Taking good care of your camping gear will ensure it lasts for many future hiking trips and other outdoor adventures. As such, you have to regularly wash your items to remove dirt, sweat, and other residues that could cause the materials to deteriorate if they’re left to sit over time. However, as camping laundry often requires more knowledge than your standard dirty clothes and linens, use this guide to carefully wash and dry your gear.

Do:

Add a tennis ball to the dryer.

If you use a down sleeping bag, remember to throw in a couple of clean tennis balls when transferring it to the dryer. This will break up any clumps that might have developed in the washing machine and speed up the drying process. 

Use a professional, front-loading washing machine.

Your sleeping bag and other camping gear are generally larger and clunkier than the average items you regularly use at home. Instead of stuffing them into a typical-sized washing machine, bring them to a laundromat that uses larger front loaders. These machines can wash bigger loads and provide a gentler spin cycle, which will protect technical fabrics and down material.

Don't:

Use fragrant detergents.

When selecting a detergent for your camping laundry, look for one that states it is "free and clear." This means it won't contain any fragrances or dyes. When out in nature, you don't want your scent to scare off animals you are trying to observe or attract those you are not. 

Use fabric softeners. 

The purpose of a fabric softener is to reduce static cling and make clothing feel softer. This process is achieved by adding a thin layer of waxy-feeling chemicals to the item. When added to camping laundry, this creates a problem because most of these materials are made to repel moisture and resist wind. Fabric softeners clog the tiny spaces found between microfibers, decreasing its breathable properties and causing the material to stick to you when you get sweaty out on the trail. 

When you need commercial laundry equipment to effectively wash and dry your camping gear, head to The Wash House Laundromat in Littleton, CO. They are a full-service laundromat with high-quality machines that are fully cleaned after every use. Enjoy their flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi, and music while cleaning your dirty clothes or take advantage of their wash and fold drop-off service. For more information about their laundry services, call them today at (720) 531-2178 and visit their website.