How to Wash a Sleeping Bag

Camping is a magnificent but dirty sport. Even if you’re glamping, or sleeping in an RV, yurt or van, the goal is to immerse yourself in the great outdoors. That means dirt, sand, grass, rocks and, more often than not, campfire smoke.  There are leaves, wind, dust, and bugs; we love to camp, but the corollary is knowing how to clean up afterwards.  

While it’s easy to remember to wash your camping apparel and scrape or clean off boots and shoes, one item that often gets overlooked is the sleeping bag. Sleeping bags, whether they are made of synthetic or down materials, get dirty on both the inside and out. This is because sleeping bags are generally laid on the ground, and generally suffer the indignities of being walked, crawled, and spilled on. Also, even if you’re good about washing up before going to bed, when you sleep in the bag, the inside can get dirty, just like with sheets at home. Here’s how to keep your sleeping bag clean, washed, and working at top performance. 

There are ways you can keep your sleeping bag cleaner. Here is some expert advice from people who have camped all over the US, Canada and beyond. They’ve been on backpacking and camping trips from Whistler to the Everglades.

1. Implement a no-shoes rule in your tent, RV, van or yurt. By leaving dirty, wet, and muddy footwear outside, you won’t track in excess dirt. Leave your shoes in the tent vestibule.


2. Bring a light-weight whisk broom (and dustpan if you are car camping). Sweeping your tent out on a daily basis works wonders for keeping your sleeping bag clean. 


3. Use a sleeping pad or cot. Sleeping pads help insulate you from the cold (or hot) ground. And they give you an additional layer of protection from any dirt that’s gathered on the tent floor. Car campers can also bring along a foldable cot. 


4. Always air out your sleeping bag. This helps to get rid of that musty smell that builds up in the tent, or when its stored. Unzip it and hang it on a branch when you are setting up your tent. After sleeping in it, leave it unzipped and flopped over the top of your tent or car. Put it back into your tent before you leave camp so that it doesn’t blow away while you’re out hiking or fishing.

Washing your sleeping bag gets rid of stains, smells, and grime. And it can preserve the life of your bag by cleaning the down or synthetic fill, reinvigorating the insulation and water proofing, and making it more appealing to sleep in. Unless there are mitigating circumstances, you generally only need to wash a sleeping bag once a year. If you use your sleeping bag seasonally on a few overnight trips and some multi-night trips, consider washing it at the end of the season.  

For hardcore adventurers who embark on a multi-week or longer camping trip, you should wash your bag after each extended adventure. This will ensure that oils aren’t affecting the loft of the down and that dirt and grit are removed from seams and stitching, which can accelerate wear on critical structural areas of sleeping bags. And getting into a fresh-smelling sleeping bag at the end of a long day on the trail is much more conducive to a good night’s sleep!

1. If your sleeping bag is smelly, stained, or dirty enough that you are refraining from going camping, by all means, give it a good wash. The good news is that most sleeping bags are made with materials that are designed to not soak up sweat or stains. However, the insulation may get packed down due to use; washing and drying thoroughly can reinvigorate the insulation so that you stay warmer and more comfortable. 


2. At home, make sure you store your sleeping bag (synthetic or down) with plenty of room to breathe. That’s because if it stays scrunched up (compressed), you’ll lose loft (fluffiness), which negatively impacts performance. The best way to store a sleeping bag at home is to put it in a big breathable mesh bag. A king-sized pillowcase preferably made of breathable cotton works well. If you are backpacking, you’ll compress the bag into a smaller lightweight “stuff sack.”


3. Consider using a sleeping bag liner. You can make one of your own by sewing a sheet (we recommend using a queen-sized one) into a rectangle shape, but there are plenty available to buy. A liner takes all the nighttime abuse that sheets do on a bed. They protect the bag, and protect it from suntan oil, campfire smoke that may have condensed on your skin, bug repellent, etc.) If you are using a liner, you won’t have to wash your bag as frequently. 


4. Always remove your hiking, fishing, or camp clothes before slipping into your sleeping bag. Not only will they transfer dirt, grime, and heaven forbid, poison oak, ivy or sumac inside of your bag, but clothes are always a bit damp after wearing. If you need the sleeping bag for warmth, you don’t want to introduce moisture into the system. 


