How to Wash a Sleeping Bag, According to Laundry Experts

Whether you use them indoors for slumber parties and sleepovers or outdoors for camping under the stars, sleeping bags need to be cleaned just like regular bedding. Sleeping bags are often large and bulky and made of special materials, so washing them can seem daunting, but with the right tools, it’s much easier than you might think. 

Ahead, we spoke with laundry care experts about how to wash a sleeping bag to ensure it gets a deep, thorough clean.

How to Machine Wash a Sleeping Bag

Because of their size, it’s important to machine wash sleeping bags at a laundromat where they have the ideal equipment to dry them thoroughly, says Mary Gagliardi, Clorox's in-house scientist and cleaning expert, aka "Dr. Laundry." "An industrial size dryer or double-load dryer allows the sleeping bag to tumble freely in a large space so its loft (and its ability to retain heat) is restored," she says.

Washing a sleeping bag is simple, and when you’re ready to clean yours, give Gagliardi’s fool-proof method a try.

Materials and Tools You'll Need

• Front-loading washing machine
• Double-load large-capacity dryer (usually at a laundromat)
• Large plastic laundry basket
• Liquid laundry detergent
• Quarters (if using a laundromat)
• 3 to 4 clean tennis balls or wool dryer balls

Instructions

1. Check the sleeping bag for damage, and repair any holes before washing.
2. Gather your supplies in your plastic laundry basket, and head to the laundromat.
3. Place 1 to 2 sleeping bags, completely unzipped, in a front-loading washing machine.
4. Add the smallest amount of laundry detergent to the detergent dispenser.
5. Select hot water, a normal cycle, and an extra rinse.
6. Start the washing machine.
7. Keep an eye on the window on the front of the machine, looking for any suds that may remain during the last rinse. If any suds are left, run another cycle without any laundry products to rinse the sleeping bags thoroughly.
8. Transfer the sleeping bags to a double-load dryer, add the dryer balls, and start the dryer.
9. Periodically check the sleeping bags for wet clumps as drying progresses. Once the sleeping bags seem dry, continue to tumble dry for another 10 minutes to ensure they are thoroughly dry.

Can You Hand-Wash a Sleeping Bag?

While most items you’d usually clean in a washing machine can be hand-washed, Gagliardi advises against hand-washing sleeping bags and strongly encourages visiting a laundromat instead. "Front-loading washers are very effective at extracting wash water, and it’s worth making the effort to use one," she says.

Even more importantly, sleeping bags must be tumble dried, so even if you were to hand wash them in the bathtub, you’d still have to head to the laundromat to ensure it dries properly.

How Often You Should Wash Your Sleeping Bag

How often you wash your sleeping bag ultimately depends on how often you use it. "Our bodies secrete body soils like sweat, sebum, and skin cells throughout the day, which transfer to the fabrics that surround us," says Kim Romaine, a fabric care scientist at P&G. She recommends washing your sleeping bag at least every few uses to keep it fresh and clean.

Sleeping bags used outdoors are likely to be dirtier and need more frequent cleaning than those used indoors. Airing a bag out by placing it in the sun after a camping trip before putting it in storage is always a good idea, says Gagliardi. If your sleeping bag gets a lot of consistent use, you may want to consider an extra mid-season cleaning.

Tips for Washing Your Sleeping Bag

Keeping your sleeping bag clean will prolong its lifespan and ensure it stays fresh from use to use. Consider these helpful tips for washing your sleeping bag.

Spot Clean When Necessary

Not all sleeping bags are machine-washable, so sometimes spot cleaning is the best solution. Romaine recommends making a solution of laundry detergent and water, gently wiping the soiled areas until they appear clean, and then wiping with a cloth soaked in clear water to remove any detergent leftover in the fabric.

Open Your Sleeping Bag Before Washing

Before tossing your sleeping bag in the washing machine, be sure to unzip it fully. Leaving your sleeping bag zipped while washing can result in some areas not getting properly cleaned.

Don’t Forget the Storage Bag

It’s important to wash your sleeping bag’s storage bag from time to time to help keep your sleeping bag clean while it's not in use. Just toss it in with a regular load of laundry