Quilt washing

Shewie

Chief Slackpacker
Staff member
I've washed a down quilt today, the first time I've ever dared to wash any of my quilts or bags.

Wow what a difference it's made to the loft, my 20*F Sierra Sniveller was looking a bit tired, especially around the head end, accumulated moisture from breath and body oils no doubt. Now it's lofting like it did when it was new.

Used Morrisons Kind & Gentle liquid, no conditioner, 30* delicates wash on the machine, and a second rinse and spin to finish. It's had about an hour in the dryer at low heat, it feels dry to the touch but it's having a second cycle.

Minim 300 next :) Might as well get them done whilst she's away :)
 

Shewie

Chief Slackpacker
Staff member
I couldn't find any, plenty of shaking seems to have done the trick
 

Bopdude

Thru Hiker
Interesting, I was thinking of how to wash my Canadian Forces nesting bags, the inner of the 2 is looking a bit sad, I'll give this a go I think, thanks for the tip.
 

EM-Chiseller

Thru Hiker
My old Alpkit has just gone in the wash with Tesco liquid soap... The zip is buggered. Once it's washed and dried, I'd like to find some one who can cut the top off and remobe/trim the zip to make it a quilt... Or. Stick it on the bay for someone to have the zip fixed... Going to chuck my old Rab smock in after.

Swmbo washes her down coats and rather expensive RL gillet in the wash.... I always cringe... She just hangs it over the line.... It never seems to suffer from her rough handling... :banghead:
 

Teepee

Thru Hiker
Tesco's liquid soap is about the best I've used. Needs less volume than other brands and it seems to have a rinsing agent like Tech wash does.

With the hard water where I am, a dash of vinegar gets thrown in the machine to allow the soap to work better.
 

HillBelly

Section Hiker
Timely thread. I bought a bumper load of Nikwax stuff as GO had it on offer. I washed my Montane in Down wash then Down proof. I have a new washing machine that takes a big load and has all the spin options, so it made a good job of it and after an hour of gentle tumbling it was like new. None of the ragging around I thought I'd have to do to get the down back in shape.

So... I was sat here thinking about my Rab Summit Alpine bag. Not dirty as such but I had heard that a wash does wonders for the loft. And hey presto - here is a thread - and Shewie makes the same point... so I think It will get a wash before the trip this weekend.
 
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Munro277

Thru Hiker
So can we dumb this down
1 what cycle do I wash it on

2. Do I rinse it twice afterwards or just wash it once

3. Hi speed spin or slower ?

4 .tumble dry low with tennis balls in ?
 

HillBelly

Section Hiker
I did mine thus, and prob will do same for the bag...

Synthetic cycle, 30deg, slow spin.
Then spin a further couple of times, slow spin (600)
Then tumble dry low/gentle. I have some balls to go in but did not bother with the jacket as it had box baffles.
 

Munro277

Thru Hiker
I did mine thus, and prob will do same for the bag...

Synthetic cycle, 30deg, slow spin.
Then spin a further couple of times, slow spin (600)
Then tumble dry low/gentle. I have some balls to go in but did not bother with the jacket as it had box baffles.
just used dinner break to google it ,phd and a few others all seem to say wash it in a bath ? or larger washing machine
 

Shewie

Chief Slackpacker
Staff member
So can we dumb this down
1 what cycle do I wash it on

2. Do I rinse it twice afterwards or just wash it once

3. Hi speed spin or slower ?

4 .tumble dry low with tennis balls in ?

I did ...

1. Delicates cycle
2. I did one extra rinse and spin
3. 800 spin
4. Low tumble, no balls
 

Meadows

Section Hiker
Rinse well a couple of times if using a standard size machine, if it's not to late. Slow spin so it doesn't damage the baffles.
Balls aren't compulsory but do help a bit.

It should be fine just rinse well.
 
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