Make Your Down Sleeping Bags Last Forever

First of all, do your best not to store your down sleeping bag in its own sack; the bag should not be compressed for long periods. Instead, do your best to store it loosely in a dry spot. (The ideal is if you can store it in a loose, cotton sack). Also try to avoid storing it in an airtight bag, since condensation can result which or course would be followed by mildew. Do not store your bag in too hot an area; the natural oils in the down can evaporate.

Air the bag out each day while you are camping. Hang it somewhere, inside out, and let the wind do its thing. When packing it up again, a lot of people roll their bag--a common error. Instead, stuff the sleeping bag into its bag, starting with the foot of the sleeping bag, so the air will escape as you stuff.

If hiking, air the bag out when you get to camp each night. Try to avoid direct sunlight on the sleeping bag (unless you need to dry it), as ultraviolet rays do eventually degrade the bag's material.

Cleanliness is another key to longevity. The cleaner you keep the bag in the field, the less often you'll have to wash it. Always use a ground sheet of some kind, to avoid laying the bag in the dirt. Keep yourself clean too! Be mindful that your own body can dirty the inside of the bag.

Clean stains and spills with a damp cloth as soon as they occur (whenever possible), so as to avoid the need for frequent washing. Try to move the down away from the stain you are working on. When you do wash your sleeping bag, don't forget to strictly respect the washing instructions. Never dry clean your down bag since the solvents can strip away natural oils contained in the goose down.

Turn your sleeping bag inside out before a machine wash and zip up the zippers. Be sure to wash with cold water and use only the gentle cycles.

If you can avoid a machine altogether and wash by hand, so much the better. Put your sleeping bag in the bath tub, use a mild soap, and avoid bleach and all fabric softeners.

Fill up the bathtub with tepid water. Put the bag in the water and get it completely wet while it's in its sack, this way the air is already fully out of the bag and it's easier to work with. Then pull the bag from the sack and wash it gently with the soapy water. Let it soak for a good hour.

You generally have to rinse with clean water multiple times in order to make sure you get all the soap out. Some manufacturers will tell you to rinse 3 times or more. You must get all the soap out. Empty the tub with each rinse and let the water drain away completely. Be very careful pulling on your sleeping bag while it is wet, as the stitching or the baffles can be torn more easily when they are wet. Press the bag to remove as much water as possible after each rinse, but never wring it out.

To start the drying process, put the bag into the spin cycle of your washing machine. Then, a low heat tumble dry is usually alright (despite what some manufacturers say). However, before you dry in the machine, look for clumps of down that are often there following a wash, and massage them to spread them back out. Adding 2 or 3 clean tennis balls to the dryer also helps to get those clumps out.