Eventually all sleeping bags will get dirty after prolonged use. You can do this yourself, but with down bags this can be a long and involved process and difficult to dry in the autumn and winter time. My Alpkit Pipedream 400 down bag and my son’s Alpkit 600 bag both needed cleaning.
I had heard that the specialist cleaning company that Alpkit recommended is no longer in business or not cleaning bags any longer (does anyone know if that is true?). So I searched on a number of sleeping bags websites to find another specialist. This is not a job for a normal dry cleaners (in fact sleeping bags should not be dry cleaned). I came across Elite Cleaners of Rotherham. Details can be found here. Elite according to their website clean down products for the British Antarctic team ( which I guess means the British Antarctic Survey) and are recommended by down manufacturers, so I thought I would give a go.
I am often travelling up and down the M18/M1 area, so it was easy to detour off at the Rotherham junction to drop the two bags off. They were ready in a week and I collected them, each sleeping bag costing £28 each to clean. If you don’t live nearby then they will charge more for postage, details are on the above link.
They seemed to have carried out a good job and I am glad to say that both bags smell rather sweeter now !
Mark's walking blog 
That’s really useful to know, Mark. I need to get a couple of my sleeping bags cleaned soon.
Glad I could be of some help.
Thanks for that. Have you noticed any difference in loft? I loaned my beautiful Rab winter bag to WeeWillyWilky for the TGO Challenge and it came back totally trashed. (He left it damp in its stuff sack for four months…)
Alan, seemed to have fluffed up more than I remember, so I guess it has. Actually it wasn’t too bad before hand, just had bits of old Expedition Porridge and the like that needed cleaning from it – Too many wild camp breakfasts without getting out of the sleeping bag 🙂
Are you sending him the bill for cleaning it?
Hi Alan
In the 1980s I loaned my Saunders Basecamp tent to my idiot boss and he burnt a hole in it with a cigarette. To be fair he gave me the price of a new one but that tent was associated with special memories and I was furious at its loss. Even now, I can feel my BP rising!
Porride in your sleeping bag? Maybe you need to add a bib into your kit, Mark! 😉
Yes I think so, do you know where I can get a UL down one? 🙂 Those long handled spoons are tricky to use when you are delving into those food pouches!!
Thanks for that. No. I have learned my lesson. I shall not be lending out my precious things any more!
🙂
Sensible decision !
Thanks Mark. That’s a useful bit of information.
No problem, that is the benefit of Outdoor bloggers sharing info 🙂
Another fine place to send your down gear to is http://www.mountaineering-designs.co.uk/
Not cheap but quality. Just thought i would pass it on.
Thanks for the info Alan. I see they will also upgrade sleeping bags as well.
Sent from my Iphone