Can sleeping bags be machine washed?

Hootie19

DS is back from the Reading Festival. Not too muddy, suprisingly, but very very damp/wet. Even stuff that he's not used/worn is damp/wet (next time maybe he'll heed my advice on how to pack :rotfl:!)

Anyway, the sleeping bag is pretty rank!! it's a HiGear Frontier Square one, and there is no washing label on it, or the bag it came in.

I don't want to wash it (will take it to the laundrette to use a bigger machine than I have at home) if it's going to damage it, or dry clean it if it's not necessary. And I don't want to be replacing the sleeping bag every year because it's not been cleaned properly (that's the money saving part of my post )

Sammy85_2

We wash our sleeping bags and have never had a problem with them, had to go to launderette due to the weight of them when wet.

Not the same make as yours, i dont know what that are, certainly not branded anyway.

lovebooks_2

Course they can, as long as they are man made. Wash on a low cycle if unsure, as may have some sort of protective coating on.

skylight

I always wash and dry ours. There has never been a problem with them as long as they are dried and aired properly.

Unless of course, you had a treated waterproof one (like a raincoat you wouldn't wash).

lovebooks_2

Even if treated might be ok, if put on a low cycle.

Hootie19

Thanks guys. Have despatched DH to the laundrette with instructions to use a gentle cycle (and to ask if he's not sure!!) and minimal detergent. It's a good drying day, as my mum used to say, so hopefully air drying it when he gets home will keep it reasonable.

January20

DD's just back from the Leeds festival and on the label of her sleeping bag it says to wash by hand :eek::eek: Stuff that! Life is too short, it's going in the washing machine on a delicate wash! Anyway how am I suppose to dry it in a flat if it's not been on a spin cycle in the washing machine first?

carolannie

I wash them in the machine.
One tip though - if you tumble dry, do it on a low heat.
My son put his on high and some melted and stuck to the back of the dryer.

Savvy_Sue

You should not dry clean sleeping bags (or duvets) because the chemicals can linger in the fibres, not good ...

I've been washing ours in the washing machine for ages and they all seem fine still!

When drying, you may find you have to turn them inside out then right side out a few times to get them thoroughly dry!

Must email DS1 to remind him to make sure the tent's dry, he's been at Towersey "only drowning in short bursts!"

rosalie-lavender

This thread has made me realise how lucky I am that my son (just back from Reading festival) took the more expensive but more comfy option of sharing a hotel room! I could be faced with a wet sleeping bag too otherwise.

I agree with all the others, if the sleeping bag is man made it should wash on a low temperature wash quite well. I usually make sure the zip is completely undone before I dry them. Mine have zips that go full length but if not I would do what Savvy_Sue says and turn them round a couple of times.

thegirlintheattic

As long as it is not down washing it at home will be fine just dry it on a low heat.