Cleaning Down and Synthetic Sleeping Bags

May 16, 2015 by

Summer is around the corner, which means it is camping season in Colorado! As many of our neighbors in Highlands Ranch and across Colorado know, there is nothing quite as magical as curling up in a sleeping bag and gazing up at the stars.

Unless that sleeping bag is black with dirt and grime, smells like a gym locker room, and is sticky with oil and sweat.

Cleaning and caring for your sleeping bag is critical to maintaining its freshness and performance. Whether you use a down sleeping bag or a synthetic sleeping bag, regular washes can even prolong the life of your sleeping bag. Here are a few things you can do for the best care of your sleeping bag:

While using your sleeping bag:

  • Sleep in clean clothes to avoid dragging dirt and sweat into the bag. Oils and grime will transfer to the inside of your bag if you sleep in the same clothing you wore during the day. Not only solids like dirt and body oils, but even smells from campfires, cooked meals, and long hikes can permeate. To avoid fast accumulation of dirt, change into clean sleep wear before climbing in.
  • Use a sleeping bag liner to keep the inside clean. These typically lightweight liners go inside the sleeping bag for an extra layer of protection and insulation. They help keep it clean, and can easily be washed separately after every use.
  • Get a longer life from your sleeping bag by bringing it to Green Care CleanersAir out every day to keep it fresh. Turn the bag inside out to dry moisture and expose to fresh air. But don’t leave it in the sun for long – UV rays can harm certain fabric and materials used in sleeping bags.

Cleaning your sleeping bag:

  • Spot clean the shell to pick up small stains early. Use water and a gentle detergent, if needed, to gently dab away the stain. If possible, pull the shell and liner away from the insulation (whether it is down or synthetic) to avoid getting water into the material and harming the interior.
  • If you choose to wash at home, use gentle soap designed for down- and/or synthetic-filled material. This can have a higher price tag, but it is better than ruining the bag. Handwash in a bathtub using cool water. Let sit for 10-15 minutes then press to remove the excess water. Rinse several times to ensure soap is removed. For best results, leave it to the professionals.
  • DO NOT DRY CLEAN. The harmful chemicals, like PERC, and solvents used in traditional dry cleaning can strip oils from the down that are natural and necessary to help it retain loft. Instead, bring your sleeping bags to green care cleaners! Our organic wet cleaning method uses none of the harmful solvents that threaten the material and insulation in your bag. With precisely controlled agitation, temperatures, and cleaning techniques, we can clean you sleeping bags so they last longer, feel fresher, and look just like new!

Storing your sleeping bag:

  • Dry completely before storing. Air dry, whenever possible, for the best results. (Remember, the sun can harm the materials if left out too long, so use caution. If you must put in the dryer, use low- or no-heat settings and watch carefully. Always check the material of your sleeping bag first for special care requirements.
  • Store your sleeping bag clean and spacious to avoid damaging the down or synthetic materialAvoid compressing in a stuff sack for extended storage. While these are handy for short trips, backpacking, and setting up campsites, compression sacks can create deep wrinkle in your sleeping bag over time. More importantly, they can reduce loft of the down or synthetic insulation inside the bag, meaning it won’t be as fluffy of insulate as well on your next trip.
  • Never store dirty. Like your clothing, sleeping bags collect body oils, sweat, dirt and dust with regular use. These materials can settle deeper into the fabric and material and cause tough stains, smells, and wear faster if stored without cleaning. To counter these invisible stain threats, have your sleeping bag thoroughly cleaned by the professionals at Green Care Cleaners before storing.

We hope you and your family are able to get outdoors and enjoy the beautiful Colorado spring and summer seasons! On your next camping trip, follow these tips for the freshest, cleanest, and most comfortable sleeping bags and most enjoyable camping experience.

For tips on caring for your sleeping bag or to schedule a pick up or drop off for our cleaners, call us at 303-798-0515.

Filed Under: cleaning ski gear, Clothing Care, free pick up and delivery cleaners Tagged With: , , ,

Your New Year Resolutions: Make Your Denver Clothing Last

January 3, 2012 by

We’ve all got our own resolutions for 2012. The top New Year’s resolutions include weight loss, exercise, quitting smoking and better money management. Well, we have one addition that should be on everyone’s list, and that’s Denver clothing care. Well, clothing care and money management are tied together because the better you are at taking care your apparel the more money you will save! Recently, there has been an increase of travel and consumer spending in the US, which is indicative of an economy beginning to thrive, but who wouldn’t mind more money in their savings account? And let’s not forget about the household items like table clothes, linen, and curtains too. All of which can be professionally and thoroughly cleaned to look like new again!

Give Your Garments a Face-lift:

The most important thing you can do for your apparel and household items is to make sure they are properly cleaned. Proper care will allow you to keep clothing items longer while still looking like new. It doesn’t stop there. Your table linens can take a beating too. The fancy cloth you spread out for dinner guests can become worn and tired looking over time, especially after the holidays. Instead of spending the money on a new set of dining linens, simply bring them to a professional Denver dry cleaning facility that provides the care and attention that you and your garments deserve. It’s easy to douse a piece of clothing with chemicals to try and get it clean. We don’t think that’s good enough for you or your clothes. Green Care Cleaners is committed to providing the best in cleaning services because we know it shows in the look and feel of your best suits and dresses. It all adds up to better service for no extra money!

Hostess With The Mostess:

Green Care Cleaners in Littleton even has an advanced stain prevention system called SoyBean Nano Technology that will hinder stains from forming in the first place. Accidents happen and are out of your control. However, you can control whether or not those pesky spills stick. Think of what happens to water when you wash a peach or a soybean pod…it beads up and rolls right off. We create the same effect on a microscopic scale on your clothes. If your guest dribbles wine at dinner, there’s no need to jump up and immediately yank off the table cloth for a soaking, thus making your guest feel like a burden. Green Care Cleaners is happy to pick-up and deliver your garments free of charge, simply give us a ring at 303-798-0515.

Keep Ride & Ski Gear Looking Like New:

Summer presents certain stains like grass, but Winter-time has its own particular stains as well. When the snow falls, many Denverites travel to the mountains for some powder. However, early season conditions mean dirt, rocks, and muddy patches are easily exposed. We all know that ski and snowboard apparel cost an arm and a leg, so if your ski jackets and pants have taken a beating over the seasons, do yourself a favor and have them laundered at your reliable Littleton dry cleaning service. You will be amazed at your “new” get-up and won’t feel the need to cough up the dough for new gear.

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Filed Under: cleaning ski gear, free pick up and delivery cleaners, organic cleaners, prevent color fade, stain removal, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,