Easy Sleeping Bag Maintenance Tips.

As with any camping or hiking equipment the more you use your bag the more sleeping bag maintenance you should perform. Sweat, dirt, and body oils can cause down and/or insulation to stick together more easily, this in turn decreases warmth. You can help to minimize this by using a liner or by wearing a sweat shirt and pants. A little prevention can go a long way toward getting the results you expect from your tackle.

Sleeping Bag Maintenance: Washing/Cleaning

First check to see if your manufacturer has any specific recommendations or suggestions as certain types of fabric may require special care. Most bags though should be able to handle hand washing with warm water (104 degrees F, or 40 degrees C) and a mild cleaner like Nikwax Down Wash, followed by a thorough warm water rinse.

Gently squeeze as much of the water out of the fabric as possible.

If your bag has a breathable membrane like Gore-Tex® avoid detergent and use Nikwax Tech Wash. Detergents can clog breathable membranes decreasing their performance.

If handwashing your gear in your bathtub doesn't sound like a good time and you insist on using a machine, then consider a commercial heavy duty front-loading tumble washing machine. Do not use a top-loader as the agitator can cause problems. Zip it closed to help protect the zipper and the fabric and use the gentle cycle with warm water and either the Nikwax Down Wash for down or the Nikwax Tech Wash for breathable gear.

You can follow this by drying it in a commercial dryer on the lowest heat setting (again check instructions to prevent damage). Set the dryer to... you guessed it, gentle. Now kick back with your favorite magazine because this is going to take awhile. But spending a few bucks now to make sure it's completely dry is definitely better than having mold, mildew, or mushrooms later. On second thought... if they were Morel or Portobello mushrooms, that wouldn't be all bad. Mmmmm, Morel mushrooms. ;-)

Once it's dry you can add a clean shoe for loft as needed.

Whatever you do make sure it's completely dry before you store it. Even though the shell may feel dry and warm to the touch, the down can still be clumped together by moisture inside. Drying may take several hours, and even then it's still a good idea to let it air dry for a few days.

Some gear can be dry cleaned, some can't, so make sure you check before you decide to go this route.

Sleeping Bag Maintenance: Drying

Dry or 'air it out' after each use. If you've ever smelled a musty sleeping bag you know why it's a bad idea to store one wet or even damp. Even though a bag might seem dry, chances are if it touched the floor of your tent it's going to be damp because of perspiration. We all are constantly giving off moisture, and when we sleep some of that moisture permeates through to the floor or mattress where it's cooler. This vapor condenses causing your sleeping bag to become slightly damp.

Add this up over a couple of days in addition to the moisture that seeps through the tent floor and/or rain and you've got damp sleeping gear. Depending on how much moisture we're talking about this will cause it to get rather funky smelling sooner or later. The solution is really pretty easy though. Like anything that gets wet, just let it air out a bit. Dehumidifiers are perfect for this type of thing. Unzip your bag all the way around and lay it out open over a drying rack or in an empty room on the floor until it's dry. It's a good idea to flip it over once the first side seems dry to let air get to the other side. It's a good idea to perform this little bit of sleeping bag maintenance every time you go camping, because it can really extend the life of your camping gear.

If you need to dry out your bag at your campsite you can hang it over a clothesline for quicker results, or if don't have any rope try spreading it out over a picnic table, log or a big rock. Sunlight will weaken the material over time, so try to keep exposure to a minimum. But if it's between having to sleep in a bag that is totally soaked from a torrential downpour the night before, or getting it dry as fast as possible so you're not shivering all night long, I'd choose the sunlight. :-)

Along those same lines, the sooner you pull it out of its stuff sack at your campsite and unroll it the better, this gives the insulation/down a chance to expand on its own, keeping you warmer.

Sleeping Bag Maintenance: Storage

As I mentioned above for best sleeping bag maintenance, make sure that your gear is completely dry before you store it. Mold or mildew is no fun to sleep in. Store it in a dry cool place, like an upstairs hallway closet. Unless you have a dehumidifier, most basements tend to be a little damp so it's best to avoid them.

If you use a compression sack to minimize the size of your bag for backpacking etc., make sure to remove it for storage. A compressed bag uses less space but it also compacts the down/insulation. Since insulation functions by using air pockets to keep you warm, any reduction in this air (loft) space will decrease the effectiveness of your bag. If it came with a loose-fitting storage sack, use that instead. Otherwise your bag will eventually get colder and its useful lifespan will be reduced even if it looks brand new on the outside.

It really doesn't take much sleeping bag maintenance to keep your gear working great for years. Just following the simple tips I mentioned will go a long ways towards getting the most for your money. I hope that helps.