Steps to Successfully Sweeping Your Sleeping Bag: Cleaning Your Camping Bed Tips and Hints

Smelly, Soggy Sleeping Bag? Cleaning Tips to Make Your Sleeping Bag as Good as New!

Even the highest-quality sleeping bags lose their luster over time. No matter what you do to keep your bag looking pristine, it will get dirty. If it doesn't look dirty, consider this: Dirt and natural oils from your body will seep into your sleeping bag over time, no matter how clean you try to keep it from outside elements. You'll notice that it will start to lose some of its loftiness, and maybe even feel a bit flat.

The good news? This is normal. The better news? You don't have to send your sleeping bag away to get it professionally cleaned. With a little time, a little know-how, and a commercial washer and dryer, you can wash your sleeping bag successfully before your next outdoor adventure.

Cleaning Your Sleeping Bag at a Laundromat

The only downside to cleaning your sleeping bag on your own is that you'll likely have to take it to your local laundromat. That is, unless you have a commercial-size washer and dryer at home. Since we're betting that's not the case, making the short trek to a laundromat is the first step in the DIY bag-cleaning process.

The second, and perhaps the most important step, is to read and pay close attention to the manufacturer's cleaning instructions. You can usually either find these on the bag's tag, or you may have to look them up online. Take note of any special instructions that warn you about washing the bag under certain conditions. Once you're in the clear, follow these simple steps to get your bag squeaky clean:

1. Start the bag on a gentle cycle. Use warm or cold water, per the manufacturer's instructions.
2. Once the bag has gone through the wash and rinse cycle, send it through another rinse cycle. This will help to ensure that all the soap is out of the inside of the bag.
3. Once the sleeping bag is done in the washing machine, it will be very heavy! It's important to support it as much as possible, and not just pull it out from one end. This could cause it to tear. You may need to enlist the help of a buddy for this part, just to make sure you're carrying the bag from the washer to the dryer evenly.
4. Squeeze out as much excess water as you can before moving the bag to the dryer.
5. Once the bag is in a commercial-size dryer, allow it to dry on low heat. Keep in mind that this could take several cycles and several hours! You'll want to make sure it's completely dry, inside and out, before taking it out of the dryer.

Tips for Easy Sleeping Bag Cleaning

Cleaning your sleeping bag doesn't have to be a big deal. By following the steps above, you can get it done in a day, and most of your time will simply be spent waiting – a great opportunity to catch up on your reading!

There are a few useful tips you should keep in mind, however, to make cleaning your sleeping bag an even easier experience. These tips will also give you a better end result and keep your bag in top shape:

• Avoid certain cleaning products like fabric softener and bleach.
• Even after sending your bag through the dryer several times, lay it out in a dry area overnight.
• Never use a washing machine with an agitator to clean your sleeping bag. This could cause the seams to come apart.
• If you have a down sleeping bag, toss a few tennis balls into the dryer with it. This will help to break up any clumps and leave you with even padding through the whole bag.

If you've never thoroughly cleaned your sleeping bag before, we hope this little guide gives you the encouragement to do so. It's easier than you might think, and you can get a lot of extra life out of your trusty old sleeping bag by simply taking good care of it and keeping it clean.