Proper care, washing and storage significantly extend the service life of sleeping bags with synthetic insulation.
I had 5 synthetic sleeping bags in my arsenal, sold 2 of them updating my gear lineup. Now I have two quilts and one lightweight sleeping bag left. They are in excellent condition and will serve for the maximum designed lifespan, thanks to the following storage and care principles that I follow:
A dirty sleeping bag insulates worse than a clean one. Greasing worsens the breathability of the fabric, and the insulation reduces its elasticity and thickness, which leads to a decrease in thermal insulation performance.
Inspect dirt and damage
Carefully inspect the sleeping bag from the outside and inside for dirt and damage. If the sleeping bag is dirty locally, for example, in the neck area, then it is enough to clean the dirty area without washing the entire sleeping bag. If there is dirt over the entire surface, then turn it inside out.
If there is severe local dirt, then pre-clean with soapy water. If not, then put it directly into the drum. Wash separately from other items. If there is dirt inside, turn it inside out; if something was spilled outside the sleeping bag, leave it face out. Close the zipper all the way, loosen the tightening elastic bands.
It's best not to get your sleeping bag dirty, then you'll have to wash it less, which means it will last longer without losing its performance. Since dirt occurs from the inside, it is necessary to isolate the contact of exposed skin and the sleeping bag. Sleep in clean thermal underwear, pants, long-sleeved shirt, socks, buff and hat. If it's hot and you like to sleep in underwear, use a liner. I always take a liner on a hike.
Washing product
Use a regular washing product, but without chlorine, bleaching, or conditioner. It is better to use a liquid product, as powder does not dissolve well in 30-degree water. Naturally, it is better to use a higher quality detergent from the medium to high price range.
Washing machine mode
General rule. You can wash in the machine in delicate or hand wash mode, at minimal rotations with minimal spin, at 30 degrees.
Additional rinse
After washing, run a short additional rinse to completely rinse off the cleaning product. Take the sleeping bag out of the drum carefully, especially ultralight models, a wet sleeping bag is heavy, you can damage the fabric. Wring out without twisting. Do not use machine drying, do not iron.
Drying
Dry horizontally, in a ventilated area, turning periodically, naturally.
Storage
It is important to store the sleeping bag in an unfolded state, this will allow the insulation to retain its volume and elasticity for as long as possible. You can store it simply in a closet or on a hanger; for compactness, you can put it in special bags for storage.
Recommendations
- Air out the sleeping bag after each use, I usually leave it for two days hanging on a chair to let the unpleasant odors air out.
- Keep the zippers clean and periodically lubricate them with silicone so that the slider works quickly and easily.
- When using a compression bag, do not squeeze the sleeping bag with all your might, of course, this damages the insulation and in one night of excessive compression, the insulation can lose 5-20% of its thermal insulation properties.
- Store on a hanger or in a spacious, breathable cover. This is very important; if storage occurs in a transport bag, the sleeping bag will lose a noticeable part of its thermal insulation performance in a couple of years.
- Each sleeping bag has its own resource, even if we consider some of the best types of synthetic insulation, after 10 washes in a gentle way, the deterioration in thermal insulation ranges from 7% to 30%. The indicators of insulation made of microfiber or with an open and voluminous structure decrease to a greater extent, staple and continuous fiber insulation withstand washing better. But we conclude that washing a dirty sleeping bag is good, but within reasonable limits for any synthetic insulation.
