Quick Sleeping Bag Cleaning Tips

Have the great outdoors been calling your name, lately? Us too! And even though a nice cozy bed in a lakeside cottage is lovely, every once in awhile, we get the urge to pitch a tent, build a roaring fire, and do some good old fashioned camping.

Roasting marshmallows, drinking coffee out of enamel mugs, and smelling faintly of campfire for days are a few of our favourite summer things, but we’ve learned from experience that having the proper gear makes a big difference in camping comfort. One of the biggest of these differences is often found in a great sleeping bag. In Canada, we have no shortage of outdoor stores selling great sleeping bags for all kinds of weather, but if you’ve ever slipped into your sleeping bag and wondered whether you’ve cleaned it since your last trip, you’re not alone.

Proper sleeping bag care is relatively easy, but is often forgotten as soon as you get home from the woods and just want a hot shower. Here are a few quick things you can do to keep your sleeping bags looking and smelling fresh.

1. Spot Clean – Pull the fabric away from the bag’s filling and do some spot cleaning with a little laundry detergent and a cloth to get rid of that footprint from the time it started raining and you had to run into the tent for shelter.

2. Air Them Out – After a good night’s sleep, make sure you unzip your sleeping bag and let it air out and dry completely. You don’t need to put it directly into the sun, but giving it some air is helpful.

3. Have Them Cleaned – The simple fact is that sleeping bags need to be washed, so schedule a pick up and Parkers will clean all of your sleeping bags so you don’t need to lift a finger (or risk wrecking your washing machine or your sleeping bags). If you use a sleeping bag liner, you can space out washings a little more, but don’t wait too long because sweat and dirt can do a number on fabric.

Keeping your sleeping bag clean has obvious sanitary benefits, but it also plays a big part in the life of your bag. The better you care for the fabric and filling (down or synthetic), the longer your sleeping bag will last and the more camping trips you’ll get to enjoy! Check out our Sleeping Bag Cleaning service page for more details.