How do you get dirt/sand out of hammock when your in it?

**outdoorsguy** · 08-07-2014, 15:39

So last night I'm laying in my BB in the evening, relaxing, when I reach under my back to adjust my shirt and feel about a pinch of sand scattered between me and the hammock. It wasn't a lot but I'm worried that these small pieces of sand and dirt, being sharp edged, will abrase the nylon as I scoot around inside getting comfortable and grind into the nylon and shorten my hammocks life. I'm careful to keep clean before I get in, but it still happens.

Does anyone else ever notice this, and if so, what you do about it? Do you use something like baby wipes to get it out? I don't want to get everything out of the hammock and shake it out if I don't have to. Or am I being concerned about nothing, that it won't hurt the hammock, and should ignore some dirt/sand getting in with me. What do you think?

**2ply** · 08-07-2014, 15:58

I give mine a good shake and dump before getting in each night. Gets rid of any accumulated junk from the day.

**Bushwhacker** · 08-07-2014, 15:58

I shake it out, and am extremely diligent about only getting in my hammock with PJs on and a clean pair of socks. This might change as soon as I start really cutting down my pack weight.

**rhjanes** · 08-07-2014, 20:50

I shake out when I set up. Then toss in the TQ. I also shake out again in the morning after packed everything up. I always have some dirt or leaves or something in it.

**Justice** · 08-07-2014, 21:54

I hiked half of the AT in my BB and then set it up in the yard till it got to cold to just hang out in. I worried about that abrasion as well but it still shows no sign of wear in that regard. Just shake it out before ya get in at night and again in the morning but if its that stuff ya just cant seem to get rid of then while it is hanging use a stick or two like a tent pole to spread the hammock then stick your arms in between the layers and open it and shake it while its on its side. Go ahead then and turn it upside down while its spread and shake that out to. There were lots of 20 to 30 mile days that I just did not care how much dirt was in it and I abused my BB pretty good. It still looks pretty new.

**NewtonGT** · 08-07-2014, 22:05

Like someone said above, I am just extremely clean in my hammock and only get in with clean clothes and never with shoes

**IRONFISH45** · 08-07-2014, 22:16

If I get send in my hammock, I shake the heck out of it, turn it wrong side out and shake. A large commercial washer will get the sand washed out, that is the only way I have found to get fine sand gone.

Most of our hammocks are designed to take some hardy use. I get in and out of mine in the dark, I slip into my camp shoes, then when I am ready it the shoes are left outside, sometimes I track in sand, bits of forest debris, leaves (so far no slugs). I shake out everything before I make camp and when breaking camp. I do not want to take home any spidies or other critters.

Sand is very difficult to get out of something once it gets into it. I have had trouble with sand in my hair even after a good shampoo and rinse. My hammock goes into a very large washer and gets a lot of water run through it, that flushes most of the sand out.