Body oils, sweat and dirt can affect loft and sleeping bag performance. Most manufacturers recommend washing your sleeping bag after 20 nights of use. Washing your sleeping bag allows you to maximize loft, which will result in a warmer and cleaner sleeping bag. Take care of the gear that takes care of you by learning how to wash a sleeping bag.

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This 5 Minute Webinar™ Sponsored By
How to Wash a Sleeping Bag
Take care of the gear that takes care of you by learning
how to wash a sleeping bag.
Presented by Gerald Craft of Gear Aid® by McNett®

2. cranberry.com/5minutes #5minutes
WHAT IS
THE BIG IDEA?
Stay warm &
comfortable
outdoors by
washing your
sleeping bag
A build-up of dirt, residue
and body oils will cause
down feathers to clump
together and lose loft (the
space in between the
feathers that traps warmth).
WHEN DOWN FEATHERS
BECOME DIRTY THEY
LOSE LOFT
A LOSS OF LOFT
RESULTS IN A
LOSS OF HEAT
Air pockets in between the
tiny down feathers in a
sleeping bag trap warmth.
A loss of loft diminishes
these spaces and results
in a loss of heat.

3. 5 MINUTE FACT #1
STEP 1:
Close all zippers. Turn bag inside-out.
NUTS &
BOLTS Maximize Loft -- Increase Warmth
Sleeping bags with a waterproof exterior shell like GORE-TEX must be turned inside-out to ensure the
water and cleaner reaches the down.

4. 5 MINUTE FACT #2
STEP 2:
Wash the sleeping bag in a front-loading
commercial wash machine on the gentle cycle.
Use cold water and a clean-rinsing detergent
specifically formulated for down, like ReviveX®
Down Cleaner.
NUTS &
BOLTS
Down feathers feature a protective oily or waxy coating. Abrasive cleaners and dry cleaning will strip
down of these natural oils and will result in a loss of loft. It is important that you use a specialized
cleaner and avoid dry cleaning all together

5. 5 MINUTE FACT #3
STEP 3:
Run an additional spin cycle before drying to
ensure the detergent rinses clear.
NUTS &
BOLTS
Never use an agitator-style was machine – commercial front loaders only. Agitators can damage the
synthetic fabric as well as the down and many home machines are too small for your typical sleeping
bag.

6. 5 MINUTE FACT #4
STEP 4 (OPTIONAL):
To add water repellency to the sleeping bag, remove it
from the wash and make sure it is no longer turned
inside-out. Spray the exterior of the bag with ReviveX®
Durable Waterproofing Spray. Provide an even spray to
the entire bag.
NUTS &
BOLTS
Spraying the exterior of your sleeping bag with a water repellent will help prevent the down from
becoming wet. Once wet, down loses its ability to retain loft and heat.

7. 5 MINUTE FACT #5
STEP 5:
Dry in a large commercial drying machine on
medium heat (this may take some time). Clean
tennis balls may be added to break down clumps.
NUTS &
BOLTS
Check the bag periodically to ensure the shell fabric does not melt. The bag must be dried until the
insulation is completely dry. This can take up to 3 hours.

8. 5 MINUTE FACT #6
STEP 6:
After the bag comes out of the dryer,
hang and inspect it to be sure it is
completely dry. If there are any leaking
down feathers, use a down repair patch
like Tenacious Tape Mini Repair Patches.
NUTS &
BOLTS
A small repair patch will prevent down feathers from escaping tiny holes.

9. 5 MINUTE FACT #7
STEP 7:
Once dry, store loosely in a large cotton sack or
pillow case. For easier stuffing, start with the
foot first.
NUTS &
BOLTS
Avoid compressing your bag for an extended period as it will reduce the bag's loft.

10. WHY IT
MATTERS
Dirty Sleeping Bags Can’t Loft Like a Clean
Sleeping Bag
A Loss of Loft Equates to a Loss in Heat
Stay Warm and Extend the Life of Your Gear by
Cleaning Sleeping Bags
1
2
3

11. Thank
You!
For more tips on improving
and extending the life of your
outdoor gear, visit:
Gear-Aid.com