Ah, the sleeping bag. Your bed-away-from-home. Your cozy refuge in the wild. No matter the season, a high-quality sleeping bag makes all the difference. If you’re looking for value and performance, the Greystone 20° from Big Agnes should be at the top of your list. This bag is lightweight and provides the essential comfort and warmth needed for a successful backpacking trip! Your adventure will inevitably get a bit dirty, but don’t fear, it’s easy to care for your sleeping bag with Nikwax.
How to Clean Down-Filled Sleeping Bags:
Cleaning down bags can seem intimidating. But with proper know-how, it’s easy. The first thing to note: use a big, front-loading washing machine, generally found at a laundromat. Home washers can be too small, and don’t allow proper circulation of water through the bag, making for ineffective cleaning. If you’re needing to cram your bag into your machine like a stuff sack, your machine is too small. Always use a front-loading washer, as some top loaders have an agitator that can tear up down baffles, or, in agitator-less top-loading machines the sleeping bag will want to float, leading to poor results.
- Put bag in washing machine.
- Add proper cleaner. Nikwax Down Wash is formulated for both normal, and water-repellent down. It cleans crud away while maintaining loft and revitalizing water-repellency. (Volume Guide: for a 1-2.5lb bag, add 100ml, for a 2.5-4.5lb bag, add 150ml, for a bag 4.5lbs or heavier, use 200ml)
- Wash. Throw in an extra spin cycle or two to get excess water out of the bag.
- Down is only effective when dry. Periodically apply Nikwax Down Proof, which revives both the out fabric’s DWR, AND adds water repellency to the down itself, without adversely affecting the insulating properties. Simply run a second cycle with your down sleeping bag with theDown Proof before drying.
- Dry! This is key for down bags. Your bag will emerge from the washer looking like a drowned rat. Run multiple dry cycles on low heat with clean tennis balls, or dryer balls, to fluff the bag back up.
Now that you’ve learned how to properly care for your down sleeping bag, you’re ready for your next adventure! Regular care with Nikwax will keep your gear long-lasting and prepped for every season to come!