If there is one thing you should know about hammocks, it is that it isn’t all of them that are ideal for a washing machine. Some hammocks are better off washed with a brush and soap.
However, many hammocks can be washed with a washing machine if you follow the right steps or methods. These steps, if not followed, can result in ruining your hammock. Let’s discuss these steps and more in the article below.
How To Wash A Hammock In The Washing Machine
While washing your hammock in the washing machine can be a pretty quick and easy method to clean your hammock, there are a couple of steps to take to achieve the perfect result. Below are the steps you should take.
- Remove the Carabiners and Slings
- Add the Necessary Liquid or Detergent inside the Basin
- Adjust the Necessary Settings on the Washing Machine
- Hang and Air Dry your Hammock
- Fix your Carabiner and Slingback on your Hammock
Step 1: Remove the Carabiners and Slings
This is the first thing you must do if you are looking to wash your hammock with a washing machine. You have to remove the carabiners and slings as they might destroy the hammock, or worse, the washing machine, when you turn the device on.
Removing the carabiner is pretty straightforward. No steps are guiding it. Just press the carabiner down and unhook it from the hammock. Draw the sling out of the hammock loop and put the hammock inside the washing machine basin.
Step 2: Add the Necessary Liquid or Detergent inside the Basin
Once you remove the carabiners and slings, you can add liquid wash or soap to the basics. Before putting the hammock in the washing machine basin, remember not to use a machine with center agitators. You might end up ruining the hammock if you use such.
Add the necessary soap or detergent. However, you shouldn’t use bleach or special stain removal for your hammock. It will most likely end up ruining the looks or texture of your hammock.
Step 3: Adjust the Necessary Settings on the Washing Machine
The next thing to do is adjust the necessary settings on your washing machine when you want to turn it on. Adjust the settings to wash your hammock seamlessly without ruining your hammock.
The cold temperature setting is one of the best settings to wash your hammock with a washing machine. Adjust the temperature to cold and the settings to delicate. Then allow your hammock to wash for a couple of minutes and turn off the machine.
Step 4: Hang and Air Dry your Hammock
Once you are done washing your hammock with a machine, you should hang or air dries the hammock. Hanging your hammock out in the open will allow it to dry quickly without ruining the texture of your hammock.
You might be a little tempted to use a hot air dryer to make your hammock dry faster. You should know that you are destroying the hammock by doing this. The best way to dry your hammock after washing is by hanging it out to dry.
Step 5: Fix your Carabiner and Slingback on your Hammock
Fixing your carabiner and sling on the hammock is the next thing you must do the moment your hammock has dried successfully. While fixing your carabiner can be easy, fixing your sling is not.
You might need a stick or something you can use to pass the rope through the hammock loop. Once you do this, your hammock is clean, set, and ready for use.
How Often Should You Wash your Hammock?
When it comes to hammocks, people have different maintenance methods. There are some people who believe their hammocks should be washed once in a blue moon while some other people believe their hammocks should be washed at least once weekly.
How frequently you wash your hammock largely depends on how frequently you use it. If you use your hammock only for special occasions, there is not much need to wash it often. You can wash your hammock once or twice annually. On the other hand, if you use your hammock once weekly, you need to wash it every 3 months.
It’s an entirely different story if you use your hammock often or daily. If you use your hammock every day, you need to wash your hammock at least once every 3 weeks.
Can You Wash a Fabric Hammock In The Washing Machine?
While it is possible to hammock in the washing machine, there are still some hammocks that will be ruined if washed with a washing machine. The fabric hammock is not one of those hammocks that a cold wash can destroy in the washing machine
If you do not use bleach or stain removals for your fabric hammock, the chances of it being ruined by your washing machine are pretty low. Do the cold temperature settings and adjust the level to delicate when putting your fabric hammock in the washing machine.
Can I Wash My Hammock Straps?
Washing your hammock straps is just as important as washing your hammock. If you use your hammock regularly, it will make sense to wash your hammock straps as often as you wash your hammock.
One good thing about hammock straps is that they are pretty easy to wash. You can do a simple handwash on them. You can also wash your straps with a washing machine.
How Do You Get Mildew Out of a Fabric Hammock?
Algae and mildew are some of the things people meet on their hammocks when they keep them in a warm or damp place. If you see this on your hammock, you might be a little curious about how to remove the stain. Below is the guide you need.
- Step 1: Get Vinegar and Soapy Water
Vinegar is good for stain removal. It can help remove the most common stains on your hammock or fabric without ruining or compromising the quality of your hammock. Mix half a cup of vinegar with soapy water in a bucket.
- Step 2: Soak your Hammock in the Vinegar and Soap Solution
This is the next thing you should do if you are looking to wash mildew from your hammock. You can soak your hammock in the solution for a couple of minutes. This should allow the mildew and every other form of stain on the hammock to become weak and easily removable.
- Step 3: Handwash or Use a Soft Brush to Wash off the Mildew
Once you are done soaking the hammock for a while, you can simply handwash the hammock, or better still, use a soft brush to wash the mildew off your hammock. The mildew should come off in seconds when you use a brush.
- Step 4: Rinse the Hammock and Air Dry
This is the last thing to do if you are looking to wash mildew off your hammock. Ensure you properly rinse your hammock once you wash the stains off. Raising the hammock will help remove the smell of the vinegar and the soap on the hammock.
Once you are done rinsing the hammock, the next thing to do is hang the hammock out to dry. Do not hot dry your hammock. Hanging it out to dry is the best possible method to dry your hammock.
How Do You Bleach a Hammock?
While I definitely wouldn’t recommend bleaching your hammock, you should know some people prefer to use bleach or stain removal for their hammock. If you will like to bleach your hammock, simply follow the steps below.
- Get ½ bucket of water and pour 2 to 3 cups of bleach into it.
- Add soap or stain removal to the water
- Soak your hammock inside the water for around 5 to 10 mins
- Handwash or use a soft brush to wash the stains off your hammock
- Rinse the hammock thoroughly once you are done washing
- Air dry the hammock outdoors.
Can I Wash My ENO Hammock In The Washing Machine?
Eno hammock is one of the most common hammocks you can find. Many campers widely love it as it is pretty easy to set up. One thing you can use to wash your Eno hammock is the washing machine.
As long as the settings and the adjustments are rightly made, you can always wash your Eno hammock with a washing machine.
Can You Power Wash a Hammock?
It is pretty much okay to use a pressure washer to wash your fabric’s hammock. However, you will likely destroy your rope hammock if you use this method. There are different types of hammocks, and while most of them are ideal for power washing, you should know that it isn’t all of them that are perfect for such.
Conclusion
Washing your hammock in the washing machine is an easy thing to do, however, if it isn’t done correctly, you might end up doing more harm than good to your hammock. All the relevant information you need about washing your hammock has been discussed above.