Need advice on washing a sleeping bag

**EnglishTeacha** · 07-26-2011, 12:36 PM

It's about time to wash our sleeping bags. The tags say to use a front loader, which I don't have. Should I use the laundromat (around $5-6 per bag) or try to wash them in the bathtub at home by hand? I don't want to use my top loader because I know from experience that they can make the bags very lumpy. (My old sleeping bag was washed in a top loader and all the fluff inside got very lumpy and uncomfortable.)

I'm trying to balance my time, energy, and my money spent. At home it will take some time, but I'm home and can just do it when I want and costs me nothing but manpower and water and detergent. At the laundromat it will take around half an hour washing, and I don't want to leave them unattended in the washers. The laundromat is a half hour round trip driving to get there, so it costs the gas, the price of the washers, and my time.

Thoughts from other frugal people? I'm having trouble figuring out if using the laundromat is worth my time and money for the "convenience."

**MaryCarney** · 07-26-2011, 01:31 PM

If it was me - I'd just wait til the next time I went into town and do them then - then you don't waste time and gas- OR see if a friend has a front loader and would help you out.
$5 to get the sleeping bags clean? A bargain if you ask me.

**Spirit Deer** · 07-26-2011, 02:03 PM

Welcome! Glad you decided to join us. Lots of good advice here.

Gave up on the holey plungey thingie, did ya? LOL

**krbshappy71** · 07-26-2011, 02:06 PM

If you have the means, I'd do it at home. But then, I like to be home.

**EnglishTeacha** · 07-26-2011, 02:58 PM

Well, I washed one sleeping bag in the tub, using my "holey plunger" thingy SpiritDeer mentioned previously. (I want a "Breathing Mobile Washer" but am too cheap so I cut holes in a new plunger instead.) It came clean, wasn't too tough to wash or to rinse, but holy cow, did that thing hold water! I squeezed out what I could, patted it out with a towel, and hung it over my shower bar in the tub. It was so heavy it took the rod down. (luckily it's a tension bar so I can put it back up.) I set my folding drying rack in the tub and put it over that and put a fan blowing on it. It's really, really, really drippy! When it drips a bit drier, I'll hang it outside (though there's a chance of thunderstorms today).

I have 3 more to wash...we'll see how this one dries.

**krbshappy71** · 07-26-2011, 03:12 PM

I have really strong straight-back dining chairs that I drape my comforters and heavy blankets on to dry. Would that work? Sorry to hear about the shower rod, yikes. Frustrating.

**Spirit Deer** · 07-26-2011, 07:35 PM

Sounds like you're doing fine. It'll just take some time to get them all done. Good job!

**EnglishTeacha** · 07-26-2011, 08:00 PM

Well, I got home from the movies with hubby (Gotta love Harry Potter!) and found that it had dried quite well, so I tossed it in the dryer on low for about 30 minutes until it was mostly dry. I opened the dryer after 15 minutes and took it out and rearranged it so it would dry better. Now it's on my sun porch clothesline to finish drying. The second bag I washed in the tub I decided to put in the washer to spin dry on the "low spin" setting with the hand wash cycle. That got lots of the water out, and since the tub spins instead of the agitator, I felt comfortable spinning it dry. I propped open the lid to watch to make sure nothing happened to it, and it was fine and dandy. That one's in the dryer now.

**shoiji** · 07-26-2011, 08:00 PM

Think I would stick with the laundry mat. You might want to purchase some tennis balls to put in the dryer. I have a couple I put in the dryer with my down winter coats. Never have to worry about clumps!

**EnglishTeacha** · 07-26-2011, 08:01 PM

I used dryer balls with them!

**monkeywrangler71** · 07-26-2011, 08:08 PM

I always wash them in a regular top loading machine and have never had a problem. Ours is at least 15 years old and hasn't gotten lumpy yet.

**frugalfranny** · 07-26-2011, 11:26 PM

Glad you are getting them done.

I wash everything in my top loader.....including down
comforters and queen size quilts. No problems with anything.
It does have a large tub.

**EnglishTeacha** · 07-27-2011, 12:15 AM

I think I'll do our older sleeping bags in the washer on gentle. They don't get the heavy use the other bags do and won't need to be washed as frequently, so the occasional time on the gentle cycle shouldn't do too much harm.

Next time I have to do the other bags, though, I think I'll go to the laundromat, or trade my services babysitting with my coworker who has a front loader!

**wanderlusting** · 07-27-2011, 04:51 PM

I always washed mine at the laundromat and bHere's tips on handwashing from REI:

Washing
Many people prefer to have their bag professionally laundered. REI partners with Rainy Pass Repairs, inc., to offer a bag-laundering service.

Note: Dry cleaning is not appropriate for sleeping bags, especially down. Solvents used in dry cleaning can strip the natural oils from down that help it retain loft. Solvents are also very difficult to remove from synthetic insulation.

If you decide to wash your bag yourself, use a gentle, non-detergent soap such as Nikwax Down Wash 2.0, which is made for washing down- and synthetic-filled items.

Down: For down bags, hand-washing in a bathtub works best. Fill the tub with warm water and add one of the above-recommended cleaners. Put the bag in and gently work in the soap, then allow it to soak for 15 minutes. Drain the tub and press out any remaining water. In a cold-water rinse, work the soap out gently, let the bag sit for 15 minutes and drain. Press out any remaining water. Repeat the rinse until all the soap is out. It's also possible, (according to some bag manufacturers) to machine wash a down bag, as long as a front-loading washer is used. Never use an agitator-style machine as the motion can damage the stitching and insulation. Make sure to wash on the gentle cycle in cool water with one of the aforementioned down soaps.
Synthetics: Synthetic bags can be washed in the same way. Hand-wash in a bathtub, or use a large, front-loading washer with no agitator. Use cool water and mild soap. Rinse several times to make sure all the soap is removed. An extra spin cycle or an extractor may be used to remove excess water.

Drying
Air drying is the safest way to dry your bag, but obviously the longest. If you tumble dry your bag, use very low heat or a no-heat setting and keep an eye on it. Dryers have varying heat outputs, so you need to check periodically to make sure the shell and insulation aren't overheating, which can actually lead to melting. Add a couple of clean tennis balls when the bag is nearly dry. This will help break up any clumps of insulation and help restore the loft.

**Ali Lee** · 08-06-2011, 12:47 PM

I don't know whether this is good or bad... but this is what I do. We have a double sleeping bag & 1 reg size. When we come back from camping.. on a sunny day I put the bag on the clothesline opened, 1 end on one line, the other end on another line-so air goes thru. After a few hours I turn over. @ this time I check for stains-it's in the bright light & easy to see. I spot clean with damp cloth. After the day of being in the sun, I bring it in & put it in the dryer on heat for about a half hour. I also throw in a rag that has been sprayed with Lysol spray. Then I fluff for about half hour with a rag sprayed with Febreeze. Roll up & put away. After typing all this, might be easier to take it to the laundrymat. But I'm worried they will get lumpy. Do they? Also when they are put away for the season, I put a couple of softener sheets in while rolling them up, to keep away bugs. AND how many of us have bought bungee cords to keep them rolled?? To heck with those strings on the bag!