The first step in extending the life of your down sleeping bag, is to not store it for long periods in its own sack, as it is better not to compress your bag for too long. Try to store it loosely in a dry location and, ideally, in a cotton sack if you have one. Avoid storing it for long periods in anything that is watertight, as condensation can occur, followed by mildew. Also avoid a hot storage area, as natural oils found in down can evaporate. See that the bag is completely dry before storing it.

While you’re camping, try to air out your bag each day. An inside out bag in the wind and the sun will remain nice and lofty. A common mistake is to roll up your bag; it’s actually better for the down if you stuff the sleeping bag into its bag. When stuffing, always start at the foot of the bag, so that the air will escape as you stuff.

As soon as you get to the camp each evening, remove the bag from its sack and allow it to air out. Keep the bag out of the sunlight (unless you’re drying it), since the ultraviolet rays will gradually degrade the fabric.

You will extend the life of your bag by keeping it as clean as you can, so that you don’t have to run it through the washing machine as often. Try not to ever lay your bag directly on the ground. If you’re not in a tent, use a ground cloth. Wear clean clothing to bed, which protects against dirt from the day, and body oils that can affect the goose down.

Clean stains and spills with a damp cloth as soon as they occur (whenever possible), so as to avoid the need for frequent washing. Try to move the down away from the stain you are working on. When you do wash your sleeping bag, don’t forget to strictly respect the washing instructions. Never dry clean your down bag since the solvents can strip away natural oils contained in the goose down.

Turn your sleeping bag inside out before a machine wash and zip up the zippers. Be sure to wash with cold water and use only the gentle cycles.

If you can avoid a machine altogether and wash by hand, so much the better. Put your sleeping bag in the bath tub, use a mild soap, and avoid bleach and all fabric softeners.

In warm water, submerge your bag in the bathtub while it is in its bag. This way the air is already out of the bag and it is easier to work with under water. Then, pull it out of the sack and wash gently. When you’ve finished, let it continue to soak for an hour.

You will have to rinse the bag several times to get all the soap out; some manufacturers say three times or more. See that you empty the tub after each rinse and be careful working with a soaking wet sleeping bag, so as not to damage any stitching or baffles. You can press the bag to remove water, but do not wring it out.

After the final rinsing, use the washing machine’s spin cycle to remove most of the water, thereby shortening the drying time. You can place the bag in a top loader for this stage. Some manufacturers warn against using a dryer, but if you have a low heat setting, you should be fine. Tumble dry the sleeping bag on the lowest heat. During the wash, down can collect in clumps so as you dry, check for clumps and redistribute them by gently massaging, and then continue drying. Some people recommend adding a few tennis balls (clean ones!) to break up any clumps in the down.

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