Name: How to wash a sleeping bag - TrekSumo
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How to wash a sleeping bag - TrekSumo

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There is no one single to wash a sleeping bag. They can be washed by hand, in a machine, or by a professional company (but this latter option has some important considerations which we’ll look at in a while). You can even beat your sleeping bag over a boulder to shake out dirt and grit, but we don’t advise this… unless you have a serious amount of spare money to pay for regular purchases of new sleeping bags.This post is part of our larger sleeping bag guide – a collection of hints, tips and advice for anyone wantint to know how to choose, use and maintain a sleeping bag.Okay, let’s move on. This tutorial is part of our sleeping bag guide series and will show you how to wash a sleeping bag the right way. What do I mean by that? Well, most sleeping bags are, like any decent piece of hiking/camping gear, pretty tough and can withstand a lot of abuse before they fail. But the more care you give to them the longer they will ‘live’, and how you clean them can affect their lifespan.The first, and most obvious question we need to deal with is…The key differences between down and synthetic sleeping bags are:In general, yes you can clean synthetic and down sleeping bags in the same way. The only word of caution is that you should avoid having your sleeping bag washed by a general dry cleaning service as the process removes the natural oils that help maintain the down’s loft. Always use a specialist service if you want to go down this route. Also, there was a report of a hiker suffocating due to the chemicals used in the cleaning process, but we can’t confirm this.On the whole, cleaning a synthetic sleeping bag is a much less involved process than cleaning a down bag. The key piece of advice we offer is to only wash it when you need to. Frequent, and unnecessary washes will cause the materials to deteriorate faster resulting in a shorter lifespan.StepsSpecialist cleaning products should be used to wash your sleeping bag. Failing that, you can also use ordinary soap flakes and liquid detergents available from stores and shops, but use one that doesn’t include fabric condition as this can damage the material.I’ve heard some people recommend cleaning your washing machine before washing your sleeping bag. The idea behind this is that you remove any trace of fabric conditioner, and other chemicals harmful to your sleeping bag, but this is over the top. Neither I, nor Jake, have ever rinsed our washing machines beforehand and our sleeping bags have lasted for years.Next, release the tension from all the drawcords. They’ll be exposed to some extreme forces during the washing process and if left under tension, there is a risk they can be damaged or snap. Likewise, fasten any Velcro tabs to prevent fluff, etc from snagging in them, which clogs them and makes them less secure when closed.Open up the main zip to allow water and washing materials to flow through the entire bag.Hint: the care label provides the machine settings recommended for cleaning a synthetic sleeping bag. If the label has faded, use the following:Once the wash cycle is complete, remove your sleeping from the washing machine with care as it will retain some water making it heavy. At this point, rough handling can damage internal stitching.Drying a synthetic cleaning bag is simple – you can either air dry the bag or use a tumble dryer. If you choose the second option, ensure the dryer is set to a low heat setting (most machines have an option for synthetic materials).&nbsp;Note: using a higher heat setting will dry your sleeping bag faster, but hot temperatures can damage the fill, draw cords and shell material.Washing a down sleeping is a little more complex than a synthetic. There are professional cleaning services available and if you have any doubts, or don’t have access to a tumble dryer, we recommend you take this latter option.Down-filled sleeping bags are more delicate than synthetic sleeping bags and should be washed less frequently.You have several options for cleaning down:As with synthetic bags, we recommend using a specialist detergent designed for down. Failing this, you can use soap flakes, or washing detergents BUT without fabric softener.The best temperature for cleaning down bags is 30C, or selecting the ‘delicates’ setting.Down fill absorbs more water than polyester and you need to handle your sleeping bag with care when removing it from the washing machine.Down needs to be dried through before storing, or use. You should choose the lowest heat setting possible as, like synthetic bags, a hot setting can distort or damage the material, and reduce lofting.A couple of points to note:Yes, you can wash a sleeping bag in a washing machine. Be sure to always check the label before washing, but if the label is no longer readable choose the lowest temperature settings. Always rinse twice.After each use, unzip your sleeping bag and turn it inside out, then hang it up to air. For the best results, hang your sleeping bag outside on a washing line.Products such as Revivex Odor Eliminator and Grangers Odour Eliminator are products that consume bacteria that cause odours. This means the smells are removed and not simply masked.Placing a pack of activated charcoal inside, or close to, your sleeping bag will help remove odours.Wash a sleeping bag unzipped. This allows the detergent and water to get into every part of the bag, and for the rinsing process to remove all traces of cleaner.Yes, you can wash a sleeping bag in the washing machine. Most modern sleeping bags are designed to be machine-washable.Yes, you can put a polyester (synthetic) sleeping bag in the dryer, but always choose the lowest temperature setting to reduce risk of damage to the shell and liner.Yes, you can and should wash your sleeping bag, but only when required.Deals and vouchersUK codes and dealsUltimate Outdoors - Free UK Standard Delivery On All Orders Over £80. 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There is no one single to wash a sleeping bag. They can be washed by hand, in a machine, or by a professional company (but this latter option has some important considerations which we’ll look at in a while). You can even beat your sleeping bag over a boulder to shake out dirt and grit, but we don’t advise this… unless you have a serious amount of spare money to pay for regular purchases of new sleeping bags.This post is part of our larger sleeping bag guide – a collection of hints, tips and advice for anyone wantint to know how to choose, use and maintain a sleeping bag.Okay, let’s move...

How to wash a sleeping bag - TrekSumo

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