Evie Summers
Sleeping bags should be washed at least once a year, or more often if used frequently, to prevent the buildup of body oils, dirt, and grime, which can compromise the bag's loft and warmth. Trakker sleeping bags can be washed using Trakker's Revive Sleeping Bag Anti-Bac Wash, a pH-neutral cleaner that is ideal for all sleeping bags and features added anti-bac and odour control. To wash a sleeping bag, it is recommended to use a front-loading commercial washer at a laundromat due to its larger capacity, which ensures the bag is thoroughly rinsed. If washing at home, avoid using a top-loading washer with an agitator column to prevent the bag from becoming entangled and potentially damaged.
How to Wash a Trakker Sleeping Bag
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How often to wash | Minimum once a year, but more often if used frequently |
| When to wash | Before storing for an extended period of time |
| How to prevent dirt build-up | Use a bag liner, sleep in clean clothes, and air out the bag to dry |
| Washing instructions | Consult the bag maker's instructions. Use a front-loading commercial washer at a laundromat or a front-loading washer at home. Avoid top-loading washers with agitator columns. |
| Drying instructions | Use a commercial dryer if possible. If using a home dryer, set it to low heat. Air drying is also an option: lay the bag flat on a clean surface in an area with low humidity and no direct sunlight. |
| Additional notes | Support the entire bag when removing from the washer. Gently squeeze out excess water. Do not dry clean or use fabric softener, bleach, or alternative bleach products. |
| Product for cleaning | Trakker Revive Sleeping Bag Anti-Bac Wash: pH-neutral, easy to rinse, and includes added anti-bac and odour control |
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What You'll Learn
Washing machine or hand wash
Trakker sleeping bags can be washed in a washing machine or by hand. It is recommended to wash your sleeping bag at least once a year, or more often if used frequently.
Washing Machine
If you are using a washing machine, it is important to use a front-loading washer without an agitator column. The agitator can damage the sleeping bag by entangling it and ripping the seams. Commercial washers are ideal due to their larger capacity, which ensures the bag is thoroughly rinsed. When using a machine, it is recommended to use a gentle, non-detergent soap that is made for washing down- and synthetic-filled items. Avoid using bleach, fabric softener, or alternative bleach products.
Hand Wash
Hand washing a sleeping bag is labor-intensive but can be done in a bathtub. If hand washing, fill the tub with cool or warm water and add a cleaning product specifically formulated for down or synthetic bags. Avoid using too much soap, as it will be hard to rinse out. Gently squeeze out the excess water, and proceed to the drying step.
Drying
Sleeping bags should be dried thoroughly before placing them in a storage bag. This can be done using a commercial dryer on low heat, as high heat can damage the fabric. Alternatively, sleeping bags can be air-dried by laying them flat on a clean surface in an area with low humidity and no direct sunlight, or by hanging them up with care to distribute the weight evenly.
Prevention
To reduce the need for washing, it is recommended to keep your sleeping bag clean during use. This can be done by sleeping in clean clothes, using a bag liner, and airing out the bag to dry whenever it gets damp.
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Drying methods
Drying your Trakker sleeping bag is a crucial step in the cleaning process, as improper drying can damage the bag's insulation and fabric. Here are some detailed instructions for various drying methods:
Commercial Dryer
If you have access to a laundromat, using a commercial dryer is an efficient way to dry your sleeping bag. These dryers have larger capacities, allowing the bag to tumble freely and ensuring even drying. Set the dryer to low heat, as high heat can damage or melt the delicate nylon fabric of your sleeping bag. It typically takes at least an hour for a synthetic bag to dry, while a down bag will take several hours.
Home Dryer
If you don't have access to a commercial dryer, you can use your home dryer. However, make sure to set it to low heat to avoid damaging the fabric. Similar to a commercial dryer, drying a sleeping bag at home will also take a significant amount of time—at least an hour for synthetic and longer for down.
Air Drying
Air drying is a gentler alternative to machine drying. Find a clean, flat surface in an area with low humidity and no direct sunlight. Lay your sleeping bag flat to air dry. This method takes longer than machine drying, so be prepared to let it dry for several hours or even overnight to ensure thorough drying. Alternatively, you can hang your sleeping bag to dry, but be cautious not to put too much stress on the nylon fabric by distributing the weight evenly.
