Long.....Re: [at-l] Washing a down bag...

[KarenS62@aol.com (KarenS62@aol.com)]

In a message dated 1/2/2002 1:29:31 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
Slyatpct@aol.com writes:


> Anyone have ideas on washing a down bag?  Mine is over due, but I not sure 
> which is the best detergent to use.  Will household detergent work or 
> should 
> I use Woolite or the pricey stuff they sell at the outfitters?
> 

Sly,

I posted this same question a couple years ago when I received Datto's smelly 
bag in the mail. It wasn't staying in my living room for a few months in that 
condition. I got two replies - the first one, which is the method I used, was 
from woodelf.  I washed the bag by hand, but used the dryer to dry it.  I 
splurged on down soap (I think it was $4-5) because it seemed worth it in the 
long run. I think I ended up washing the bag twice and then sent the rest of 
the bottle to Datto to use after he got home. The down wash also didn't seem 
to have all the extra bubbles many soaps nowadays have. I also, in addition 
to the tennis ball drying method, used nmy hands to gently spread apart 
clumps of feathers. I dried it over two days. I dried it for a while the 
first day, then pulled the clumps apart, laid it out inside out and put it in 
the dryer again the second day. The bag went from stinky smelly, stained to 
fluffy, clean and nonstained!  It was wonderful!

Instructions from woodelf:

Subj:   Re: [at-l] Cleaning Down
Date:   7/5/2000 8:36:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:   woodelf@juno.com
Sender: owner-at-l@backcountry.net
To: at-l@backcountry.net

Dear Miss POG,
In my opinion, the best way to clean a down bag is in the tub with a good 
quality down soap. (The sleeping bag goes in the tub not you.) After the bag 
is completely wet gently "pump" the soapy water through the bag with flat 
hands. (If you have flat hands.) Let the bag soak awhile and repeat the 
process. If it's really bad you may want to do it a few times. Don't get in a 
hurry. Do a good job, you don't want to do this often, it's a
pain. Rinsing is time consuming, you must remove as much soap as possible. 
First pull the plug and drain the tub, allowing the bag to drain till water 
stops flowing freely. Use the shower to rinse the bag, while gently pressing 
the bag. After doing this carefully roll the bag loosely and press the water 
out. Repeat these steps till you feel all the
soap is gone. Slowly roll the bag, gently pressing as much water out as you 
can. Lay the bag on towels for a couple of hours. Put it in a dryer at very 
low heat with an old (clean) tennis shoe. Check it regularly! Remove it 
promptly and let it cool completely before storage. Takes along time but 
what's the bag worth? Here's another method I have used (a long time ago it 
was recommended) but I do not now recommend. Ask yourlocal dry cleaner to 
clean it using fresh solvent. It's easy but will decease the loft in the long 
run. I wouldn't do it to one of my bags. But all of this is just my opinion 
:-)

woodelf
  

And from Feathered Friends when I emailed them:

CLEANING
    Down bags can, and definitely should, be cleaned when they start to 
accumulate oils. 
If your bag has started to lose loft, or the fabric is badly discolored, it 
is time for 
the bag to be washed. Body oils, hair oils, lotions and cosmetics are all 
acidic and 
will slowly decompose down. Oils also contaminate Goretex, and heavy 
contamination may cause delamination. The down in your Feathered Friends 
sleeping was carefully processed to the correct oil/acid balance. We feel 
that Down Suds is the best soap for restoring down to its optimum oil and 
acid level after use. It is essentially the same soap used by down processors 
with some added stain removers. Do not expect down suds to remove all the 
stains. You can spot treat stains soon after they occur with soap or cleaning 
solvent. After time, the stain bonds with the nylon and cannot be removed 
without causing damage to the down. You can use solvents to remove sap or 
tar. Try to move the down away from the spot you are treating. Use an 
absorbent cloth on the reverse side, and use many small applications rather 
than flooding the area and spreading the stain.  Goretex does not require 
different treatment than other fabrics. Do not dry-clean your sleeping bag. 
Either wash the bag yourself by carefully following the detailed cleaning 
instructions, or have an experienced cleaner WASH your bag using a special 
down soap. 
Feathered Friends can wash your bag for you if there is no one in your area 
able to do 
the job properly.

FEATHERED FRIENDS CLEANING SERVICE
Abbreviated price list. Call 206-292-6292 or 206-292-2210 for details.
Sleeping bags. $14-$22, based on weight.    All PTFE shells inc. Goretex-Gore 
Dryloft 40% surcharge. Bags requiring a double wash $5 extra. Jackets, vests, 
and parkas. $7 to $12, based on weight. Heavily soiled or requiring special 
spot cleaning $5 extra Down comforters. $15 to $35 based on weight and style.   
It is necessary to remove down from some styles before cleaning to prevent 
baffle damage. Unless this is necessary, cleaning costs normally do not 
exceed $25.

