Herbie Murray
A goose down sleeping bag is an investment, and with the right care, it can last for decades. To keep your bag in good condition, it's important to keep it clean, dry and protected. While it's not necessary to wash your bag after every trip, it's a good idea to do so at least once a year. You can hand wash your bag in a bathtub, use a commercial washer and dryer at a laundromat, or wash it at home in a large front-loading washing machine and tumble dryer. When washing, always use a specialist down cleaner or soap, and avoid standard laundry detergents. Be sure to rinse your bag thoroughly, and if tumble drying, use dryer balls or tennis balls to prevent the down from clumping together.
How to Wash a Goose Down Sleeping Bag
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How often to wash | Wash occasionally, when there are obvious signs of dirt or odour. |
| When to wash | Before storing for an extended period of time. |
| How to prevent washing | Use a sleeping bag liner, sleep in clean clothes, and regularly clean zips. |
| Where to wash | At home in a bathtub or a front-loading washing machine, or at a laundromat. |
| What to wash with | A specialist down cleaner, such as Grangers Down Wash or ReviveX Down Cleaner. |
| How to dry | In a tumble dryer with dryer balls or tennis balls to prevent clumping, or air dry. |
| How to store | In a cool, dry place, uncompressed, preferably in a storage cube, sack, or loose in a large box or pillowcase. |
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What You'll Learn
Use a specialist cleaner and avoid detergent
When it comes to washing a goose down sleeping bag, it's important to use a specialist cleaner. This is because standard laundry detergents can damage the bag, leaving residue and preventing the down from lofting properly.
Specialist down wash products, such as Grangers Down Wash or Nikwax, are formulated to be very mild and rinse out without leaving any residue. These products are available at outdoor gear and equipment stores, as well as online. They often come as part of a kit that includes special balls for use in the dryer, which can help speed up the drying process and prevent the down from clumping together.
If you're using a washing machine, it's important to use a front-loading machine with a gentle cycle. Top-loading machines with agitators can damage the bag by straining or ripping the seams. Before placing your sleeping bag in the machine, run an empty rinse cycle to remove any soap residue from previous washes. If you're washing the bag by hand, fill a clean bathtub with lukewarm water and add your specialist down cleaner, distributing it evenly in the water.
Avoid using fabric softeners, bleach, or alternative bleach products, as these can also damage the down. Instead, rely on specialist down wash products and, if needed, add a couple of tennis balls to the dryer to help agitate the fill and restore loft.
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Wash by hand or in a front-loading machine
Washing your goose down sleeping bag by hand or with a front-loading machine is a delicate process, but it can be done.
Hand Washing
Handwashing is a gentle way to clean your goose down sleeping bag, causing less stress to the fabrics and stitching. First, ensure there is nothing in the pockets and that all zippers are closed. Fill your bath with lukewarm water, mixing in liquid soap flakes or a specialist down cleaner. Place your sleeping bag in the water and gently press it down until it is submerged. Agitate it a little, then leave it for about an hour. After this, let the water drain from the bath and refill with fresh water. Gently massage the bag to remove the soap, using a shower head if you have one. Keep doing this until all the soapy water is removed. Then, gently push down on the bag to remove as much water as possible.
Front-Loading Machine Washing
If you choose to use a washing machine, ensure it is a front-loading washer, as top-loading machines can damage the bag. Check that your front-loading machine has a delicate cycle suitable for woollen garments; if it doesn't, do not attempt to wash your bag in it. Before placing the bag in the machine, zip up all zippers and remove any straps from the underside of the bag. Place the bag in the machine with a small amount of appropriate soap, and wash on a gentle cycle with warm or cold water. To balance the spin of the machine, you can add other damp items like towels or t-shirts. Rinse at least twice, or run the bag through another complete wash-and-rinse cycle without soap.
Regardless of your washing method, it is important to dry your goose down sleeping bag properly. Your bag will be heavy after washing, so take care when removing it from the bath or machine. Set your tumble dryer to the lowest heat setting and put your sleeping bag inside. Check the bag every half hour, gently shaking and massaging it to distribute the down evenly as it dries.
