A sleeping bag is a must-have accessory in your backpack when it comes to spending a night in the woods or on the mountains. We all know how much a good sleep can providefor the next day to complete the challenging adventures. Over time, the bag tends to get dirty and this can affect not only comfort but also the durability of the bag. Remember, the maintenance and cleaning of your sleeping bag doesn’t require you to be an expert dry cleaner. If you’re a regular camper or hiker, you should have done it many times in the past. But, there are little aspects of the cleaning process that can have a significant impact on the comfort and life of the sleeping bag you own.

To assist you with the cleaning process, we are sharing some tips and advice here. Take note of the filling used inside the bag before you start cleaning it. Also, we recommend you to take help from some expert if the bag is heavy and down-filled.

Things to Take Care of Before You Clean the Bag

Following the cleaning instructions on the bag is what every expert will recommend you. But certain things are not mentioned on the back of the sleeping bag. The first to note down is never to use a normal washer. These washers are not made to handle these bags. Also, say no to hard detergents, dry cleaning, and bleaching. These things leave harmful residues on the bag and can cause skin irritation as well.

The temperature at which you’re drying the bag needs to be at a certain level. Excess heat can damage the bag by shrinking or melting the shells. Moreover, excess water should be completely squeezed out before you dry the bag. Rather than wiring, you should roll it to take out the water inside the filling. You can use dry towels to absorb the moisture. Do not mix the bag with another dirty laundry, this will prevent the accumulation of excess dirt on the inside of the bag.

How You Should Clean the Sleeping Bag

Not every bag is made to withstand a machine wash. You need to check the instructions given on the bag to make sure which method is good for the bag, hand or machine washing. Before putting it inside the washer, try spot cleaning the dirt patches for more effective results.  The type of detergent you should use is generally written on the label or instructions. This ensures the filling or shell is not damaged with the wrong use of detergent.

How to Dry the Sleeping Bag

Now you have washed your sleeping bag with the right method, detergent and care. The next step is to dry it, which should be not be done carelessly. Also, take extra care while drying the down filling bags, as they are more prone to getting clump together. Start by smoothing out the bag and spreading and laying out the filling evenly. Then place it somewhere and let it dry.

Cleaning the sleeping bag is something you should do after regular intervals. This will assure the night you’re spending inside the camp is comfortable and relaxing and also makes sure the bag lasts more than a few trips. Cleaning won’t take much time, all it requires is more caution.