Some soaps to use
Down Suds- Concentrated, rinses well, removes just about any type of odor. 
Also    
    packaged as Eddie Bauer Down Suds, REI Down Suds.
Thunder Down- A highly concentrated soap, which makes it the most economical. 
We     
    find it performs about the same as Down Suds.
Nikwax Down Wash- much less concentrated, thus much more expensive. Works 
well.
    Caution: Nikwax also makes a water repellant down treatment called Down 
Proof. 
    We have found this treatment reduces the loft of down bags.
    "Fluffy," and "Loft" are two other brand name down soaps. Any soap 
formulated 
    especially for down will be superior to any normal soap or detergent.

What not to use:
    Ivory soap, or liquid dish washing soaps. These produce far too much    
suds and are much too hard to rinse. They are also too alkaline. Powdered 
detergents of liquid clothing detergents. These are too strong and will strip 
out all residual down oils. Highly alkaline. Enzymes, solvents or bleaches, 
except a tiny amount for spot cleaning. Rinse well.

Detailed cleaning instruction

Spot clean when possible. You can use stronger detergents or solvents to spot 
clean, 
even with Goretex. Move the down aside as much as possible before spot 
cleaning.
Do not dry-clean. Dry-cleaning strips an excessive amount of oils from the 
down. In 
addition, dry-cleaning fluids remain in the bag for weeks. Breath tests can 
determine 
if someone has merely been inside a dry-cleaning shop weeks previously. We 
are sure 
you do not want to be zipped up inside a bag giving off carbon tetrachloride 
or 
perchlorethelene. And this may surprise you, dry-cleaning usually does not 
even get 
the bag clean. The fluid is re-used many times. Exterior stains may be 
removed, but 
residue is left in the down. Dry-cleaning clogs Goretex pores and makes it 
non 
breathable. In many cases machine washing is possible. With jackets or the 
Rock Wren 
liner bag machine washing is no problem at all. Use Down Suds in any machine. 
Apply 
the soap directly to stained or heavily soiled areas. Soak for 15 to 60 
minutes. 
Run through a normal cycle. Goretex items will have to be positioned nylon 
side out 
in order to spin properly. It is important to have the load balanced. When it 
is finished, if you can squeeze out suds, rinse again.
For larger bags use a front loading machine, preferably a double or triple 
load 
commercial machine. Again, soak if possible. If not, plan on running through 
two 
complete cycles. Sleeping bags are tougher than you might expect. The tricot 
baffling 
we use is nearly as strong as the nylon shell. Problems in washing nearly 
always come 
from the shell catching in the machinery or seams ravelling out. You should 
not have 
the latter problem with a Feathered Friends bag. To guard against snags 
monitor the 
wash closely.   Hand washing is safest of all. In fact it would be difficult 
to damage a bag in hand washing. It does require considerable effort. Use a 
large tub or bathtub. Soak for up to an hour, but not longer. You will need 
to work at getting all the down 
submerged. The nylon is so tight it traps air. Rinsing is more difficult by 
hand. 
Multiple rinses with a small amount of water are better than one big rinse. 
You will 
need to squeeze out most of the water each time. Except with the largest bags 
and 
quilts, you can extract most of the remaining water with the spin cycle of a 
washing 
machine.    In warm sunny weather you can dry the bag outdoors if you have 
room to spread it out. This will cause the least wear on the down and fabric. 
A final fluff cycle in a dryer will re-loft the down. Warning. Excessive sun 
drying can fade and weaken nylon. the sun drying option is given with the 
assumption that you are washing your bag 
infrequently. Tumble drying is a dryer will take hours. You need moderate 
heat. Most 
home dryers will not get too hot. Laundromat dryers often get hot enough to 
melt the 
nylon. Be sure to check, especially when the bag starts to fluff enough to 
fill the 
dryer. Make sure the end bag is really dry and free of clumps before you 
store it. 
If down is left wet it support growth of bacteria or mildew. If you notice an 
off 
smell, wash the bag again immediately, and get it really dry.
    We have washed our rental bags 10 to 30 times, and the down seem no worse 
for 
it. Do not believe anyone who says that cleaning hurts the down.

           
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Work like you don't need money, Love like you've never been hurt, And dance 
like no one's watching. - unknown

                                                              


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