How to Wash a Camping Hammock Without Damaging It

Quick answer

Hand wash your camping hammock in a bathtub or large basin with cool water and a small amount of mild, fragrance-free soap. Gently agitate, rinse until the water runs clear, then air-dry it fully out of direct sunlight before storing it loose in a breathable bag. Never use a washing machine, bleach, or hot water, and never pack a hammock away damp.

Prep the hammock and check the hardware

Before the hammock touches water, remove any carabiners, straps, or spreader bars. Check the fabric for tears, loose stitching, or worn spots. If you find a small tear, stop there and repair it first; washing can make an existing tear worse. Shake the hammock outside to knock off pine needles, sand, and dry dirt. If the hammock has a built-in mosquito net, like the Skeeter Beeter Pro Mosquito Net Hammock, unzip it and let the net hang free so water can flow through both layers.

Choose the right soap and water temperature

Use cool water and a mild liquid soap. A few drops of unscented dish soap or a dedicated technical-fabric wash works well. Avoid woolite, fabric softener, bleach, and any soap with dyes or perfumes. Those additives can leave a residue that attracts dirt, weaken water-repellent finishes, and irritate your skin on the next trip. If you are only dealing with dust and sweat, plain cool water is often enough. For greasy sunscreen marks, add one teaspoon of mild soap to a full bathtub of water.

Hand wash gently, then rinse thoroughly

Fill a clean bathtub or large plastic bin with cool water. Submerge the hammock and gently knead the fabric with your hands for two to three minutes. Do not scrub with a brush, wring the fabric, or twist it. Those actions stretch the weave and can break the triple-lock stitched seams that hold the hammock together. Drain the soapy water and refill with clean cool water. Repeat the rinse until the water stays clear and no suds remain. Soap residue left in the fabric can feel sticky and trap new dirt.

Remove mildew without harming the fabric

Mildew shows up as dark spots and a musty smell. For light mildew, add one cup of white vinegar to a bathtub of cool water and soak the hammock for 30 minutes. Then wash with mild soap as usual. For heavier mildew, make a paste of baking soda and water, apply it to the spots with a soft cloth, and let it sit for 15 minutes before rinsing. Never use chlorine bleach; it weakens nylon and polyester fibers and can leave permanent stains. If the mildew has been there for months, the fabric may be permanently discolored, but it can still be safe to use after cleaning.

Dry the hammock correctly

After rinsing, gently squeeze water out of the hammock by pressing it between two clean towels. Do not wring or twist. Hang the hammock in a shaded, well-ventilated spot, such as a covered porch or a garage with a fan. Direct sunlight can fade colors and degrade synthetic fabrics over time. If you hang it outdoors, bring it in before evening dampness. The hammock must be completely dry before storage. Feel the seams and the folded edges; those areas hold water the longest. If you can detect any coolness or dampness, let it air out longer.

Wash hammock straps separately

Straps pick up tree sap, dirt, and grit. Wash them by hand in a sink with cool water and a few drops of mild soap. Use a soft brush on stubborn sap, but avoid scrubbing the stitching. Rinse well and hang to dry completely. Do not put straps in a washing machine, even on a gentle cycle, because the metal buckles can dent the drum or tear the webbing. If your straps have a lot of sap, a small amount of rubbing alcohol on a cloth can break it down before washing. Always check the straps for fraying or worn stitching after they dry; replace them if the webbing is damaged.

Store the hammock so it stays fresh

Once everything is bone dry, store the hammock loosely in a breathable cotton or mesh stuff sack. Do not compress it tightly for long periods; tight folds can create permanent creases and stress the fabric. Keep the hammock in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, mice, and damp basements. If you have a down-insulated hammock like the Evolution 20 Down Sleeping Bag Hammock, store it loosely in a large cotton sack rather than compressing it, so the down keeps its loft. For any hammock, avoid storing it in a hot car trunk or a damp garage. Check your stored hammock once a season for musty smells or new stains, and re-wash if needed.

Step-by-step hammock washing

1. Remove hardware and shake off debris: Take off carabiners, straps, and spreader bars. Shake the hammock outside to remove loose dirt, sand, and needles. Checkpoint: if you find a tear, repair it before washing.
2. Fill a tub with cool water and mild soap: Use a bathtub or large bin. Add a few drops of unscented, mild liquid soap. Never use bleach, fabric softener, or hot water. Common mistake: using too much soap leaves residue that attracts dirt.
3. Submerge and gently knead for two to three minutes: Press the fabric with your hands to work the soapy water through. Do not scrub, wring, or twist. Checkpoint: focus on soiled areas like the head and foot ends.
4. Drain and rinse until water runs clear: Refill with clean cool water and repeat until no suds remain. Soap residue can feel sticky and cause skin irritation. Common mistake: stopping too soon; rinse at least twice.
5. Treat mildew with vinegar or baking soda: For light mildew, soak in one cup of white vinegar per tub of cool water for 30 minutes. For heavier spots, apply a baking soda paste for 15 minutes, then rinse. Never use chlorine bleach, which damages nylon and polyester.
6. Press out water and air-dry in shade: Lay the hammock between two clean towels and press gently. Hang in a shaded, ventilated area. Do not wring or hang in direct sun. Checkpoint: seams and folded edges must be completely dry before storage.
7. Wash straps separately by hand: Use cool water and mild soap. Scrub sap with a soft brush, then rinse and hang to dry. Do not machine wash straps with metal buckles. Check for fraying or worn stitching after drying; replace damaged straps.

Products that benefit from careful washing

• Evolution 20 Down Sleeping Bag Hammock: The Evolution 20 Down Sleeping Bag Hammock integrates a down sleeping bag with a hammock, eliminating the need for a separate under/over quilt. Because the down insulation is built in, you should never machine wash or wring this hammock. Hand wash with cool water and mild soap, then dry it thoroughly to protect the down's loft.
• Skeeter Beeter Pro Mosquito Net Hammock: The Skeeter Beeter Pro Mosquito Net Hammock has triple-lock stitched seams and a double-sided zipper for easy entry and exit. The zipper and seams are the most delicate parts. Hand washing and gentle rinsing keep the zipper gliding smoothly and prevent the stitching from pulling loose.
• Air Bivy All Weather Shelter & Hammock: The Air Bivy All Weather Shelter & Hammock includes the updated Skeeter Beeter XT and Hexfly Rain Shelter, and it works as a tent replacement when you have two trees. The rain shelter is often the dirtiest part after a trip. Wash it separately by hand and dry it completely before packing it away with the hammock, so mildew does not transfer.