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Should I use costly down sleeping bag soap or “Green” soap or regular laundry detergent ? I used to manage a high-end backpacking gear shop so I know the manufacturers’ recommendations. Plus I have owned and washed down bags for years. You can safely use either regular Woolite or Ivory Snow (the detergent, NOT the dishwashing liquid.) Use warm, not hot water and a long gentle cycle. Reset the machine after the rinse cycle to run a second rinse cycle. It also helps to run a second spin cycle after the last spin to extract as much water as possible. Lift the wet bag out VERY carefully, supporting it underneath in a big ball — never grab one end and drag it out because the heavy wet clumps of down can tear loose the baffles that separate the down compartments. I usually find it best, if you have space for it, to leave the bag laid out flat on a beach towel or clean sheet, for a day or two to dry it a little more before putting in the dryer, but this is optional. Place in a dryer (don’t use a commercial coin-op dryer because they get too hot.) Dry on the lowest heat setting possible with NO softener sheet — you WANT static electricity because that fluffs the down. Put a couple of those knobby plastic dryer balls or a couple of tennis balls, even an old clean sneaker, tied inside of thin socks or pantihose and tumble them with the bag to break up the down clumps (these items beat up the nylon fabric too much if you don’t wrap them in the socks.) Be prepared for this to take a while. Depending on how much down is in the bag, it will take from 2 to 5 hours to dry. Great DOWN Jackets: Save on The North Face Denali Jacket |