question about a down bag that has been machine washed (without my consent)

Thanks for the update!

Many years ago a friend asked if her college grad son and his girlfreind could borrow two sleeping bags and mats for a cross country camping trip.

The kids came to my house to pick up the gear and I lent them two inexpensive synthetic tapered bags and two nice CCF pads.

After their trip was over his mother called to say that "You can come over and pick up your gear." To which I replied, "Connie, do you mean to tell me that they are not going to return the gear themselves?" and she said they had already left town.
I told her that SHE would have to bring the gear to me just out of common courtesy.

When she finally brought the gear back I discovered why the her son didn't return it personally. The pads were both torn and the bags had jammed zippers and were filthy.

NEVER LEND GEAR UNLESS YOU ARE GOING ALONG AS WELL!

STOLEN GEAR (your sleeping bag) AUTOMATICALLY BECOMES THEIR PROPERTY AND THEY MUST REIMBURSE YOU FOR THE COST. PERIOD.

Sounds like it will be OK after all…
My suggestion to anyone wanting to use a washing machine for the job is to run a hot cycle without any clothes/detergents before doing so.
That is so some or possibly all of the detergent residue is washed away.

Eric, that's an unfortunate story!

In the end I fixed the problem (thanks to the info from all you guys) and now the person 'may' be buying the bag off me anyway…I'll upgrade if the sale goes ahead. A sale of a WM bag from a person on this forum didn't go through due to PayPal issues but I have my eyes on a Feathered Friends bag that is got better quality fill (covers for colder nights) and weighs less anyway.

Decisions decisions.