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If you must wash your down bag or blanket, spot cleaning is recommended before fully washing it. For the safest and best cleaning option, we recommend washing your down bag or blanket by hand. Dry cleaning is not appropriate for down bag or blanket, especially down. Solvents used in dry cleaning can strip the natural oils from down that help it retain loft. Damage due to improper washing is not covered under Australian Consumer Law (ACL) Competition and Consumer Act 2010.
The type of soap used should be a gentle, non-detergent soap made for washing down. We recommend Nikwax Down Wash Direct® and Nikwax Down Proof™, which adds hydrophobic, water-repellent qualities to the premium down.
When to Wash Your Down Sleeping Bag
We recommend washing your down bag or blanket only when necessary. It is better for the environment and your down bag or blanket! Depending on how frequently you use it, once a year may be a good starting point. Waiting too long may cause dirt and oils to seep into the feathers, making them stick together and reducing the bag's loft.
How to Wash Your Down Sleeping Bag
- If possible, for any marks, try to spot clean with a clean, damp cloth first.
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For a more thorough wash, hand-wash your down item in cool water with a non-detergent soap. We recommend Nikwax Down Wash Direct® for the first wash.
- Rinse your bag or blanket thoroughly and gently press out excess water.
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For the second wash, use Nikwax Down Proof™ or a similar down-appropriate soap.
- Repeat rinsing your bag or blanket thoroughly and gently press out excess water.
How to Dry Your Down Sleeping Bag
- To dry your down item, commercial tumble-drying is recommended.
- Your bag now needs to be dried extremely thoroughly. This should be done slowly, using a tumble dryer set to the lowest heat setting available. Selecting a higher temperature in the hope of drying more quickly could easily damage the fabrics and components of your bag.
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The drying process will take several hours, particularly for bags with more filling. During this time, periodically check (remove from the tumble dryer) the bag to ensure that it is not getting too hot. It is also important to massage the filling between your hands at frequent intervals. Start this process before the bag becomes too dry; doing so will help to tease apart any clumps and ensure that the filling regains its natural loft. This process can be aided by adding few Nikwax Dryer Balls or tennis balls to the dryer to break up any clumps.
Finishing Steps
- Once thoroughly dried, all components such as cordlocks should be checked and zips thoroughly lubed.
- Make sure your bag or blanket is completely dry before storing it.
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To maintain its loft, store it uncompressed in a larger Storage Bag or Wash Bag.
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Washing a down sleeping bag and blanket is a time-consuming and tricky task, which is why it is best to have a professional down cleaning service do it for you if you are unsure about doing it yourself. Additionally, avoid washing a down sleeping bag or blanket if you don't have access to a commercial tumble dryer. However, if you do decide to wash your down sleeping bag, the following guidelines assume that you have a commercial tumble dryer available. Damage due to improper washing is not covered under Australian Consumer Law (ACL) Competition and Consumer Act 2010.
When to Wash Your Down Sleeping Bag
You should only wash your down sleeping bag when it shows obvious signs of dirt or odor and fails to loft sufficiently. A typical household washing machine can handle most down sleeping bags or blankets, provided they are of the right size. However, larger bags (with more than 1000g of filling) should only be washed in large domestic or commercial washing machines or be professionally cleaned. Alternatively, you may choose to hand-wash your sleeping bag. Do not dry clean your down sleeping bag.
How to Wash Your Down Sleeping Bag
- Before washing, clean any detergent out of your washer if you use the powder drawer.
- Also, run a short rinse cycle with the machine empty to clear any remaining detergent.
- Release all drawcords under tension and velcro tabs fastened, and fully undo the side zip and disengage the zip head.
- Select a program with a low to medium spin speed setting such as Delicates, Woollens, or Handwash, with a temperature setting of 30°C. Rinse the bag at least twice.
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It is best to use a specialist down cleaning product such as Nikwax Down Wash Direct® and avoid using detergent or fabric softener.
- After washing, carefully remove your sleeping bag and blanket from the machine since it will be heavy, and the extra weight of wet filling could damage internal stitching. Don't worry if your bag looks flat, empty, and/or lumpy at this stage.
How to Dry Your Down Sleeping Bag
- To dry your down item, commercial tumble-drying is recommended.
- Your bag now needs to be dried extremely thoroughly. This should be done slowly, using a tumble dryer set to the lowest heat setting available. Selecting a higher temperature in the hope of drying more quickly could easily damage the fabrics and components of your bag.
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The drying process will take several hours, particularly for bags with more filling. During this time, periodically check (remove from the tumble dryer) the bag to ensure that it is not getting too hot. It is also important to massage the filling between your hands at frequent intervals. Start this process before the bag becomes too dry; doing so will help to tease apart any clumps and ensure that the filling regains its natural loft. This process can be aided by adding few Nikwax Dryer Balls or tennis balls to the dryer to break up any clumps.
Finishing Steps
- Once thoroughly dried, all components such as cordlocks should be checked and zips thoroughly lubed.
- Make sure your sleeping bag or blanket is completely dry before storing it.
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The bag can then be air dried stored away uncompressed in a larger Storage Bag or Wash Bag.
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