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machine washing a hammock

I don’t know about you, but I have no patience for hand washing. I used to live on a farm where I had to wash all my clothes in buckets of cold water. Trust me; it has cured me for life. 

The good news is that almost all camping hammocks are machine washable. It’s a good idea to check the label of your hammock to be sure, but if it’s made from nylon or cotton, you’re probably good to go. 

If your hammock is looking a bit worse for the wear, this article will tell you how to wash it without shrinking it. (Or you can carry on as you were, and just call it a “kids hammock” when you’re done!)

Best Way to Machine Wash a Camping Hammock 

To machine wash a nylon camping hammock, I recommend putting it on a cold wash cycle and turning the spin speed down to a lower setting

Make sure you unclip the metal carabiners first, as they might tear your hammock or damage your washing machine. 

If you wash your hammock on a cycle that is too hot, it is likely to shrink. Also, a powerful spin cycle will make it wear out more quickly. 

I would NOT wash my hammock at more than 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit). 

If your hammock is brightly colored, avoid mixing it with anything too important to you, as the colors might run. 

Washing a Traditional Hammock

You might have one of those heavy-weight hammocks for use at home, with wooden spreader bars. 

I wouldn’t put these in the washing machine because you’re going to damage the wood. 

Spreader-bar hammocks should be washed in a bucket of soapy water, then rinsed with plain water.

You’d be better off mixing some laundry detergent with water, instead of just soap, as soap tends to leave behind a grimy layer over time. 

Washing Your Hammock By Hand 

To wash something by hand, give it a good soak for a few hours first. This will make the grime easier to shift. Then you can rub the hammock together to create friction.

This way, you know that you aren’t using something too abrasive because you’re rubbing it only against itself. Once you’re done, give your hammock a good rinse with a hose until all the suds have disappeared. 

Then wring it out by hand so that it will dry more quickly. (I’m getting flashbacks to the farm. Let’s move on!) 

drying clothes outside

How to Dry and Store Your Hammock After Washing It 

Tumble driers can be harsh on your hammock, so you’d be better off hanging your hammock up to dry after it has been through the wash. 

Your hammock will dry much more quickly outside on a sunny day, but you can throw it over the banister if the weather is bad, and it’ll dry out in a day or two. 

Make sure your hammock is completely dry before storing it, or you might find that it’s covered in mold when you use it again!

Storing Your Hammock

You might know that you shouldn’t store sleeping bags in their compression sacks. Don’t worry; it’s not the same for hammocks. 

Once your hammock is dry, you can roll it up and put it in your hammock bag. (Or just stuff it in there if you’re lazy like me.)

Ideally, you want to store the hammock in your house, where it can stay dry and protected from any little creatures that want to make a house in it. (Or just shred it for fun, like the mice in my garage seem to do to anything I care about.)

You can store your hammock in a garage but be sure to put it in a sealed plastic box if you do this. 

How to Wash Wooden Spreader Bars?

If the wooden part of your hammock needs a clean, I recommend wiping it down with a damp cloth. 

If things are looking terrible, you could sand the wood with light sandpaper, then wipe off the dirt and excess wood. Afterward, you can give it a quick oil to keep it in good condition for longer. 

How Do You Get Mold Out of a Hammock? 

There are two main reasons why you might have a moldy hammock:

  • You packed it away before it was fully dry.
  • You stored it somewhere that it got damp.
  • You left it outside in the rain for too long.

In the future, you’ll know not to do those things. But what can you do now that the problem is already here?

I would take a soft brush and try to get the worst of the mold off. You can use a large brush or an old toothbrush, depending on how bad the problem is. (By all means, use the toothbrush of an enemy.)

Don’t use a really hard brush. If you do, you could shred the material and remove the waterproof coating.

After this, soak the hammock in a bucket with some baking soda and water. (About a cup of baking soda in your bucket will do it.)

Leave it for several hours, and then put it through the washing machine and see what you can salvage. 

It might be too late to do anything, but at least you gave it a go! 

Safety note: If you’ve got a lot of mold, it’s safer to wear a mask so you don’t inhale anything that could make you sick. Brush away the mold outside, not in an enclosed space. 

Waterproofing Your Hammock

After your hammock has been washed and dried, you might want to spray it with waterproof protection

This will help you keep dry when you’re out camping, especially as the old waterproof coating has probably just disappeared out the back of your washing machine. 

There’s not much to this process, so don’t be intimidated. 

Just give the can a good shake and spray the contents all over your hammock from a distance of around 10 inches. After four hours have passed, you can give it a second coating. 

Note: The spray is made from silicone, so don’t use it if you have a silicone allergy!

Fixing Your Hammock

If you find any little holes in your hammock, you have two options:

  • Sew up the hole with a needle and thread (or ask a willing friend!)
  • Fix it with a patch system

It’s not worth chucking your hammock for something so minor, especially if you’re going to be camping with it a lot! (You’re going to get some rips eventually, no matter how careful you are.)

You do need to keep a close eye on your hammock ropes and make sure they’re in good condition. Otherwise, you might have a rather unpleasant wake-up call one night as you tumble to the ground. 

So, to clarify:

  • A few holes in your hammock? No biggie. 
  • Fraying ropes? Time to get a replacement.

FAQs 

Can you leave a hammock in the rain?

It’s best to not leave a hammock in the rain. The weather will wear it out more quickly, and you’re likely to see the colors leach away. Plus, you might have problems with mold and bird excrement!

Can I put my hammock in the dryer? 

It’s best to air dry your hammock. This will help it stay in top condition for longer, and you don’t have to worry about synthetic materials melting. If you’re desperate, you can pop it in the dryer at low heat. Just don’t make a habit of it!

Can you bleach a hammock? 

I do not recommend bleaching a hammock. You’re going to end up with some really ugly stains, and bleach can inflict some pretty awful damage on your local wildlife if you use it in the washing machine.

Use a mild detergent instead, or soak it the hammock in baking soda if you’re having problems with deep stains. 

Can I leave my hammock stand outside? 

It depends on the hammock stand. Some of them will do better in the great outdoors than others, but they’re all going to last longer if you take them into your shed or garage for the rainy seasons. I recommend storing your hammock stand inside whenever possible. 

Conclusion

If you want to machine wash your hammock, check the label first. Most cotton or nylon hammocks should be fine in the washing machine; just make sure you take off any metal clips.

If your hammock has wooden spreader bars, I’m afraid you’re going to have to roll up your sleeves and start filling a bucket with soapy water. 

Don’t forget to fully air dry your hammock before you store it safely inside. That way, you can avoid problems like mold or mouse invasions. It takes only one lazy decision to wreck your hammock forever!

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Rachel

Rachel Horne

Rachel is a freelance adventure writer and founder of Highly Sensitive Nomad. When she isn’t writing, she can be found wild camping in the mountains and swimming in the lakes of Europe.