Drying down sleeping bags

[Ryan Linn]

The post about a new down sleeping bag getting pretty nasty just reminded me of this…

Western Mountaineering's website says tennis balls in the dryer are good for preventing the down from clumping after you wash it. Nunatak says tennis balls can tear the outer fabric. What do you all think?

I've used the tennis balls on my TNF Beeline once, and they seemed to work quite well. Is it because of the lighter fabric on Nunatak's bags that the tennis balls aren't recommended, or is there some other factor at work here?

[Joe Clement]

I can't imagine tennis balls hurting a sleeping bag. I thought some people recommended tennis shoes.

[Boozer]

I've used tennis balls in the dryer with MANY bags, but always after the down was 90%+ dry. I would imagine shell fabric could be a slight issue.

[Seth Tanner]

oo

[Michael Febbo]

I never used tennis balls (or anything else) and the bags always dry and loft perfectly… so why bother?

The real danger, IMO, is if the dryer you are using has any burrs or sharp edges that can snag the fabric. This occurred on some clothing of mine, and I fixed it prior to drying the bags.

[David Stapleton]

I know this will probably sound like I'm completely new (and I am!) but can you just wash your down sleeping bag? I have a new Montbell UL SS #3 and for the amount I paid I'd be scared S-less to throw in my washer. For some reason I always thought you needed to take them to a specialty place.

Hadn't heard of the tennis balls for drying either. Should my bag start to develop a funk I suppose I should plan on how to clean it.

-Dave

[Roger Caffin]

I have a problem imagining that a smooth round tennis ball could do any harm at all to any of the UL sleeping bag fabrics. Nylon 66 is strong stuff.

I washed our sleeping bags by hand recently.
Washed them in the bath with Atsko Sports Wash and warm water.
Rinsed them two or three times with lots of gentle squeezing.
Put them in our top-loading washing machine carefully (packed loosely) and spun them to remove most water.
Put them spread out on the clothesline in the sun to dry.
Went out and patted the down around every 2 hours or so.

By the end of the (summer) day they were largely dry and the down was all fluffy again. I left them on a spare bed overnight and gave them a couple of hours in the sun the next day, then put them away.

Cheers

[Dan Cunningham]

David – yes, fine in the washer, but FRONT loader only, and use the right detergent for down.

[Raymond Estrella]

David,

You can wash them yourself but make sure to use a FRONT-loading washer only. (Roger used a top-loader just to spin some water out.) You can buy Down-wash at most camping/hiking shops.

[Raymond Estrella]

You must have been posting right as I typed. Did you feel like I was looking over your shoulder and cheating on a school paper? ;-)

[Dan Cunningham]

Well, I know you are also from MN, so…

[Kent C.]

David,

Not sure by your comment if you're new to hiking or new to down, but FWIW keep in mind that (if you want to carry the weight) you can keep your bag much cleaner for much longer if you wear long underwear (used only for sleeping). The u/w will keep skin oil and dirt from fouling the down and causing it to lose its insulative effectiveness.

[Kent C.]

Sorry I can't cite the source, but I think it may have come from a BPL thread. Anyway, I came across this from a reputable source:

I called MontBell's customer service,…They recommend against the old trick of using a tennis ball to break up down clumps, and instead suggest drying at the lowest possible temperature, removing the jacket from the drum as soon as it stops (in case a hot spot causes melted fabric), and breaking up any aggregations of down by hand.

[Tim Heckel]

Don't use tennis shoes in the dryer with your down bag! They are too heavy and can damage the baffles.
Professional cleaning is harsh and can damage the natural lofting ability of the down feathers.
Use a front load washer, mild or special down soap, and rinse several times. Gentle cycle, warm or cold water.
In the dryer, on low heat, we're now using "dryer balls" which are about the size and weight of tennis balls but have little "spikes" all around the surface that help break up the down clumps.
Regardless you'll probably want to carefully go over the bag by hand and break up any down clumps. I do this repeatedly for a couple days while the bag is air-drying (after the dryer does 90% of the work).

[Dan Cunningham]

As long as we're on this, can somebody recommend a really good down soap for my WM bag?

[Matt Lutz]

I've got some Nikwax down soap in my gear closet. I intend to wash my Marmot Hydrogen (850 down; Pertex shelled) with is soon.

I have had good success with other Nikwax products (Tech Wash, TX Direct, Softshell Proof).

I believe Grangers makes a down soap, too?

[Ashley Brown]

Hi Dan,

From reading his comments on bushwalking.org.au I believe that Roger is pretty impressed with the Atsko Sports Wash which he mentioned above.

Roger — is there anywhere in Sydney selling it, or did you have it shipped from overseas? I have a bag that needs washing and wouldn't mind giving it a go.

Cheers, Ashley

[Tony Beasley]

Hi Ashley,

Some caution might be needed when washing down sleeping bags. I have washed my down sleeping bags and quilts before without much problems but last year I washed my Fairydown bag for the first time and it was a disaster, the down clumped and no matter what I did I could not get it to fluff up, I ended up taking it to a local Canberra quilt restorer who removed the down, steam cleaned it and then replaced the down, it cost me A$130, I lost 20g of down and I personally think the down was better that when the bag new. The next weekend I used the bag in the snow at -18C temperatures. I think that next time I need to clean my bag I will not stuff around and go straight to this company, I will also get the down topped up.

Tony

[Roger Caffin]

Hi Ashley

I think you can get it from Ansco in Melbourne.
http://shop.ansco.com.au/store/viewItem.shop?idProduct=147

Cheers

[Ashley Brown]

Thanks Roger I'll check it out.

[Brad Groves]

Hey-

Front loading washer with Revivex Down Wash, Nikwax Down Wash, or Downe. I like to throw in a towel to weight the bag down a little so it doesn't float on top of the water. I also keep it unzipped so more surface area is exposed to sudsy water.

Gingerly remove bag from washer (lots of extra weight on the noseeum baffles), place into centrifuge. Dry on low heat… I always use balls. Actually, my preferred method is a couple of old tube socks with two tennis or racquet balls each. The 2-ball per sock method seems to keep the balls moving a little better, less likely to get bogged down in the depths of the bag.

The most important thing I think you can do is dry it thoroughly. If you don't, or if you don't break up the clumps adequately as it dries, the clumps of down harden together. You lose loft. Only way to get it de-clumped is to rewash the bag, then dry it right. YMMV.

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