Colin Snow
The Recon sleeping bag is constructed of water-resistant rip-stop nylon and is machine washable. To wash your sleeping bag, use a commercial-sized, front-loading washing machine with warm water and a mild powder detergent. Rinse several times to remove dirty, soapy water. An extra spin cycle will help remove excess water. Hang the bag to dry immediately after washing. It's important to note that you should never dry clean your sleeping bag, as the solvents can strip the natural oils. Additionally, avoid using fabric softener, bleach, or alternative bleach products.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How often to wash | Once a year, at a minimum |
| When to wash | Before storing for an extended period |
| How to wash | Machine wash on a gentle cycle with a non-detergent soap, or hand wash in a bathtub |
| Drying | Dry in a commercial-size dryer on low heat, or air dry |
| Storage | Store loosely in a large cotton or mesh sack |
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What You'll Learn
Use a front-loading machine or hand wash
If you want to use a front-loading washing machine to wash your sleeping bag, opt for a commercial washer at a laundromat. The larger capacity ensures your bag is rinsed thoroughly. If you can't get to a laundromat, use a front-loading washer at home, but make sure it's not a top-loading washer with an agitator column, as your bag could get damaged by becoming entangled or wrapped around it.
When using a front-loading machine, wash on a gentle cycle in warm (or cold) water with an appropriate soap. Only use a small amount of soap to avoid over-sudsing. You can add some other damp articles, such as a towel or T-shirts, to help balance the spin of the machine. Rinse at least twice to ensure all the soap residue is gone.
If you're using a dryer, set it to low heat as high heat can melt the nylon outer layer. Put two to three dryer balls in the dryer along with the sleeping bag to help redistribute the filling evenly, break up any clumps that formed during washing, and speed up drying time.
Hand washing a sleeping bag is possible but only recommended if machine washing is not an option. Identify a space large enough to hold water, detergent, and the sleeping bag, that also allows enough room for your hands to move through the water. A bathtub or a large washing basin is the best choice for this. Fill the basin about halfway with cool water and add a small amount of no-rinse detergent, following the manufacturer's instructions on dosage.
Lay the sleeping bag in the detergent solution and use your hands to agitate it so that the water and detergent penetrate its fibres and dislodge dirt and grime. Allow it to soak for one hour. After soaking, drain the detergent solution and, while the sleeping bag is still in the tub or basin, press down to extrude water. Do not wring or twist the sleeping bag to remove water, as this can damage the fibres and filling. Once you've extruded as much water as possible, slide your hands under the wet sleeping bag and gather it into a ball so that the weight of the wet bag does not cause undue stress on its seams when carrying it to the dryer, clothesline, or drying rack.
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Wash in warm water with mild detergent
To wash a Recon sleeping bag, you should use warm water and a mild detergent. This is the case for both the Elite Survival Systems Recon 3 Sleeping Bag and the Elite Recon 4 Sleeping Bag.
Firstly, ensure your bathtub is clean. Turn the sleeping bag inside out and place it in the tub. Add enough warm water to cover the bag, along with the recommended amount of mild powder detergent. You can also use a soap specifically formulated for sleeping bags, such as a down wash or a performance wash product for synthetics. Avoid using conventional laundry detergent, as the brighteners and fillers may stick to the fibres and reduce the loft.
Gently knead the sleeping bag, forcing the water and soap through it. Do not pick up the bag during this process, as the weight of the water can tear out the stitching. Rinse the bag several times to ensure all the dirty, soapy water is removed. An extra spin cycle will also help to remove excess water.
Finally, dry the bag. Hang the bag up to dry, distributing the weight so as not to put too much stress on the nylon fabric. Leave it to air dry overnight.
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Dry in a commercial dryer or air dry
If you're drying your sleeping bag in a commercial dryer, it's best to use a front-loading commercial machine at a laundromat. The larger capacity ensures your bag is thoroughly rinsed. If you're drying a down bag, add two to three tennis balls to help agitate the fill back to its original loft. The balls will also speed up the drying process by breaking up clumps of down. For synthetic bags, tennis balls are optional.
If you don't have access to a commercial dryer, you can air dry your sleeping bag. This will take longer, and you should lay the bag flat on a clean surface in an area with low humidity and no direct sunlight. You can also hang it up to dry, but be careful not to put too much stress on the nylon fabric. If you're air-drying your bag, make sure to lay it out or hang it up overnight to ensure it's completely dry before placing it in its storage bag.
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Prevent damage by supporting the bag when removing from the washer
When removing your sleeping bag from the washer, it is important to support the entire bag, not just one end. This will help you avoid straining and ripping the seams. Gently squeeze out the excess water and proceed to the drying step.
Sleeping bags can take a long time to dry, with synthetic bags taking at least an hour and down bags taking several hours. Insulation loft is key to keeping warm, so it is important to ensure that your sleeping bag is thoroughly dried. Both down and synthetic fills need to fluff up (loft) to create small air spaces within the insulation. These spaces trap body heat to help you stay warm while you sleep.
If you are using a dryer, it is recommended to use a commercial-size dryer, if possible. Commercial dryers have larger capacities that allow fully lofted sleeping bags to tumble. If you don't have access to a laundromat, use a home dryer. Set the dryer on low heat. High heat can melt delicate nylon fabrics.
If you are air-drying your sleeping bag, lay it flat on a clean surface in an area with low humidity and no direct sunlight. You can also hang it up to dry, but be careful to distribute the weight so that you don't put too much stress on the nylon fabric.
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Wash at least annually or before storing
It is recommended to wash your sleeping bag at least once a year, or before storing it away for an extended period of time. Body oils, sunscreen, sweat, dirt, and grime can all build up on your sleeping bag and compromise its insulating power.
If you're using your bag more frequently, you may want to wash it more often than annually. It's important to keep your bag clean, as this will extend its life and improve its performance. If you're not ready to wash your bag, at least unzip it and air it out to ensure it's completely dry before storing it loosely in a large cotton or mesh sack. Do not store your bag compressed, as this will damage the fill over time.
If you're going to wash your sleeping bag, there are several methods you can use. You can hand wash it in a bathtub, but this can be very labor-intensive. Turn the sleeping bag inside out and place it in clean warm water with the recommended amount of the appropriate soap. Gently knead the sleeping bag to force water and soap through it, but do not pick it up during this process, as the weight of the water can tear out the stitching.
You can also wash your sleeping bag in a machine, but avoid using a top-loading machine with an agitator, as this can strain or rip the seams. Use a commercial-sized, front-loading washer on a gentle cycle, and wash in warm water with a mild powder detergent. Rinse several times to remove all the dirty, soapy water, and consider adding an extra spin cycle to remove excess water.
Finally, you can send your sleeping bag to a professional cleaning service, which many campers prefer due to the time and attention required to wash a sleeping bag.
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