How and when to wash the Chameleon

[rushashanti]

Well, I think the time has finally come to consider washing my Chameleon after two nights trout fishing in the Spring River in NE Ark.

Question 1. When do you generally decide to wash the fabric? I'm not so worried about the smell, not saying there is one, but more worried about dirt and oils breaking down fabric threads.

Question 2. How would you wash the Chameleon? Don't want to mess up fabric, zipper, water repellent coating, etc. My washing machine has a waterproof cycle that I have never used, so not sure I want to try on the Chameleon. With previous hammocks I have always removed the CLs I assume when the time comes I will do the same.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!


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[Shug]

I would say some gentle detergent and a hand wash in the tub.
But I never wash mine as I like to sleep in my own gravy!
Shug

[supermarkethero]

I wash it almost after every overnight hang by double bagging it in those mesh laundry wash bags and using woolite on a gentle cycle. Once done I air dry it indoors under a fan overnight. Although the main body dries quickly you would have to give the gathered ends more time. When I wake up the next morning, it is usually all dried and ready for the next adventure.

[Dutch]

I only wash a hammock if it smells bad. You can wash it safely but washing it is harder on it than having dirt and oils in it.

[Firesong]

Quick and easy ways: through in a small mesh bag like the wife puts her delicates in. Gentle cycle, gentle detergent. Take the cover and hardware off if possible. Hang it up to dry it. Or hang it in the yard. Take a hose to it to wet down the dirty spots, swishing the water around maybe with a drop of detergent. Re-hose to rinse. Hang dry. Don't bother soaking everything. Just where it's dirty.

[hutzelbein]

I have always washed my hammocks in the machine (front-loader) with the standard warm cycle. I use liquid washing soap because it doesn't leave stains. Detergents made for woolen stuff work fine, but the normal detergents never did any damage. They just smell stronger. Looking at how long my normal cotton and even woolen clothes survive weekly washings, I don't worry about my hammocks being worn out by laundering. The ripstop seems to wear a lot harder than cotton. I have been wearing a down vest about 300 days (and often nights, too) a year for the last ~4 years. The shell is made from some lightweight ripstop (possibly 1.1oz), and while it starts looking ratty, I think I'll get at least another year out of it. My hammocks see much less wear and tear, and are made from stronger fabrics. Even if I would wash them once a week, I would expect them to last me a couple of years. Velcro tape, zippers and thorns have proven to be a much greater danger to my gear than laundry. I have started putting my netted hammocks in a laundry bag to prevent the net from catching and tearing, though.

Oh - and I usually wash my hammocks when they start smelling or when they have stains.

[Basecamp]

I would say some gentle detergent and a hand wash in the tub.
But I never wash mine as I like to sleep in my own gravy!
Shug

Mmmmm, gravy.

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[MadUncleAndy]

The only time I washed a hammock was when I spilled food on it. Having my sleep gear smell of food is not something I relished...washed it twice, once with woolite, and again with just water (both by hand), and let it air dry in the back yard, hanging between an old oak tree and a bolt I have in my deck.

Other than that, hanging it in the outdoor air, maybe near a nice campfire has been all mine ever needed.

[sjlawrence]

I wash my diy PolyD when it gets dirty (i.e. bird poop, muddy puppy feet) in the washer on the quick cycle with a bit of liquid detergent. Then hang to dry. No issues for me yet.