When it comes to looking after your sleeping bag, the advice is pretty much the same as any other product you have bought; look after it and it will look after you! Aftercare of your sleeping bag is very important if you want to maintain its original performance and its lifetime.

Care

A good quality sleeping bag should last in excess of 10 years, but even the best in the world will not last a year if it is not cared for properly. To keep your sleeping bag in top condition there are 3 things to consider - Use, Storage and Cleaning.

Use

The best way to care for a sleeping bag during use is by using a sleeping bag liner to slow down the wear on the bags lining. With down bags you may notice the odd feather popping through the fabric, never pull it out as this will only encourage down to come out as well, instead try to push it back into the fabric and massage it to close up the hole.

Storage

Firstly, when putting the sleeping bag back into its stuff sack never roll it. This could eventually cause cold spots to develop especially with synthetic bags. As the name "stuff sack" suggests, you should stuff it in which will keep the filling random and therefore maximise the life of the bag. Whether down or synthetic, all sleeping bags rely on loft (expanding after compression) which, by trapping warmed air, keeps you warm. During long term storage the bag should be kept 'lofted' outside its stuff bag. This is especially important with down sleeping bags as the clusters can become crushed if compressed for long periods, which significantly reduces their life span. Most down sleeping bags will either be transported in or contain a 'loft' storage bag for such use. Alternatively, loosely store your down sleeping bag in an old pillow case or duvet cover. It is also a good idea to occasionally lay your bag completely flat on a bed for a day or two to air and loft properly.

Cleaning

At some point you'll want to wash your sleeping bags and you should follow the manufacturer's instructions according to the care label. Stains and spills should be cleaned off as soon as possible with a damp sponge when they occur. By using a sleeping bag liner you will increase the time between cleanings. The most important thing to consider first is to make sure you have access to a large washing machine, one suitable for duvets would be ideal. This is because standard household washing machines will not have enough space for the bag to move around and could cause damage as the bag gets caught up in itself. A good tip when cleaning the bag is to wash it in a mesh bag such as the loft bag that comes with down bags or a duvet cover. This is because the fabrics used on sleeping bags are usually lightweight and not especially strong. Once the bag is soaked through it can be very heavy which can cause some of the fabric to rip if you try to lift it out by using the fabric.

Synthetic filled bags can be cleaned in a washing machine - front rather than top loading as the latter's agitating motion can batter bags as mentioned above. Zip up the bag (open teeth might snag fabric) and use only a mild soap, on a low heat gentle wash. Do not use a detergent because detergents can cause damage to the fragile nature of the fill as well as compromising any water repellency applied to the bag.

When the cycle is complete, run an extra rinse cycle to ensure that all the soap is cleaned out. These bags can be part dried in a tumble dryer on a low heat and then left flat to finish drying.

Down bags can be washed by hand in a bath with lukewarm water using a specialist down wash. As they have a more complicated construction, it's important not to accidentally rip out panels that hold the fill in place. So, press out water after rinsing thoroughly rather than wringing and pick up the bag in a ball rather than from one end. A down bag can be tumble dried in short bursts on a very low setting; ensuring the loft is maintained by gently breaking down clumps of fill by hand throughout the drying process.




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