I have a bag that may have been compressed for too long and has lost some of it's loft.
Does anyone have any good strategies for reviving compressed Down?
As a flyfisherman, I will rejuvenate old mashed flys by steaming them over a tea kettle which brings the feathers back to an almost new state, but I wouldn't know how to do this to a down bag.
Do you think putting it in a dryer with something wet like a towel and a tennis ball and drying on high heat would be a good idea?
Thanks!
S
I would avoid the high heat. You could damage the nylon fabric.
Wash it by hand in the tub with warm water and a mild detergent. Then put it in the dryer with a couple of tennis balls on the lowest heat setting for a few cycles (4 or 5 x 40 minutes).
Will probably be as good as new at the end.
“I think that when the lies are all told and forgot the truth will be there yet. It dont move about from place to place and it dont change from time to time. You cant corrupt it any more than you can salt salt.” - Cormac McCarthy
High heat is generally avoided with down. Feathers are a different critter. I will wash my down goods in a commercial FRONT LOADER washer on cold water with a down wash cleanser. Do NOT use detergent! Something like Ivory Snow soap can be substituted if a good down wash is not available. Dry it in a commercial front loader dryer on the lowest heat setting. Throw in some tennis balls for good measure. The reason I recommend a commercial drier is simply for the size. One of those large driers has a lot of room to bounce the down around aiding in the loft recovery.
I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.
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what if it's not dirty, just compressed. would it be better just to soak it in plain water before drying over low heat?
S
Nah, the detergent will help break up the down that is clustered together by helping dissolve the oils that hold them together.
Trust nobody!
How long has it been since it's been washed? body oils will also decrease loft.
If you don't want to do it yourself some stores will clean down bags. DO NOT DRY CLEAN, DO NOT WASH WITH REGULAR DETERGENT. You want to use the right cleaners that won't strip/destroy the down.
I babysat my quilt in the dryer - 15 - 20 minutes of NO heat, 10 minutes of VERY low heat, for five hours. When it was mostly dry to the point of not being able to feel any wet in the down I went through each baffle breaking any clumps left (there were lots) carefully with my fingers and then hung it on a line in the sun (liner side out, it's a JRB and the liner is black) for an afternoon. Then I hung it indoors for another 24 hours. Then I replaced it in the closet, on its usual hanger, where it is stored uncompressed when I'm not using it.
Check out the JRB website specifically the care and cleaning section.
http://www.jacksrbetter.com/Care%20&%20Cleaning.htm
If you follow the JRB directions you should regain most if not mostly all of you loft.
Sometimes I like to hike and think, And sometimes I just like to hike.
Hiking is'ent about waiting for the storm to pass its about learning to hike in the rain.
I usually store my down sleeping bags in those big oversized cotton or mesh storage bags. Never thought of hanging them in a closet. That sounds like a great idea. Finding closet space may be a challenge though?????Originally Posted by lori
KJ
if you don't want to wash it...
the international down and feather lab suggests putting in dryer (med or low heat) with tennis balls and a wet and wrung-out washcloth
I recently put two ancient down mummy bags in the dryer on low heat with a couple of static sheets. Fluffed them up nicely and made them smell like new instead of the 35 year old well used stinky ones (read; almost write offs) they were. They will now see some use again.
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