What is the best method for washing down filled sleeping bags and jackets?

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Posted by Oliver Hulland (Questions: 39, Answers: 59)
Asked on May 2, 2011 5:56 pm
246330 Views

Is there a particular cleaning product that works best for cleaning well-worn and slightly stinky down products? Also, does washing down restore loft? What about the best method for restoring waterproofing to the shell material?

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Posted by ayse (Questions: 0, Answers: 2)
Answered On May 23, 2011 5:18 pm

To wash down, I use a commercial down soap (you can get it at places like REI) in the washing machine, on delicate. The key is in the drying, which I do in on low with several new tennis balls thrown in. The bouncing helps restore the loft to the items. It takes what seems like forever to get it dry, and the tennis balls make a racket, but in the end the item comes out cleaner and fluffier.

To re-waterproof, you can try the various camping-goods sprays, all of which have resulted in something more like water resistant for me.

ETA: I do this in my home washing machine (front loader; top-loaders can rip sleeping bags apart) with no issues whatsoever. The latest bottle of soap I have is Nikwax, but I have used lots of different kinds.

  • Thanks for the info. Do you use Nikwax? I've also heard it's best to do it in a very large machine. Have you had luck cleaning them at home?

    (Oliver Hulland at May 23, 2011 8:25 pm)
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Posted by ycherk (Questions: 1, Answers: 2)
Answered On May 25, 2011 1:24 pm
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