How To Properly Take Care Of Your Sleeping Bag

Considering the limited options for travel and recreation this past summer, if you enjoy camping, there’s a good chance you took advantage of the great weather for a few nights in the great outdoors.

From gas camping stoves to tents, most regular campers have assembled a wide range of gear to make their time outside more comfortable and enjoyable. And there’s no piece of that equipment that’s more important than your sleeping bag. After all, even if you had very little other equipment, at least you could count on a warm night’s sleep!

Despite that importance, while we carefully fold tents to store them, and clean our stoves, coolers and other equipment, sleeping bag care is a little lacking for most of us, usually consisting of stuffing it into a bag at the end of each trip.

3 Steps to Proper Sleeping Bag Care

Aside from just keeping your sleeping bag clean, if you don’t properly care for it, it won’t last as long, and won’t keep you as warm either.

1. Sleeping Bag Storage – While new sleeping bags come in their own storage bags, those bags are really best suited for transporting, not long-term storage. Instead, after each trip, and during the off-season, air out your sleeping bag before loosely packing it in a large storage bag made of mesh or cotton.It’s best to turn the sleeping bag inside out before storage, especially if yours is a waterproof or synthetic bag,
2. Washing Your Sleeping Bag – Even if you only use it a few times, it’s best to wash your sleeping bag at least once a year. If you want to machine wash your bag, check the garment tag for washing instructions.It’s best to use a small amount of non-detergent soap, in cool or warm water, and the gentle cycle for washing. Do not use a top-loading washing machine with an agitator. Instead, use a front loader, or a top-loader without an agitator.

   Considering its bulk, you’ll need to run the bag through the rinse cycle at least twice.

   To tumble dry the sleeping bag in a dryer, set the machine to low heat. Make sure the bag is completely dry before storing it. If needed, hang the bag to let it air dry after it comes out of the dryer.

3. Get Your Sleeping Bag Professionally Cleaned – Unfortunately, machine washing and drying your sleeping bag can damage it and affect the loft (fluffiness, or insulating capacity) of its down or synthetic fill. Many experienced campers and sleeping bag manufacturers recommend using a professional sleeping bag cleaning service that specializes in cleaning down. 

From drapery cleaning to baseball cap cleaning services, Parkers Cleaners offers specialized cleaning care for almost everything in your home. And we’ll even pick up your sleeping bag and return it to you clean and smelling fresh.