Colin Snow
Sleeping bags are essential for camping, backpacking, and other outdoor activities. Properly storing your sleeping bag is crucial to maintaining its quality and ensuring a comfortable night's sleep. Incorrectly stored sleeping bags can easily become soiled or damaged, leading to reduced insulation and a cold night's rest. To keep your sleeping bag in top shape, it should be cleaned, dried, and stored in a cool, dry, and uncompressed state. This guide will provide step-by-step instructions on how to organize and store your sleeping bag effectively, ensuring it remains fresh and functional for many adventures to come.
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What You'll Learn
How to prepare a sleeping bag for storage
Preparing a sleeping bag for storage is simple but important for prolonging its life and ensuring its performance. Here's a step-by-step guide:
Clean the Sleeping Bag
Before storing your sleeping bag, it's crucial to clean it thoroughly. Body oils, sweat, and dirt can accumulate on the outer fabric and insulation fibres over time, reducing the bag's effectiveness and potentially resulting in a cold night's sleep. Spot-clean your bag after each use by wiping away any dirt or debris from the exterior with a soft toothbrush or damp cloth. Then, turn the bag inside out and use a dedicated technical soap to address any stains or marks. If possible, wash the bag by hand or use a front-loading machine with down-specific soap. Avoid dry cleaning or using a home top-loading washing machine, as these can damage the bag.
Dry the Sleeping Bag
Ensure your sleeping bag is completely dry before storing it. Hang the bag in a covered outdoor space for 6 to 8 hours, avoiding direct sunlight, as UV rays can weaken the fabric. Alternatively, hang it in a dry, temperature-controlled indoor area. If you're in a hurry, use a fan or dehumidifier to speed up the drying process.
Choose a Storage Container
Sleeping bags should be stored in a large, breathable cotton or mesh sack. Most bags come with a jumbo cotton storage bag, which is ideal as it allows air circulation without compressing the fill. If your bag didn't come with a large storage bag, you can use a king-size pillowcase or purchase a large cotton laundry bag. Avoid using the compression stuff sack that comes with your sleeping bag for long-term storage, as this can compromise the loft and resilience of the insulation over time.
Store in a Cool, Dry Place
Finally, choose a storage location that is cool and dry. Avoid damp basements and unheated or uncooled spaces like garages and attics. If using a shelf or closet, ensure it is roomy enough to avoid compressing the bag. With the proper care, your sleeping bag will be ready for many more camping adventures!
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Choosing the right storage sack
If your sleeping bag came with a jumbo cotton storage bag, use that as it is specifically designed for this purpose. If not, you can purchase a large cotton laundry bag or utilise a king-size pillowcase for smaller bags. For those with limited closet space, hanging the sleeping bag from a hook is an excellent option. This allows for easy accessibility and ensures the bag remains uncompressed. If you opt for this method, ensure the bag is thoroughly dry before hanging.
When storing your sleeping bag for longer periods, it is crucial to keep it uncompressed and aired out. A large mesh laundry bag with a drawstring closure is ideal for this purpose, allowing for maximum loft and air circulation. If you intend to store your sleeping bag in an attic or basement, ensure the space is dry and well-ventilated to prevent moisture buildup, which can lead to mould and mildew issues.
While vacuum-sealed bags can be space-saving, they are not ideal for long-term storage as they can compromise the loft and insulation of your sleeping bag. Similarly, the stuff sack that often comes with sleeping bags is intended for transportation, not long-term storage. When storing your sleeping bag, always ensure it is thoroughly cleaned and dried to prevent mould, mildew, and odour issues.
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Hanging vs. folding
Hanging your sleeping bag is a great way to ensure it dries thoroughly, especially if it has gotten wet. Hanging also allows air to flow freely around the bag, preventing the build-up of mould and mildew. However, hanging should be done carefully to avoid creating pressure points that can damage the insulation. Some sleeping bags have loops specifically designed for hanging, but if yours does not have loops, you can use a coat hanger or a hook.
On the other hand, folding your sleeping bag is a more compact storage option, especially if you have limited space. When folding, use the square-fold technique to avoid creating creases and folds that can damage the insulation. It is important to store your folded sleeping bag loosely in a container to prevent compression damage. Avoid cramming it into a small space or placing heavy objects on top.
If you choose to hang your sleeping bag, make sure to select a dry, temperature-controlled area, and avoid direct sunlight as it can cause the fabric and insulation to break down. Hanging your sleeping bag outdoors or in a well-ventilated area is ideal. Additionally, ensure that the bag is completely dry before storing it to prevent the growth of mould and mildew.
If you opt for folding your sleeping bag, choose a breathable storage container such as a large cotton or mesh sack. This will allow air circulation and prevent the build-up of moisture. Avoid using plastic bags or containers that do not allow airflow. It is also important to keep your folded sleeping bag in a cool, dry place, away from extreme temperatures that can damage the insulation.
Whether you choose to hang or fold your sleeping bag, proper storage is crucial to prolong its life and ensure its insulating properties are maintained. Incorrect storage can lead to soiling, damage to insulation fibres, and a decrease in warmth and comfort. Always clean and dry your sleeping bag thoroughly before storing it for an extended period.
