Washing a Sleeping Bag...

Hello all,

I have an old Marmot down/gore-tex sleeping bag from the late 80's early 90's (Kestrel/Penguin) and believe it or not, have never had it cleaned. I know, hard to believe I haven't barfed on it since then, but probably plenty of BO.

I have taken meticulous care of it, always hanging it upside down, open in a closet etc.

It hasn't seen alot of use in the past few years, but I recently took it car camping and came to notice the stains and such all over it. It got me thinking that I should probably get it cleaned (duh!)

The only feedback I've ever gotten was bad when it came to getting this kind of bag cleaned; most notably a permanent loss of loft. So my question to MP land is what are your experiences in washing/cleaning/sterilizing a down bag? Lend an old boy a tip on this?

Merci

Marmot note on washing down/gore-tex sleeping bags

I've been alright with similar instructions for jackets, haven't done a down bag yet (I always use a liner and wash that). I'd also read somewhere that the oils from you will compromise the insulation of the bag, so maybe any loss of loft will be offset.

In Denver is a dry cleaners called Revolution Dry cleaners--they
use liquid carbon dioxide (soda water), to dry clean without toxics.
If you do go to a conventional dry cleaner, you will want to air your bag out for a week or so--outdoors if possible.

Or wash it in warm water with woolite, then dry on warm--put in a tennis shoe to break up the clumps of down while early in the drying cycle.

drying the down bag is tough, often leaves lumps of down inside. I have used a dependable dry cleaner for down bags and jackets over the last 30 years, and chemicals have gotten more friendly now too.

Non detergent soap (e.g. woolite) + triple load sized front loader commerical washing machine on delicate cycle + tumble dry on low with a tennis ball thrown in (not a shoe!...too heavy, could damage your baffles).

That's worked for me many times, and how I've done a very pricey custom made Feathered Friends bag that's still like new after 15yrs.

Check this page out from Gear Aid guide on repairing and cleaning gears mcnett-outdoor.com/Repair-G…

A tennis ball is the trick...you'll be lump free. I've washed many sleepings bags and it works.

Thanks everyone. Commercial front loader on gentle with Woolite and a tennis ball in the dryer will be the recipe