{"id":39152,"date":"2022-11-18T12:40:49","date_gmt":"2022-11-18T11:40:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test-01.bergfreunde.de\/blog\/sleeping-mats-proper-care-storage-repairs\/"},"modified":"2022-12-29T11:30:29","modified_gmt":"2022-12-29T10:30:29","slug":"sleeping-mats-proper-care-storage-repairs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alpinetrek.co.uk\/blog\/sleeping-mats-proper-care-storage-repairs\/","title":{"rendered":"Sleeping mats: Proper care, storage and repairs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every true adventurer has a sleeping mat<\/a> – be it a self-inflating or foam one. I mean, how could they not? After all, they\u2019re so comfy and practical! I know I couldn\u2019t get on without one on my various camping trips or at weekend festivals. Despite how much use we get out of these things, a few questions remain: For one, how should we store our precious sleeping mats? In a dark, dank cellar? Oh, and another thing: How should sleeping mats be cleaned? And finally, what should we do with our battle-tested veteran mats that are slowly but surely starting to show signs of wear and tear? Well, you\u2019re about to find out! In the following, we\u2019re going to share some tips and other useful information so that you and your trusty sleeping mat can enjoy many adventures to come.<\/p>\n

A brief intro to sleeping mats<\/h2>\n

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Let\u2019s begin by differentiating between the different kinds of sleeping mats. Basically, there are two types of mats: the \u201cnormal\u201d sleeping mat<\/a> and the self-inflating <\/a>kind.<\/strong> The first is usually made of an insulating and cushioning foam material and can be rolled up or folded. The latter – the self-inflating mat – consists of a compressible, insulating filling covered with an airtight shell and equipped with one or more valves. When you fold it up to store it, the filling is compacted. When you open the valve, the filling returns to its original state and the sleeping mat literally self-inflates because of the vacuum<\/strong> created by it having been compressed. This – also quite literally – gives rise to quite a comfortable sleeping mat with very powerful insulation<\/strong>. Why did we address this difference, you ask? Well, even though both types of mats serve a common purpose (to prevent us from freezing our bums off on the hard tent<\/a> floor), they are quite different from each other when it comes to care, storage and repair.<\/p>\n

How to store a sleeping mat properly<\/h2>\n

No matter what type of mat you have, where you choose to store it<\/strong> is of utmost importance<\/strong>. The storage area should be dry and warmed up to normal room temperature<\/strong>, so storing it in your dank, dark cellar is not an option. Speaking of dankness and moisture in general, it is incredibly important to make sure your sleeping mat is dry<\/strong> before putting it in storage<\/strong>. Regrettably, I\u2019m speaking from experience. If you leave your mat all rolled up when you get home and store it along with all the moisture it has accumulated over the course of the trip, after a few days you\u2019ll come to find that your mat<\/strong> has turned into a stinky mouldy mess<\/strong> – and nobody wants that.<\/p>\n

Other than that, there aren\u2019t any other similarities between the two when it comes to storage. In contrast to normal foam sleeping mats<\/strong>, which aren\u2019t all that fussy when it comes to storage, self-inflating mats are pretty high maintenance. If you have a warm, dry place<\/strong> to store it in, a foam mat can be stored rolled up. A self-inflating sleeping mat<\/strong>, however, can\u2019t be stored in this way because doing so would crush the foam over time, rendering it unable to return to its original state. In other words, it won\u2019t blow itself up anymore. For this reason, be sure to roll out the mat and open up the valve<\/strong> before storing it. It logically follows that you shouldn\u2019t store any heavy boxes or containers on top of the mat, either.<\/p>\n

Why open the valve? This will allow any moisture to escape from the inside<\/strong>. Plus, the fabric won\u2019t be unnecessarily worn out by continuous pressure from the inside. So, roll out that mat and store it behind a door or in your wardrobe. It doesn\u2019t matter whether it\u2019s upright or lying flat. And here\u2019s some more good advice: don\u2019t try to blow up the mat with your mouth<\/strong>! If you do, moisture and microorganisms can make their way into the interior of the mat, damaging the filling and potentially resulting in a build-up of odours and mould. Yuck! Then, when exposed to sub-zero temperatures, the moisture on the inside can even freeze and damage the foam core. Again, nobody wants that.<\/p>\n

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How to clean your sleeping mat<\/h2>\n

Cleaning<\/strong> your sleeping mat is an absolute must. I know it\u2019s easier said than done, but look at it this way: The end of one trip means another is about to begin! In other words, start prepping for your upcoming adventure by cleaning your sleeping mat! Here are some tips on how to go about cleaning: most spots and stains can be cleaned using a cloth or sponge<\/strong> or a soft brush<\/strong> and warm water<\/strong>. However, there are some things you need to keep in mind: the sponge can\u2019t have a coarse surface<\/strong>, nor should the brush have any damaged bristles, as these could damage the mat\u2019s outer material. For more stubborn stains<\/strong>, you can use detergent (make sure it doesn\u2019t contain any bleach, fabric softener or other additives)<\/strong>, or mild washing-up liquid.<\/p>\n

Thoroughly rinse<\/strong> the mat afterwards<\/strong> and refrain from using aggressive agents such as vinegar or chlorinated cleaners<\/strong>. Not only do they smell horrendous, but they\u2019ll also damage the foam and the outer material<\/strong>. Let the mat dry at room temperature or outside in the shade <\/strong>. Don\u2019t lay the mat out in the sun<\/strong> or try to speed up the drying process with a hairdryer or clothes dryer! Doing so could also damage the mat. After a couple of hours, your mat should be dry and ready to go! If you know you won’t be using your mat for a while, you should give it more time to dry.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re cleaning a self-inflating mat and using water, be sure to close the valve<\/strong>. Before cleaning, make sure the outer fabric doesn\u2019t have any holes<\/strong> in it so that any water you use doesn\u2019t penetrate the interior. If you stumble upon a hole or two, here\u2019s how to repair them.<\/p>\n

How to repair minor damage all by yourself!<\/h2>\n

Before a tour, it is essential to check the equipment. Unpack the sleeping mat, inflate it (or not, if it is self-inflating) and wait a bit. If the mat loses air over time, then something is wrong. If other factors such as a loss of volume due to temperature change can be ruled out, a hole is the culprit. The leak must be found. And this is where detective work is called for.<\/p>\n

Finding the hole<\/h3>\n

The insulating properties of standard foam sleeping mats usually remain unaffected by minor damages to the material. However, it\u2019s a completely different story when it comes to self-inflating sleeping mats. Even the smallest holes in the outer material are enough to allow insulating air to escape the interior of the mat. If the hole or tear can\u2019t be seen with the naked eye, it\u2019s high time you did some sleuthing. There are a variety of ways you can do this:<\/p>\n