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Due to an unfortunate tick infested night my sleeping bag (which has been in the freezer for a month) smells a lot like Smidge & feels kind of sticky (I basically bathed in it before getting in my tent) so it needs washing.
What’s the best way of going about it? Just a gentle wash with some specific detergent? Will I ruin it?
I’m a bit tentative about doing it as it’s pretty new.
Cheers
Just wash with a down specific cleaner. I washed two of mine last night on a down cycle in the machine. Lay it flat to dry and give it a few shakes to let the down loft as it drys.
I got my old bag done professionally (as well as a zip replacement) by Scottish mountain gear. I think they do cleaning only for about £40, for me it was worth it, returned the loft and warmth to almost new. I'm nervous around washing any down products as we don't have a tumble dryer.
Edit it may be easy enough, as above though!
IMO you really do need to use a tumble drier. If you don't have one take it to the launderette after you've washed.
PIA to do it at home in a normal washing machine as they are so bulky. Professional cleaning every time for me (rarely need doing anyway). Wash down jackets at home though - down wash then into the tumble drier with a few tennis balls to loft up the down. I wouldn't chance the laying flat and fluffing up method myself as too much chance of the down clumping.
Yeah, don't you need to ideally tumble dry after washing and chuck in a couple of spiky drying balls?
With 3 tennis balls to fluff it.
Nothing like spending 4 hours listening to tennis balls bouncing about the inside of the dryer...
Thumpty thump
Thumpty thump
Thumpty thump
Otherwise say goodbye to it; you’ll never get the down to separate by air drying it imo.
I haven't bothered with tumble drying for years. As long as it's laid flat and agitated plenty as it drys, the loft returns as good as new. Keeping the down clean and free from oils is more important IMO. I'm wearing an £800 down jacket today that I thought nothing about putting through the machine a couple of weeks ago. It's loftier than a lofty thing.
Apart from Futureboy none of you are filling me with much confidence.
If I’m tumble drying it am I OK to use the type that feels like it microwaves it (condensing type) rather than one that feels like it blows nice warm air over it.
Always use a liner, that is key imo
Yes lesson learnt, I will from now on.
Something crisp and citrusy, a Chablis or a Pinot Gris?
Nickwax down wash or a basic soap, wash out the detergent drawer and the drum. wash, and spin, dry in tumble dryer with a few balls. take it out a few times, turn inside out, fluff up a bit. Make sure the down isn't clumping in the pockets baffles.
Takes a long time.
I have used our old gas tumble dryer and a newer condensing one. Condensing one takes longer. Launderette drum is bigger so if its a proper bulky 4 season bag may be a better option. Launderette one likely gas so may be quicker than domestic. Still take a good book though..
Thanks all, I’ve decided not to wash it. I’ve wiped the inside well with a damp cloth and after a decent drying / airing the smidge smell has gone and it doesn’t feel greasy anymore.
When it eventually needs doing I’ll get it done professionally.
Also silk liner incoming 🙂
I washed mine in the bath using nikwax down wash.
It felt like it maybe lacked a bit of loft.
It had done alpine trips, mountain huts, festivals and many many nights in the van bike racing.
I think Time Team could have made an episode about the bath water, which made me realise how overdue the wash was.
Left overnight to drain, tumble dried and it was a revelation. So soft, so much loft!
Always use a liner now too.
I hand wash mine in the bath with pure soap, then dry in a tumble dryer at the laundrette on a low setting. I haven't used tennis balls, because I don't have any, and it's come out fine
As above, in the bath, but with tech down wash. Launderette to dry
Same as down jackets(?)
Normal machine wash with posh detergent (stuff sold for cashmere or down specific stuff) then tumble with tennis balls...