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This 5 Minute Webinar™ Sponsored By

How to Wash a Sleeping BagTake 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®

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WHAT ISTHE 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

WHY ITMATTERS

Dirty Sleeping Bags Can’t Loft Like a Clean Sleeping BagA Loss of Loft Equates to a Loss in Heat

Stay Warm and Extend the Life of Your Gear by Cleaning Sleeping Bags

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ThankYou!

For more tips on improving and extending the life of your outdoor gear, visit:

Gear-Aid.com