How to wash a sleeping bag in a washing machine?

Any tourist knows that even after the shortest hike, it is necessary to put in order all the equipment. The preparation for the next trip, its quality and comfort largely depend on this. A sleeping bag, necessary for any overnight stay, in a dirty state retains much less heat, and it’s not pleasant to sleep in unclean things. So that you do not have to spend this time a lot of time, in this article we will tell you how to wash a sleeping bag in a washing machine.

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When to wash a sleeping bag?

It is important to know that sleeping bags, especially downy ones, are not recommended to be washed often. With each exposure to water, the insulation is crushed and thereby loses its heat transfer. Washing the sleeping bag should be no more than once or twice a year, depending on the intensity of use.

Important! An excellent solution to avoid pollution and to save the thing from wear and tear is a liner that is inserted inside. For this purpose, the most ordinary sheet is suitable. It is easy to wash, just replace.

Depending on the filler, a different type of washing is required.

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Rules for washing a synthetic sleeping bag

Putting in order a synthetic sleeping bag is easy. To do this, you only need a handful of regular washing powder.

Important! Do not use bleaches or conditioners. This applies tohow to wash a sleeping bag in a washing machineboth manually.

Basic rules and sequence of actions when cleaning tourist equipment:

1. Before immersing in water, be sure to turn the product inside out, because the back side absorbs much more moisture.
2. Add laundry detergent to the washing machine without any additional tools.
3. It is recommended to wash in delicate mode without spinning. The water temperature should not exceed 30 degrees. An additional rinse will be a plus, so that the remnants of the powder are removed from the thing.
4. After washing, it is advisable to leave it in a centrifuge for about half an hour - this is how all excess water will drain.
5. It is necessary to take out the product carefully, without twisting or squeezing it.
6. Dry the synthetic thing away from sources of heat.

Important! At the same time, you need to put in order and other equipment after the campaign. The information from our following articles will help you with this:

• How to wash a backpack?
• How to clean a cauldron?

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Down sleeping bags

Caring for a down sleeping bag is practically no different from a synthetic analogue. This thing can be washed both in the machine and manually - the washing algorithm is the same.

At the same time, it is recommended to use only special cleaning products that do not wash natural animal fat from the sleeping bag. As a rule, they can be purchased at any major tourist store. But drying a down sleeping bag will take much more time. It is extremely important to dry the product completely.

Important! The main nuances that must be observed when cleaning products with such a filler:

• When washing in a typewriter - add special balls for washing or tennis balls. They will whisk the product evenly, preventing the filler from concentrating in one place.
• When drying, it is necessary to turn the product from one side to the other at least once every 3-5 hours and also beat a little.
• When choosing a detergent, you can choose what is suitable for outerwear with the same filler. About the different options we described in detail in the article at the link"How to wash the down jacket?".

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Faster cleaning method

If there is no way to completely wash the thing, but it is necessary to remove pollution, you can use various excipients that can quickly clean the sleeping bag:

1. On a dirty place, apply a cleaning paste, spray (they can be found in household or tourist shops) or another dry cleaner. Rub the product thoroughly with a brush.
2. Allow to soak - during this the components of the cleansing agent will interact with the contamination.
3. After about half an hour, rinse with cool water and place on a dryer away from heat sources.

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Caring for your sleeping bag while camping

In order not to wonder whether it is possible to wash the sleeping bag in the washing machine or manually, you can simply carefully look after it while traveling. This is the best way to preserve the product for a long time.

What rules should be followed? - All of them will not cause you any difficulties and will not cause discomfort during the trip:

• Keep the sleeping bag dry. This is especially true for hiking during snow or rain. Sleep in a wet bed is dangerous to health, plus moisture spoils the filler of the sleeping bag. To avoid this, it is recommended that you store it in a waterproof case.
• After sleeping, be sure to ventilate the sleeping bag for at least 10 minutes. It is good if the street is warm and sunny - this will additionally dry the thing.
• Use the sheet inside the sleeping bag. It prevents salting and wear. In addition, it is easy to wash and dry.
• Try to pack your sleeping bag carefully - without strong bends or kinks. This leads to scuffs and premature wear.

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How to store a sleeping bag for a long time?

In order for a thing to last a long time, it is important to know not only how to wash a sleeping bag, but also how to store it correctly. Recommendations of manufacturers and experienced tourists are as follows:

• First of all, make sure that the sleeping bag is dry. Do not put it in the case when it is wet.
• At home, it is advisable to keep the sleeping bag open. If space allows, you can hang it on a rope or bar inside the cabinet.
• A good way is to keep it open under the bed. If there is no space at all, then use a special cover or a cotton bag. In this case, you can store it along with other things.

Important! Before washing and drying the sleeping bag, you must read the instructions, because some models cannot be washed at all. For example, this applies to products manufactured by Alexika.

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Stock footage

Now that you’ve got acquainted with all the rules on how to wash a sleeping bag in a washing machine, how to clean it quickly and how to store it, you will definitely not have any problems with the long-term use of your camping equipment, which means that outdoor recreation will only benefit you and a pleasant experience.