Camping equipment makes staying in nature more comfortable. But items such as a tent or sleeping bag get dirty quickly, so they require special care.
We already wrote about how to wash the tent in the washing machine in the corresponding article. Below we will talk about sleeping bag care. Let’s figure out whether it is possible to wash the sleeping bag in the washing machine and what detergents are suitable for gentle washing.
Can I wash
Before you throw the product into the drum of the washing machine, it is worth assessing how dirty it is - maybe the pollution is insignificant and you can do without automatic washing. Wash sleeping bags in the AGR is not prohibited, but this is often not recommended.
Start with dry cleaning:
- Dry the bag before cleaning.
- With a clothes brush, clean the sleeping bag from stains from dirt. If you find oily stains, use the White Spirit solvent - it will wipe them off the fabric.
- Turn out the bag.
- Moisten the sponge with soapy water, wring it out and wipe the inside of the product. Try not to wet the bag too much.
- Dry the sleeping bag, fold it and put it away until the next trip.
Important! So that soapy water not only cleanses the fabric, but also neutralizes unpleasant odors, add a little potassium permanganate to it.
How to wash a sleeping bag
If dry cleaning turned out to be ineffective, you will have a very logical question - is it possible to wash a sleeping bag in the AGR? We asked inveterate travelers whether they erase sleeping bags in automatic mode. To which they received a positive answer and learned a few simple rules.
Automatic wash
Remember recommendations to know how to wash a sleeping bag in a washing machine:
- Choose a gentle washing mode with a temperature of up to 40 degrees and a maximum drum speed of not more than 600.
- Relate the dimensions and weight of the product to the maximum drum capacity.
- Disable the spin function.
- Use liquid detergent - it is easier to rinse out of the fabric.
- Check for damage; if you find tears, sew.
- If the amount of equipment is impressive, wash it in a short mode exclusively in cold water.
Using these simple rules, you can qualitatively and without loss wash equipment:
- Spread the product.
- Turn inside out.
- Roll into a roll.
- Load into the drum (you can use balls for washing, so that the filler does not go astray).
- Pour liquid into the powder receptacle. Use professional "chemistry" for tourist equipment.
- Do not use bleach or rinse aid.
- Close the hatch.
- Select the delicate or hand wash with low drum speeds and start the cycle.
- At the end of the regime, do not rush to get the bag, let it stay there for at least half an hour - excess water will flow from it, and this will facilitate drying.
Attention! In no case do not squeeze the bag in the machine. Do not try to squeeze it manually. A wet bag is more prone to deformation and tearing.
Proper drying:
- Dry the product in a ventilated room only horizontally. Put it on a special dryer, ironing board or on clothesline for drying. If drying directly in the apartment, spread rags or paper to collect dripping water.
- After draining the water, you can put a fan heater at a distance - so the bag dries faster. But do not use a hair dryer or dry on a battery!
- During drying, shake the bag from time to time (every 1-2 hours) to evenly distribute the filler.
Handwash
If you are afraid to wash your sleeping accessories in a typewriter, wash them with your hands. Such washing is more gentle, which is especially true for old bags. Read below on how to wash your bag yourself:
- Flatten the fabric, twist the product and fasten the zipper or Velcro.
- Fill a bathtub or large basin with enough warm water.
- Put the sleeping bag in the water.
- Get into the bath and stomp on the bag for about 15 minutes. Do not overdo it - you do not need to beat off tap dance.
- After the “foot” wash, grasp the bag with your hands and perform the movements as if rinsing, smoothly moving the item from left to right for 10-15 minutes.
- Drain the dirty water and collect clean without removing the product. Rinse the equipment and flush the water, again collecting clean.
Important! Rinse several times so that the detergent completely comes out of the fabric. If there was a lot of foam, rinse 3-4 times.
- After the last rinse, drain the water, spread the bag in the bathtub and let it drain for 30-40 minutes.
- Dry the sleeping bag in the same way as after automatic washing.
What to wash
We already reported above that when washing a sleeping bag it is better to use special means. So what to stop at?
These detergents are recognized by tourists and are used most often (you can purchase in specialized stores):
- Salton Sport. Specialized gel for any type of washing - hands or in the MCA. Suitable for removing stains from bags full of natural down. Available in the form of a 0.25 liter bottle. It costs between 200-300 rubles.
- Cotico. Domestic gel for sports equipment, clothing and various equipment. It can be used for washing neoprene, lycra and membrane fabrics. But for fluff will not do. The size of the bottle is 1 liter, it costs about 300 r.
- Toko Eco down Wash. This is an impregnation for products filled with fluff. It is made in the form of a spray, which should be applied before washing. Then it is pushed out of the fabric along with spots. Packed in a 0.25 liter bottle, it costs about 500 rubles.
- Heitmann Spezial Wasche. The gel with good reviews is used to clean tents, sleeping bags and other equipment on artificial fillers (holofiber, synthetic winterizer and others). Cannot be used for downy items. It features a natural safe composition - the vaunted "German quality". It costs around 400 rubles per container of 0.25 liters.
Remember that you need not only to wash correctly, but also to store a sleeping bag. Do not try to pack it in a compression bag to save space in the cabinet. Spread the fabric and hang it on hangers or in an arbitrary position - this will keep the filler functionality longer.