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Keeping your bag clean
Keeping your sleeping bag clean is essential to prolonging its life and ensuring that you get a good night's sleep. Here are some tips to keep your sleeping bag clean:
Cleaning Before Storage
Before storing or compressing your sleeping bag, it's important to give it a thorough cleaning. Natural body oils, sweat, and dirt can build up on the outer fabric and the insulation fibres over time, reducing the bag's effectiveness and potentially resulting in a cold night's sleep. After each trip, wipe away any dirt or debris from the exterior of the sleeping bag with a soft toothbrush or a slightly damp cloth. Then, turn the bag inside out and use a dedicated technical soap to spot-clean any stains or dirt marks. You can also consider using a sleeping bag liner, which acts as a barrier between your skin and the bag, keeping it clean and adding extra warmth.
Drying
Always ensure your sleeping bag is completely dry before storing it. Fully unzip the bag and hang it over a line or on a large hanger in a covered outdoor space for 6 to 8 hours. Avoid direct sunlight, as UV rays can weaken the fabric. If outdoor space is unavailable, hang the bag in a dry, temperature-controlled indoor area. Using a fan or dehumidifier can speed up the drying process.
Washing
Washing your sleeping bag periodically is recommended, even if it doesn't appear soiled. Body oils, sweat, and dirt can accumulate in the insulation and compromise its performance. Most sleeping bags can be machine washed, as long as a front-loading washer or a top-loading machine without an agitator is used. Wash on a gentle cycle with warm or cold water and a gentle, non-detergent soap designed for down or synthetic-filled items. Avoid using fabric softener, bleach, or alternative bleach products. Rinse at least twice to ensure all soap residue is removed.
If you choose not to use a machine, you can hand wash your bag in a bathtub, then drape it over something to drip-dry before air-drying. Alternatively, you can use a large commercial dryer, although this is not usually necessary unless you intend to wash the bag. Always dry your bag on a low heat setting and check it frequently to avoid damage.
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How to store multiple sleeping bags
Storing multiple sleeping bags correctly is essential to prolonging their lifespan and ensuring they provide warmth and comfort. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to store multiple sleeping bags:
Cleaning and Drying:
Before storing your sleeping bags, it is important to clean and dry them thoroughly. Start by spot-cleaning your bag after each trip. Use a soft toothbrush or a slightly damp cloth to wipe away any dirt or debris from the exterior of the bag. Then, turn the bag inside out and use a dedicated technical soap to clean any stains or dirt marks.
Once the bags are clean, fully unzip them and hang them over a line or on large hangers in a covered outdoor space for 6 to 8 hours. Avoid direct sunlight as UV rays can weaken the fabric. If outdoor space is unavailable, hang the bags in a dry, temperature-controlled indoor area. You can also use a large commercial dryer on a low heat setting, tossing in a few clean tennis balls to help fluff up the fill.
Storage Containers and Locations:
The best way to store sleeping bags is to use a large, breathable cotton or mesh sack. Most sleeping bags come with a jumbo cotton storage bag, which is ideal as it allows air circulation without compressing the fill. If your bag didn't come with a large storage bag, you can use a king-size pillowcase or purchase a cotton or mesh sack (90L is a good size).
Store the sleeping bags in a cool, dry place, such as a closet or cupboard. Avoid damp basements, garages, attics, or other unheated/uncool spaces as moisture and temperature extremes can damage the bags. If you must store the bags in an attic, ensure they are completely dry and placed in airtight containers like large Rubbermaid tubs.
Hanging and Lofting:
Another option for storing sleeping bags is to hang them from hooks in a cool, dry room or cupboard. Some sleeping bags have attached loops specifically designed for hanging. Hanging the bags ensures air can flow freely around them, and they won't be compressed.
Additionally, allowing the sleeping bags to fully loft (fluff up) while in storage helps maintain their insulating properties. You can enhance lofting by turning the bags inside out for a few hours before turning them back.
Labeling:
If you have multiple sleeping bags, consider labeling the storage bags for easy identification. This way, you can quickly find the bag you need for your next camping trip or emergency situation.
By following these steps, you can effectively store multiple sleeping bags, ensuring they remain in peak condition and are always ready for use.
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Frequently asked questions
It is important to store your sleeping bag in a cool, dry place. You should also ensure that the bag is clean and dry before storing it. Many modern bags come with a compression stuff sack and a larger, looser, breathable storage bag. The storage bag should be used when the bag is not in use.
Before storing or compressing your sleeping bag, it is important to give it a thorough cleaning. You can wash your bag by hand or, if you must machine wash, use a front-loading, laundromat-style washer. You can also use a large commercial dryer, although this is not usually necessary unless you wash your bag.
Hang your bag over a line or on a large hanger in a covered outdoor space for 6 to 8 hours. If hanging it outside, avoid direct sunlight as UV rays can weaken the fabric. If no outdoor space is available, hang the bag in a dry, temperature-controlled indoor area.
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