Prolonging the Life of Your Down Sleeping Bags

First of all, do your best not to store your down sleeping bag in its own sack; the bag should not be compressed for long periods. Instead, do your best to store it loosely in a dry spot. (The ideal is if you can store it in a loose, cotton sack). Also try to avoid storing it in an airtight bag, since condensation can result which or course would be followed by mildew. Do not store your bag in too hot an area; the natural oils in the down can evaporate.

Air the bag out each day while you are camping. Hang it somewhere, inside out, and let the wind do its thing. When packing it up again, a lot of people roll their bag--a common error. Instead, stuff the sleeping bag into its bag, starting with the foot of the sleeping bag, so the air will escape as you stuff.

As soon as you get to the camp each evening, remove the bag from its sack and allow it to air out. Keep the bag out of the sunlight (unless you're drying it), since the ultraviolet rays will gradually degrade the fabric.

Cleanliness is another key to longevity. The cleaner you keep the bag in the field, the less often you'll have to wash it. Always use a ground sheet of some kind, to avoid laying the bag in the dirt. Keep yourself clean too! Be mindful that your own body can dirty the inside of the bag.

You can damp cloth any stains that may happen, so as to, once again, reduce the frequency of washing the bag. If you can, push the down away from the stain you're cleaning. When you can no longer postpone washing your bag, always read and follow the manufacturer's washing instructions to the letter. We do not dry clean down sleeping bags, as it can damage the natural oils found in down.

Turn your sleeping bag inside out before a machine wash and zip up the zippers. Be sure to wash with cold water and use only the gentle cycles.

For all down sleeping bags, it's better to wash by hand usually in a bathtub. Use mild soaps, not aggressive detergents. Never add bleach and never use a fabric softener.

In warm water, submerge your bag in the bathtub while it is in its bag. This way the air is already out of the bag and it is easier to work with under water. Then, pull it out of the sack and wash gently. When you've finished, let it continue to soak for an hour.

You generally have to rinse with clean water multiple times in order to make sure you get all the soap out. Some manufacturers will tell you to rinse 3 times or more. You must get all the soap out. Empty the tub with each rinse and let the water drain away completely. Be very careful pulling on your sleeping bag while it is wet, as the stitching or the baffles can be torn more easily when they are wet. Press the bag to remove as much water as possible after each rinse, but never wring it out.

To start the drying process, put the bag into the spin cycle of your washing machine. Then, a low heat tumble dry is usually alright (despite what some manufacturers say). However, before you dry in the machine, look for clumps of down that are often there following a wash, and massage them to spread them back out. Adding 2 or 3 clean tennis balls to the dryer also helps to get those clumps out.

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