer of the sleeping bag.

Also, the minimum washing machine capacity to wash a large sleeping bag is 8 Kg. If your washing machine capacity is lower, go to a self-service laundrette and use commercial washing machines or hand wash the sleeping bag if possible.

Going to Self-Service Laundrette for High Capacity Washing Machines for Washing a Sleeping Bag

On the washing machine, choose the gentle cycle with cold water. Add a small amount of detergent or specialised sleeping bag cleaning supplies. Around 1/4 of the usual amount of common laundry is enough for washing a single sleeping bag safely.

After the cycle is complete, run an extra rinsing cycle to ensure all soap and detergent are removed from the sleeping bag insulation. Avoid the drying cycle on the washing machine! When the cycle is done, proceed to the next step of this guide.

Hand Washing

If you have to hand wash the sleeping bag, either due to the instruction on the label or other reasons, you need a bathtub. Fill up the bathtub with cold water and add the detergent (around half a cup).

Next, place the sleeping bag in the bathtub and submerge it completely. Then, gently knead the sleeping bag so the water and soap flow through the bag’s insulations. continue for 15 to 20 minutes.

Afterwards, drain the bathtub and refill it with clean, cold water. You don’t need to add detergent any more. Continue kneading the sleeping bag for another 15 to 20 minutes to remove all soap. You may need to repeat this process a few times to completely remove all soap and detergent.

Read More: How to Descale & Clean an Iron?

#5 Drying The Sleeping Bag

After washing, either in the washing machine or bathtub, press the sleeping bag carefully to remove excess water. Do this a couple of times but avoid wringing as it can damage the insulation and fluffs.

Next, if you have a dryer, toss in a few dryer balls (or clean tennis balls), throw in the sleeping bag and run the dryer on low heat mode. Leave it for around 25 to 30 minutes. Then check the sleeping bag and fluff it before running the dryer again.

You should repeat this process a few times to remove as much moisture as possible without wringing or damaging the sleeping bag. It may take several hours, so please be patient.

Afterwards, hang the sleeping bag on the cloth rack and allow it to air dry for a day or two. If you don’t have a dryer or the instruction said to avoid dryers, then hang the sleeping bag string after hand washing. Start pressing it to remove excess water and leave it on the rack for a few days away from sunlight until it is fully dried.

Conclusion

The sleeping bag is probably the most important item for every camping enthusiast. With the camping and hiking season getting closer, it is essential to ensure your sleeping bag is properly maintained for the next adventure. Sleeping bags, just like any other item, require regular cleaning and washing, but this is a difficult and tiresome task and if you ask a professional to clean it, it may cost a lot depending on how often you use the sleeping bag and require cleaning. This guide will help you to easily wash your sleeping bag in 5 steps without damaging the insulation and fluffings at home using a washing machine or by hand washing.

The information provided by this article can help you easily wash your sleeping bag at home without damaging it regardless of the type of its insulation. This guide covers washing sleeping bags with a washing machine or by hand and drying them using a tumble dryer or air drying.

Ultimate Guide to Washing & Drying Sleeping Bags Without Damaging Them