I have an old EMS bag. Old meaning I bought it in 1973 for a backpacking trip to Europe. Yep, I am that old.
Anyway, I have always been reticent to wash it. I have had it cleaned a number of times but always felt it had a chemical smell to it afterward. I don't use it too often but it usually makes at least one or two of my trips each year either for me or someone I am with.
A recent thread on BWCA.com, I think, got my attention. I ordered the Granger Down Wash Kit with the green tennis balls.
I washed that 45 year old bag today and then dried it. I was astounded by the results. The down loft was far improved over what it was before washing it. It feels like a new bag.
Thanks to BWCA.com for a great tip.

Once you try it, it's neither bad or difficult. Use a down wash, I use NikWax products but the brand is not as important as reading and following directions, and the results are great. I've purchased a few used down bags from Ebay and friends get grossed out about that. Wash them and do the needed repairs if any and you have a like new bag, just a bunch less costly.

butthead

Does it make a difference if you use a washer or wash it in the bath tub? The plan for mine was to wash it in the tub then bring it to a coin laundry to use their drier. I have some tennis balls to fluff it too. Am I missing anything with this plan?

Have not done a hand/tub wash, I worried about handling a fully wet bag. Instead the large commercial front loaders at a laundromat. Now have a high capacity front loader at home and have been using that on the gentle setting. Drying takes some time and I also use my home dryer. Have encountered no trouble with the home machines. Tennis balls help but you still need to do some hand work as part of the drying process.
Lots of contradictory opinions on this but have good results with my bags and laundry.

butthead

I also took mine to the laundromat to use the front loader; didn't see any reason not to use the dryer there too. Take your detergent, use the extra rinse cycle. If you're going there anyway, why not do both there? I always had good results.

I hand washed mine in the tub, then put it in a plastic tub for transport. I found a laundromat that was next door to a good pub. Bar tender was amused I kept asking for quarters then running out the front door for 3 minutes. Enjoyable afternoon.

GraniteCliffs: "I have an old EMS bag. Old meaning I bought it in 1973 for a backpacking trip to Europe. Yep, I am that old.
Anyway, I have always been reticent to wash it. I have had it cleaned a number of times but always felt it had a chemical smell to it afterward. I don't use it too often but it usually makes at least one or two of my trips each year either for me or someone I am with.
A recent thread on BWCA.com, I think, got my attention. I ordered the Granger Down Wash Kit with the green tennis balls.
I washed that 45 year old bag today and then dried it. I was astounded by the results. The down loft was far improved over what it was before washing it. It feels like a new bag.
Thanks to BWCA.com for a great tip."

the last time I tried to wash my old down bag I ended up buying a new sleeping bag
I'm going to have to try the tennis balls and hand drying folks are talking about

pro-tip

do not use an 'old school' washing machine with agitator!

Hmm. I have my dad's old army sleeping bag - it's down-filled, I think cotton on the outside. (Instructions on the tag say "do not sweat" in bag....LOL...I'd think going to sleep in the middle of a war, sweating might be an involuntary thing?) Been stored in a bag/bin for years, used occasionally, not cleaned since...?....Vietnam. Wonder if doing this might be a good thing for this bag. I don't usually bring it on trips, but it sure is warm and comfortable.

We have a front loader washing machine and I can easily see that it is much preferred to an agitator top load.

The bag makers' instructions are not to use an agitator, so that's why I always took mine to the laundromat.

HowardSprague: "Hmm. I have my dad's old army sleeping bag - it's down-filled, I think cotton on the outside. (Instructions on the tag say "do not sweat" in bag....LOL...I'd think going to sleep in the middle of a war, sweating might be an involuntary thing?) Been stored in a bag/bin for years, used occasionally, not cleaned since...?....Vietnam. Wonder if doing this might be a good thing for this bag. I don't usually bring it on trips, but it sure is warm and comfortable.
"

Having spent way to many nights in a army sleeping bag I do have to agree with you on comfort. I even borrowed one from the Army back in the early 80's for a couple of years at a gathering in NC for deer hunting when we set up deer camp.
Sweating in them was a problem and the army made it worst with a "rubberized" outer cover that just created more sweat. There one good idea at the time was a inner felt inner that you remove and clean/wash. Just never get them wet because it was going to take you forever to get them dry.........