Travel equipment makes staying in natural conditions more comfortable. But items such as a tent or a sleeping bag get dirty quickly and therefore require special care.
We already wrote about how to wash a tent in a washing machine in the corresponding article. Below we will talk about the care of a sleeping bag. We will figure out whether it is possible to wash the sleeping bag in the washing machine at all and what detergents are suitable for gentle washing.
Is it possible to wash
Before you throw the product into the washing machine drum, it is worth assessing how dirty it is – maybe the pollution is insignificant and you can do without automatic washing. Washing sleeping bags in the SMA is not prohibited, but it is often not recommended to do so.
Start with dry cleaning:
- Dry the bag before cleaning.
- Clean the sleeping bag of dirt stains with a clothes brush. Having found greasy stains, use the Whitespirit solvent – it will erase them from the fabric.
- Turn the bag inside out.
- Moisten the sponge with soapy water, wring out and wipe the inside of the product. Try not to wet the bag too much.
- Dry the sleeping bag, fold it and put it away before the next trip.
Important! So that soapy water not only cleans the fabric, but also neutralizes unpleasant odors, add a little potassium permanganate to it.
How to wash a sleeping bag
If dry cleaning was ineffective, you will have a completely logical question – is it possible to wash the sleeping bag in the CMA? We asked avid travelers if they wash their sleeping bags automatically. To which we received a positive response and learned a few simple rules.
Automatic washing
Remember the recommendations to know how to wash your sleeping bag in the washing machine:
- Choose a gentle washing mode with a temperature of up to 40 degrees and a maximum drum speed of no more than 600.
- Match the dimensions and weight of the product with the maximum capacity of the drum.
- Turn off the spin function.
- Use liquid detergent – it is easier to rinse out of the fabric.
- Check for damage, if you find tears, sew.
- If the volume of equipment is impressive, wash it on a short cycle only in cold water.
Using these simple rules, you can wash your equipment with high quality and without loss:
- Straighten the product.
- Turn inside out.
- Roll into a roll.
- Load into the drum (you can use laundry balls to keep the stuffing in place).
- Pour the liquid agent into the powder receptacle. Use professional “chemistry” for camping equipment.
- Do not use bleach or rinse aid.
- Close the hatch.
- Select a delicate or hand wash with low drum speed and start the cycle.
- At the end of the regime, do not rush to get the bag, let it stay there for at least half an hour – excess water will drain from it, and this will facilitate drying.
Attention! In no case do not squeeze the bag in the machine. Do not try to wring it out by hand either. A wet bag is more prone to warping and tearing.
Proper drying:
- Dry the product in a ventilated room only horizontally. Lay it out on a special dryer, ironing board or drying lines. If drying directly in the apartment, then spread rags or paper to collect dripping water.
- After the water drains, you can put a fan heater at a distance – this way the bag will dry faster. But do not use a hair dryer and do not dry on a radiator!
- During drying, shake the bag from time to time (every 1-2 hours) to evenly distribute the filler.
Handwash
If you are afraid to wash your sleepwear in the washing machine, wash them by hand. This wash is more gentle, which is especially true for old bags. Read below on how to properly wash a bag with your own hands:
- Straighten the fabric, turn the product inside out and fasten the zipper or Velcro.
- Fill a tub or large basin with plenty of lukewarm water.
- Load your sleeping bag into the water.
- Get in the bath and stomp on the bag for about 15 minutes. Do not overdo it – tap dancing is not necessary.
- After “foot” washing, grab the bag with your hands and perform movements as if rinsing, smoothly moving the thing from left to right for 10-15 minutes.
- Drain the dirty water and collect clean water without removing the product. Rinse the equipment and drain the water, drawing clean water again.
Important! You need to rinse several times so that the detergent is completely out of the fabric. If there was a lot of foam, then rinse 3-4 times.
- After the last rinse, drain the water, spread the bag in the tub and let it drain for 30-40 minutes.
- Dry the sleeping bag in the same way as after an automatic wash.
Than to erase
We have already reported above that when washing a sleeping bag, it is better to use special products. So where do you stop?
These detergent compositions are recognized by tourists and are used most often (you can buy in specialized stores):
- Salton Sport. Specialized gel for any type of washing – by hand or in the SMA. Suitable for removing stains from bags stuffed with natural down. Produced in the form of a 0,25 liter bottle. It costs between 200-300 rubles.
- Cotico. Domestic gel for sports equipment, clothing and various equipment. Can be used for washing neoprene, lycra and membrane fabrics. But not suitable for fluff. Bottle size – 1 liter, costs about 300 rubles.
- Toko Eco Down Wash. This is an impregnation for products filled with down. It is formulated as a spray to be applied before washing. It is then pushed out of the fabric along with the stains. Packed in a 0,25 liter bottle, it costs about 500 rubles.
- Heitmann Special Wasche. Gel with good reviews, used to clean tents, sleeping bags and other equipment on artificial fillers (holofiber, synthetic winterizer and others). Cannot be used for downy items. It features a natural safe composition – the vaunted “German quality”. It costs within 400 rubles for a container of 0,25 liters.
Remember that you need to not only wash properly, but also store the sleeping bag. Don’t try to pack it in a compression bag to save space in your closet. Straighten the fabric and hang it on hangers or in any position – so you keep the functionality of the filler longer.