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Prepare the bag and bathtub
To prepare the goose down sleeping bag for washing, start by turning the bag inside out. Place the bag in the bathtub, ensuring the tub is clean first. If you are using a compression sack, stuff the bag into it and then put the sack into the tub.
Next, fill the bathtub with enough lukewarm or warm water to completely cover the sleeping bag. Be careful not to use hot water, as this can damage the bag. Add the recommended amount of a specialist down cleaner or soap designed for down products. Avoid using standard laundry detergent, as this can damage the bag.
Once the water and soap are mixed, gently knead the sleeping bag. Do not pick up the bag during this process, as the weight of the water can strain and tear the seams. Instead, move the bag around in the water with your hands, ensuring the soap and water reach all parts of the bag. If the bag is particularly dirty, you may need to repeat this process to remove all the grime.
After kneading the bag, carefully roll it up to squeeze out the soapy water. Then, drain the bathtub and refill it with clean water. Repeat the kneading process to rinse the soap out of the bag. Continue refilling and kneading until there are no more soap suds in the water.
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Rinse thoroughly
Rinsing your goose down sleeping bag thoroughly is an important step in the washing process. After the wash cycle, check your sleeping bag to make sure it has been rinsed properly. Press down on the bag, and if soap suds appear, the bag needs to be rinsed again. Run the rinse cycle again until no more soap suds appear. It is important to be thorough in this step because detergent left behind can damage the down.
If you are handwashing your bag in a bathtub, drain the soapy water from the tub after the wash cycle and carefully roll up the bag to squeeze out the excess water. Refill the tub with clean water and knead the bag to force the clean water through it. Repeat this process until there are no more soap suds.
If you are using a washing machine, run the rinse cycle until the bag is completely rinsed. Before removing the bag from the machine, place several towels on the floor to soak up any excess water. Support the length of the bag to avoid any damage as the bag will be heavy and delicate when wet.
Whether you are handwashing or using a machine, it is important to be thorough in the rinsing process. Doing it more will not hurt the bag, but doing it too few times means detergent can be left behind.
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Dry with tennis balls
Drying a goose down sleeping bag can be a tricky process. It is recommended that you have access to a tumble dryer before attempting to wash a down sleeping bag. If you are drying your goose down sleeping bag in a tumble dryer, it is best to use a low heat setting. One way to prevent the down from clumping together as it dries is to use tennis balls.
Tennis balls are useful for preserving the loft of your sleeping bag. They can help to speed up the drying process by ensuring the down does not clump together. To use this method, simply place a few tennis balls into the tumble dryer with your sleeping bag.
However, some sources suggest that tennis balls can tear the outer fabric of your sleeping bag. This may be more likely to occur if the sleeping bag is not mostly dry before adding the tennis balls. If you are concerned about potential damage, you could try using "dryer balls" instead. These are similar to tennis balls but feature small spikes that help break up the down clumps without damaging the fabric.
Another option is to remove the sleeping bag from the tumble dryer every 15 minutes and manually separate any down clumps by hand. This method may be preferable if you are concerned about potential damage to the fabric of your sleeping bag.
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Frequently asked questions
You should only wash your goose down sleeping bag occasionally, when there are obvious signs of dirt or odour. It is recommended to wash it at least once a year.
You can wash your goose down sleeping bag in a bathtub or a washing machine. If using a bathtub, make sure the bathtub is clean first. Turn the sleeping bag inside out, place it in the tub, and add warm water and the recommended amount of specialist down cleaner. If using a washing machine, place the bag in the machine and add a technical cleaner. Wash at 30° or on a delicate cycle.
You should use specialist down cleaner or soap specifically formulated for down. Do not use standard laundry detergent or fabric softener.
You can dry your goose down sleeping bag in a tumble dryer or air dry it. If using a tumble dryer, add dryer balls or tennis balls to prevent the down from clumping together. If air drying, lay the bag flat on a clean surface in an area with low humidity and no direct sunlight.
Store your goose down sleeping bag in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. It should be stored uncompressed, preferably in its storage cube or sack, or loose in a large box or pillowcase.