5. Avoid eating or storing food in your tent. This is good advice in bear country (and anywhere there are squirrels, chipmunks, or other creatures that may want to munch through your tent walls), but it is also a smart way to keep your sleeping bag clean. If you do spill something, spot clean it quickly with water. You can pull the shell (outer fabric) away from the down or synthetic insulation, so you don’t end up sleeping in a wet bag. 


6. At camp, after a good night’s sleep, drape your bag over your tent (or on top of your car or a branch) for a half hour. This lets the bag release any moisture or odors that might have built up over night. Always air out your sleeping bag after a camping trip. 


7. Don’t be afraid of washing a down sleeping bag. Daniel Uretsky, President of ALLIED Feather + Down tells us that “Down is a highly durable and natural material and is therefore very washable.” He says that depending on how often you use them, you should wash your down sleeping bags at least once per year as clean down will perform better and last longer than down that is not regularly cared for. “Removing dirt and other contaminants will allow down to loft better, keeping you warmer. Not washing your down can result in the build-up of odor-causing bacteria and can actually decrease the lifespan of this durable, high performance, and sustainable material.”

Sleeping bags are made for rough and tumble use. And that means they are built to withstand both washing machines and dryers. Here are some tips for washing your sleeping bag.

1. If the inside of the sleeping bag seems clean, but you have dirt on the shell, just spot clean with a damp sponge. If the bag needs a deeper cleaning, use a front-loading machine with no agitator and follow the directions on the tags (which should be on your sleeping bag).


2. Dry cleaning is not recommended for either down or synthetic sleeping bags as the chemical nature of the process can damage feathers and synthetic insulation. Wash your bag at home (or at a laundromat). Most modern washing machines and dryers are fine. You can also hand wash a sleeping bag in your bathtub or shower. You’ll need to squeeze out moisture and then soak up more water with big towels.


3. Use a mild detergent or better yet, a purpose-developed soap. Down contains the same protein that is found in hair, which gives you an idea on why it is important to clean down. “The most important two things are to use the right soaps and to dry thoroughly,” says Uretsky. “There is really nothing in the home laundry machines that will destroy the down. Most dryers now have humidity sensors which may cut the drying short because the shells of the products feel dry. It is critical that the down is completely dried throughout. We recommend low heat and long dry times. If in doubt, dry some more.” 


4. Patrick Marshall, Research Engineer for Columbia’s Innovation Department and materials experts says that one reason sleeping bags retain odor is that many are made with synthetic fibers. Synthetic fibers have a chemical structure that has a stronger hold onto the odor molecules once they’ve bonded. Natural fibers (wool, cotton and down) attract odors, but release them much easier.
   
   
5. You can use a deodorizing spray on your sleeping bag to neutralize any unwanted smells. They help to mask the odor (not get rid of it) and make it easier to release when washing in the machine or cleaning with other methods. Always air out your sleeping bag after use, and store it in a big, roomy mesh bag (or hanging in a closet or spread out on a shelf).


6. For synthetic-insulated sleeping bags, start by zipping the bag fully closed. You don’t need to turn them inside out. Use a gentle or mild detergent. Select cold water and the delicate cycle on a front-loading machine. Do a second rinse cycle once the wash is complete. This will ensure all detergent is removed. Next, it is recommended that you use two spin cycles, which will remove excess moisture. Dry in a dryer with low or no heat or hang dry synthetic sleeping bags over. Be sure to support the sleeping bag over a drying rack to reduce stress on any one section of the bag.


7. For down-insulated sleeping bags, start by zipping the bag fully closed. Use down wash as a detergent. Select cold water and the delicate cycle on a front-loading machine and do a second rinse cycle once the wash is complete. This will ensure all detergent is removed. Use two spin cycles, which will remove excess moisture. Dry in a dryer on the medium heat setting. Include two or three clean tennis balls to help de-clump and fluff the down and restore full loft. Use tennis balls in the dryer with synthetic sleeping bags too, as even the man-made materials can get clumpy.


8. Invest in a soap that’s designed to wash down or synthetics, or a mild detergent. Follow the instructions as you don’t want to use too little or too much; you can also add a rinse cycle to make sure you are rid of any detergent residue. You can use the same soap to wash your puffy jackets. Specialty soap designed for synthetics can also be used to wash fleece garments.


9. If you have a waterproof shell, then turn your sleeping bag inside out (zipped up). This way, you are sure that you get more water into the insulation.