Gina Johnson
Sleeping bags should be cleaned periodically to maintain maximum loft and ensure the long life of the product. While it is possible to wash your own sleeping bag, some companies recommend professional cleaning. To wash a synthetic sleeping bag, start by removing the straps from the underside of the bag. Then, turn the bag inside out and zip it shut. Wash the bag in a commercial-sized, front-loading washing machine using warm water and a mild powder detergent. Rinse several times to remove all soapy water, then run an extra spin cycle to remove excess water. Line dry or tumble dry on very low or no heat, checking frequently to ensure the fabric is not getting too hot. Before storing, make sure the bag is completely dry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How often to wash | It is not necessary to wash after every trip, but it is recommended to wash at least once a year, especially before storing it for an extended period of time. |
| How to wash | Use a commercial-sized, front-loading washing machine. Wash in warm water with a mild powder detergent. Remove straps from the underside before washing. Rinse several times to remove all soap. Use an extra spin cycle to remove excess water. |
| How to dry | Line dry or tumble dry on very low or no heat. Check frequently to ensure the fabric is not getting too hot. Ensure the bag is completely dry before storing. |
| How to maintain | Keep the bag clean, dry, and protected during camping. Use a sleeping bag liner to reduce the need for frequent washing. Avoid machine washing trail running shoes. |
| Zipper issues | If a North Face sleeping bag is not zipping together with another bag, send both bags to the company to change the zippers so they will mate. |
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What You'll Learn
Use a commercial-sized, front-loading washing machine
If you own a commercial-sized, front-loading washing machine, you can wash your synthetic North Face sleeping bag at home. This is preferable to a top-loading machine with an agitator, which can rip the seams of a sleeping bag.
When using a commercial-sized, front-loading washing machine, place the sleeping bag inside the drum by itself. Choose the gentle or bedding cycle, and pour in the appropriate amount of soap or detergent. You should use a mild powder detergent or a gentle, non-detergent soap that is made for washing synthetic items. Avoid using conventional laundry detergents, as the brighteners and fillers may stick to the polyester fibres and reduce the loft.
Wash your sleeping bag in warm water, never hot, and be sure to rinse several times to remove all the dirty, soapy water. An extra spin cycle will also remove excess water.
After washing, tumble dry your sleeping bag on a very low heat setting or use a dryer with no heat. Check the bag frequently to ensure the fabric is not getting too hot, and be sure that the bag is completely dry before storing.
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Wash with warm water and mild detergent
To wash a North Face synthetic sleeping bag, you should use a commercial-sized, front-loading washing machine. Set the machine to warm water and use a mild powder detergent. You can also use a technical cleaner like Nikwax's Tech-Wash.
Before washing, remove the straps from the underside of the bag. Unzip the bag completely to prevent the slider from snagging or breaking.
Once the washing machine has filled with water and detergent, gently knead the sleeping bag to force the water and soap through it. Do not pick up the bag during this process as the weight of the water can tear the stitching.
After kneading, drain the bathtub and then carefully roll up the bag to squeeze out the water. Refill the tub with clean water and knead the bag again to force the clean water through it. Repeat this process until there is no more soap.
When you are satisfied that the bag is clean, gently squeeze out as much water as you can. Then, work your hands underneath and gather the bag up in your arms to carry it to the dryer.
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Rinse several times
Rinsing your sleeping bag several times is an important step in the washing process. This is because you need to ensure that all the soap is rinsed out of the bag. Failing to do so may result in soap residue remaining on the bag, which can affect its performance.
If you are washing your sleeping bag in a machine, you can simply run it through a second wash cycle without detergent to ensure all the soap is rinsed out. If you are handwashing your sleeping bag, you will need to drain the dirty water and refill the tub with clean water. You should then gently knead the sleeping bag to force the clean water through it. Repeat this process until there are no more suds.
It is important to note that you should not wring out your sleeping bag, as this can damage the fabric and insulation. Instead, gently squeeze out the excess water.
Once you have rinsed your sleeping bag, it is important to ensure that it is completely dry before storing it. Lay the bag flat on a clean surface in an area with low humidity and no direct sunlight, or hang it up to dry. If you are using a dryer, set it to a low heat setting.
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$29.99 $32.99
Use an extra spin cycle
The North Face recommends using a commercial-sized, front-loading washing machine to wash a synthetic sleeping bag. It should be washed in warm water with a mild powder detergent. After rinsing the bag several times to remove all dirty, soapy water, an extra spin cycle can be used to remove excess water.
If you are using a front-loading washing machine, it is important to ensure that it has a delicate cycle suitable for washing woollen garments. If your machine does not have this setting, it is recommended to hand-wash the bag.
After spinning the bag in the washing machine, place it in a large laundry sack before putting it in a tumble dryer. Set the dryer to low heat or 'delicates' and run a complete cycle. Check the bag frequently to make sure the fabric is not getting too hot.
If you are hand-washing your sleeping bag, it is important to avoid picking it up when it is full of water. The weight of the water can tear the stitching that anchors the insulation. Instead, gently squeeze out the water and spin it in a washing machine to remove excess water.
When drying a down sleeping bag, it is recommended to add clean tennis balls or a clean shoe to the dryer. This helps to separate the feathers and restore the loft.
While some sources suggest that using an extra spin cycle can be beneficial for removing excess water, others caution that a high spin speed may damage the sleeping bag. One user reported that using a low spin cycle on their down sleeping bag resulted in chunks of feathers becoming displaced to one side, creating uneven distribution.
To mitigate the risk of damage, it is recommended to start with a low spin speed and gradually increase it until the desired level of dryness is achieved. This allows you to control the distribution of feathers and prevent clumping.
In summary, while an extra spin cycle can help remove excess water from a synthetic sleeping bag, it is important to be cautious when spinning a down sleeping bag to avoid damaging the distribution of feathers.
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Line dry or tumble dry on low heat
Once you've washed your sleeping bag, it's time to dry it. If you're using a tumble dryer, set it to low heat and run a complete cycle. Check on the bag frequently to make sure the fabric isn't getting too hot. If you're using a laundromat dryer, remember that their thermostats may be imprecise, so opt for a cooler cycle. Tumble drying helps fluff out your filling to ensure it doesn't clump up post-wash. You can also add two or three clean tennis balls or thick rolled-up socks to the dryer to re-fluff the down.
If you don't have access to a tumble dryer, you can air dry your sleeping bag. However, this will take a couple of days. It's important to lay the bag flat on a clean surface in an area with low humidity and no direct sunlight. You may need to manually break up clumps of insulation as the bag dries. Make sure the bag is completely dry before storing it, as mildew can form inside the filling if it's not thoroughly dried.
If you choose to machine wash your sleeping bag, you can put it through an extra spin cycle to remove excess water before drying.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended that you wash your sleeping bag at least once a year, but if you are using it more frequently, you may need to wash it more often. If your bag has a funky odour, it's time for a wash.
You can wash your North Face synthetic sleeping bag in a commercial-sized, front-loading washing machine. Turn the bag inside out and use warm water with a mild powder detergent. Rinse several times to remove all the dirty, soapy water. An extra spin cycle will also help to remove excess water.
You can line dry your North Face synthetic sleeping bag, or tumble dry on very low or no heat. Make sure to check the bag frequently to ensure the fabric is not getting too hot.