Additional Tips
To speed up the drying process for down sleeping bags, add two to three tennis balls to the dryer. The balls help break up clumps of down and agitate the fill, restoring its loft. For synthetic bags, tennis balls are optional but can still be beneficial. Regardless of the drying method, always ensure your sleeping bag is completely dry before storing it. You can fill your bathtub with cool or warm water and add an appropriate cleaning product to ensure no soap residue is left on the bag.
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Caring for your bag at camp
There are several things you can do to care for your sleeping bag while at camp. Firstly, prevent dirt buildup by using a bag liner and sleeping in clean clothes. If you've been cooking, be sure to change out of those clothes before getting into your sleeping bag, especially if you're camping in an area with bears. Oils and grease from cooking can be attractive to wildlife. Similarly, if you've been hiking, change your clothes before bed, even if you're exhausted. Body oils, sweat, and dirt can all rob your sleeping bag of its insulating power over time. If you're wearing sunscreen, wipe it off before getting into your bag, as this can also affect the bag's insulation. Consider sleeping in a clean bandana or knit cap to keep oily hair off the bag's hood.
When you're not using your sleeping bag, make sure to air it out to dry whenever it gets damp. You should also avoid jumping around camp while standing inside your sleeping bag, as this can damage the toe box. If you're sitting by the campfire, consider using an older synthetic bag for warmth, as sparks may burn holes in a new down bag.
Finally, when you get home from your trip, unzip the bag and hang it up to air it out, ensuring it's completely dry before storing it. Then, store it loosely in a large cotton or mesh storage sack, a large pillowcase, or a cotton bag that you've sewn yourself. Do not store your bag compressed in its stuff sack, as this will damage the fill over time. Similarly, do not store your bag in a watertight bag, as condensation can build up inside and result in mildew.
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When to wash
It is recommended to wash your sleeping bag at least once a year, but this may vary depending on how often you use it. If you use your sleeping bag frequently, you may need to wash it more than once a year.
A good indicator that your sleeping bag needs washing is if it has visible grime or is losing its fluffiness (loft). The buildup of body oils, sweat, dirt, and greasy residues over time will migrate into the fill and compromise the bag's loft and warmth. Therefore, it is a good idea to wash your bag before storing it at the end of the season or for an extended period. Body oils and other residues will remain on the fabric if the bag is packed away without being washed first.
To keep your sleeping bag cleaner for longer, it is recommended to use a bag liner and sleep in clean clothes. Air out your bag whenever it gets damp, and avoid jumping or standing in the bag as this can damage the seams.
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Cleaning products
When it comes to cleaning products, it's important to use the right type of soap or detergent for your sleeping bag. Standard laundry detergents should be avoided, as they can contain harsh chemicals that can damage the bag's materials and reduce its loft. Instead, opt for soaps specifically designed for washing sleeping bags, such as:
- Grangers Down Wash, which is formulated for down sleeping bags and rinses out without leaving residue.
- Grangers Down Performance Wash, which is suitable for synthetic sleeping bags.
- Nikwax Down Wash Direct, which is suitable for down items.
For synthetic sleeping bags, you can also use a performance wash product designed for synthetics, such as Grangers Down Performance Wash. These products are formulated to avoid the issues presented by standard laundry detergents, such as brighteners and fillers sticking to the fibres and reducing loft.
If you're using a bathtub to wash your sleeping bag, be sure to use the right amount of soap, as too much will be hard to rinse out. Additionally, Trakker offers its own cleaning product, the Revive Sleeping Bag Anti-Bac Wash, which is pH-neutral, easy to rinse, and includes odour control.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended to wash your sleeping bag at least once a year. If you use your bag more frequently, you may need to wash it more often. It is a good idea to wash your bag before storing it for an extended period.
You can hand wash your Trakker sleeping bag in a bathtub or use a commercial-size washer and dryer at a laundromat. If washing your bag yourself, use a gentle, non-detergent soap made for washing down and synthetic-filled items. Avoid dry cleaning, fabric softener, bleach, and alternative bleach products.
To dry your Trakker sleeping bag, use a commercial dryer on low heat. If using a home dryer, also use low heat to avoid melting the delicate nylon fabric. You can also air dry your bag by laying it flat on a clean surface in an area with low humidity and no direct sunlight.
To keep your Trakker sleeping bag clean while camping, use a bag liner and sleep in clean clothes. Avoid getting into your bag with dirty clothes or oily hair, as body oils, sweat, and dirt can affect the insulating power of the bag. Air out your bag to dry whenever it gets damp.
