Done with WM

[James S]

Best out of context sentence ever.

[Roger Caffin]

Using a washing machine for the washing is often a source of considerable trouble. Most people use ordinary washing powder in their machines, and this presents two problems.

First, ordinary washing powder contains a huge range of additives which really foul up washing down and DWR gear. Stuff like bleaches, scents, enzymes, and other assorted crap.

Second, over time the additives tend to build up in corners of the tub, and can release bit and pieces into the washing water even when you are trying to just rinse clothing.

What this means is that washing a down item or even a DWR-treated item in a domestic washing machine does not always work very well. the gear sometimes gets as much contaminant added as washed away.

For this reason it is usually recommended that you first clean your bathtub with a little down soap or Sports Wash and then manually wash the gear in the bathtub (or deep laundry sink for small items). Then carefully arrange the gear loosely in the washing machine tub for a good spin.

For drying, I use sunshine. Lots of it, with regular turning and gentle beating. Yes, this takes time and effort, but my gear is worth the effort. I am not aware of any good short-cuts, except for using a commercial specialist service (if you trust them).

Cheers

[Bob Gross]

I would add a couple of details to what Roger suggested. I also use the bathtub to wash a sleeping bag. For rinsing, I go for about three or four passes, just to make sure that all of the suds leave. Also, if you lift a lightweight sleeping bag out of a bathtub of water, you stand a good chance of stressing or tearing the sewn baffles. I move the sleeping bag into a plastic laundry basket to lift it out. Once it is all done and 99% dry, I work the down chunks apart by fingers.

I have one down bag that I purchased in 1977, and it has been washed only three times ever, partly because I use it only about five nights per year.

–B.G.–

[Lynn Tramper]

"I am not aware of any good short-cuts, except for using a commercial specialist service (if you trust them)."

Good point. I have a HUGE down duvet on my bed..far too large to wash by hand. Every 5 years or so I take it to a dry cleaner who I trust (I asked around a lot of the places that sell or make down gear, and this place came out the most recommended). The duvet always comes back fully lofted and odour free. I have not yet had the nerve to take my UL bags to them, but they would probably do a good job. Certainly no risk of balling.

[Mary D]

What I've been told is to clean thoroughly the part of the machine where the detergent and fabric softener go in, then run a complete cycle with an empty machine. That should get the gunk out of the washer. Then use the most delicate cycle, wash the bag, then run through another complete cycle for extra rinses. Obviously, it should be a front-loading machine with a very large capacity and capable of an extra-delicate cycle. Luckily, my DIL has one–I measured and it's bigger than the front-loaders at the laundromat! This is pretty much what's on the WM website, although they don't mention rinsing the machine out first. Nor do they mention compressing the bag as much as possible when putting in the washer so it will take up water more easily.

I'd rather use my DIL's machine than the bathtub, first, because I know I couldn't get the bag rinsed as well in the bathtub and second, because I'm really concerned about baffle breakage when trying to move a heavy soggy sleeping bag!

There's no way I could dry a sleeping bag without a dryer (again, large capacity) around here except in mid-summer, when I'd rather be out backpacking!

Re the base layer I wear in bed–this is the base layer I take anyway, to wear in camp for cold evenings and cold mornings. I'm not taking extra clothes to sleep in! I rarely hike in the base layer unless it's extremely cold (such as a blizzard) when I won't be sweating in it. When I'm outside the tent, I have other clothes on top so the base layer doesn't get dirty.

I'm hoping that if in the future I take more care not to leave the bag in my pack during several days of travel, it won't lose loft and I won't have to wash it for another 10 years (if I'm around that long!).

[Franco Darioli]

Tip for would be bath tub users :
Get a laundry basket (plastic with plenty of perforations) to use to remove the bag from the tub to the clothes line . So you do not lift the SB, you just slide it in let drip dry (gently squeeze…) then you take it outside and leave it on the ground to keep dripping away. later lift the basket over the line and roll the bag out across it.
(I used a net hammock before instead of the basket, but could not locate it yesterday …)
It is now 1 pm and my bag is already drying nicely because it has been hot and windy all of yesterday and today. Sorry, no balls.
Franco

[Jeffs Eleven]

TMI Franco;)

[Sam Farrington]

Brett,
You have done a good service with your thread, I think.
I went decades swearing off down bags until this site persuaded me to rethink to save about a half pound in weight. So I bought one of those new spiral Montbells so positively reviewed on this site. Cost was in the S200-250 range.

First thing I learned from this thread, is that although I wash down quilts in my washer several times a year with no problem, the bag will go to a professional washer, as it cost several times as much as my quilts.

Second thing I learned is not to expect to wash the down bag very often.

Third thing I learned is not to take the down bag out in warmer weather when it is more likely to be affected by perspiration. A synthetic bag can be plenty light for warm weather.

Fourth thing I learned is not to spend any more than I already have for a down bag.

Fifth thing I learned is that one of my MYOG projects still in the imagining stage, a Thinsulate Lite Loft bag stabilized with cross-hatched threads rather than sewing or baffles, might merit getting done before the Montbell needs a cleaning.

Have to agree that you may have overwashed. Sounds like washing every ten nights or so can spell disaster for a down bag. Let's see … if I could make a comfy pack at about 1.5 lbs., to replace my current one at just over 3 lbs., it would save me about three times the weight as does my down bag. Maybe I should just work on the pack.

[Bob Gross]

"Sounds like washing every ten nights or so can spell disaster for a down bag."

I can't imagine how that could be done along the PCT.

–B.G.–

[Monty Montana]

Josh, as with Mary and other UL hikers, maintaining a clean sleeping bag is a priority, hence we have a longjohn base layer that we do not hike in except for the occasional extreme condition, saving it for around camp and sleeping in instead. One set that I have is silk and weighs 6.7 oz; another (for winter) is merino and weighs 8.5 oz. I consider them one of the ten essantials and always have one or the other base layers in my pack regardless of whether the total pack weight is 11 lbs or 17 lbs. So much for your snarky comment.

[Andrew Lush]

I always have a clean set of clothes to change into after a tough day. In cooler times its a set of long underwear (thermals) and in the summer I like a cotton singlet. In summer I also take a cut down silk liner to use as a sheet between me and the sleeping bag which is used as a quilt to more efficiently regulate temps.

I too have a WM Caribou that I have had for 7 years now. It gets used for tarp camping in the warmer months and I've spent around 160+ nights in it. I have never washed it and it still lofts beautifully.

I am happy to carry a little extra weight and have the comfort of something warm and dry to change into at the end of the day, that also protects my expensive down bags and saves me the hassle of having to wash them regularly.

[Stuart Murphy]

I agree. Keep it clean to avoid the need to wash it. I've had a down bag for 15 years and never washed it but I use a liner and usually a clean base layer as well.

Good sleeping bags last ages if you look after them.

[Brett Peugh]

Yeah, I don't know if I want to have something that I have to bring a change of clothes or a liner for just to be able to use it. Doesn't this offset the weight savings? Also I don't know if I want to use something that I have to baby all of the time and not let any moisture get even close to it. I probably would be better with something that can take some punishment and abuse moreso.

Too bad sythentics can't survive longer compressed.

[Steven McAllister]

I don't worry so much about keeping my bag clean and wash when needed.
As a rule, I always try to wear one layer in my bag to keep most of the body oils off. I would wear the base layers I hike in.

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