The first thing you want to do to extend the life of your down sleeping bag is to understand how you should be storing it. Firstly, try not to store it in its sack for too long, as compression for long periods will cause it to lose its loft. Store it loose, and always in as dry a place as you can. A big cotton bag is perfect, if you have one. Try to avoid an airtight bag, because of mildew, as well as keeping it in an air tight bag. Goose down has natural oils that contribute to its insulation properties, and excessive heat can cause these oils to evaporate. Finally, make sure your sleeping bag is dry before you put it into storage.
Airing out your bag each day you use it will help keep it lofty. Turn it inside out and let the sun and the breeze dry it if need be. Sleeping bags can be stuffed a great many times with no damage. Do not roll your sleeping bag (a common mistake!). Stuffing it is much easier on the goose down. When you do stuff your bag, start with the foot in order to let the air escape.
Each night at camp, see if you can air out your bag (but not in direct sunlight, as ultra violet rays can degrade the fabric of your bag).
You will extend the life of your bag by keeping it as clean as you can, so that you don't have to run it through the washing machine as often. Try not to ever lay your bag directly on the ground. If you're not in a tent, use a ground cloth. Wear clean clothing to bed, which protects against dirt from the day, and body oils that can affect the goose down.
Damp cloth spills on your bag immediately if you can so as to, once again, avoid the need for excessive machine washes. When you damp cloth, see if you can move the down away from the area being cleaned. When it is time to machine wash, see that you follow manufacturer directions exactly. And never dry clean a down sleeping bag, as the solvents they use damage the down's natural oils.
This may surprise you but most sleeping bags get dirtier on the inside than the outside. So turn your bag inside out when machine washing. Zip all the zippers up. Try to use a front loading machine, and use cold washes and 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. 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.
You can now use the spin cycle of a washing machine to remove the majority of the water. Following that, and despite what many manufacturers say about not using a dryer, a low heat tumble dry setting is usually just fine. Before drying however, check for down clumps that can sometimes accumulate during washing, and "massage" them to spread them out again. Some people add two or three clean tennis balls to the dryer to help with the clumps.
Airing out your bag each day you use it will help keep it lofty. Turn it inside out and let the sun and the breeze dry it if need be. Sleeping bags can be stuffed a great many times with no damage. Do not roll your sleeping bag (a common mistake!). Stuffing it is much easier on the goose down. When you do stuff your bag, start with the foot in order to let the air escape.
Each night at camp, see if you can air out your bag (but not in direct sunlight, as ultra violet rays can degrade the fabric of your bag).
You will extend the life of your bag by keeping it as clean as you can, so that you don't have to run it through the washing machine as often. Try not to ever lay your bag directly on the ground. If you're not in a tent, use a ground cloth. Wear clean clothing to bed, which protects against dirt from the day, and body oils that can affect the goose down.
Damp cloth spills on your bag immediately if you can so as to, once again, avoid the need for excessive machine washes. When you damp cloth, see if you can move the down away from the area being cleaned. When it is time to machine wash, see that you follow manufacturer directions exactly. And never dry clean a down sleeping bag, as the solvents they use damage the down's natural oils.
This may surprise you but most sleeping bags get dirtier on the inside than the outside. So turn your bag inside out when machine washing. Zip all the zippers up. Try to use a front loading machine, and use cold washes and 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. 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.
You can now use the spin cycle of a washing machine to remove the majority of the water. Following that, and despite what many manufacturers say about not using a dryer, a low heat tumble dry setting is usually just fine. Before drying however, check for down clumps that can sometimes accumulate during washing, and "massage" them to spread them out again. Some people add two or three clean tennis balls to the dryer to help with the clumps.
About the Author:
Derek is an avid adventurer and camper, and is crazy when it comes to down sleeping bags. To get more on the best prices you'll see on online, visit his Down Sleeping Bags website.
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