How to Clean a Hammock

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Preparation

Gather supplies for an at-home clean

When you’re doing a standard clean at home, a little bit of planning goes a long way! Before you get started washing your hammock, make sure you have the right supplies nearby.

Gather mild detergent or specific outdoor gear cleaner and a soft brush or sponge to clean your hammock. A stain remover or color-safe bleach is also good to have nearby in case you have tough stains.

Make sure you have a water source nearby, like a hose or a bucket full of water.

Hammock cleaning checklist:

• Detergent
• Soft brush (or sponge)
• Stain remover
• Hose
• Bucket
• Hammock stand or drying line

Choose a location

Regardless of whether you are doing a campsite clean, backwood stain removal, or home maintenance, location matters!

If you are using a chemical product to clean your hammock, find a spacious outdoor area with good ventilation.

Consider hanging the clean hammock between two sturdy trees or using a hammock stand for easier access. This will make drying easier, too! You can also hang a line and use that for drying your clean hammock, but make sure it’s strong enough to support the weight of a wet hammock.

If you’re doing some backpacking or dispersed camping and can’t find adequate trees to string your hammock from for cleaning and drying, it’s time to get creative! Spread the hammock in the cleanest spot you can find–grass is better than sand, sand is better than mud, for example.

If you happen to have a tarp, place the hammock on top of it before cleaning. When it comes time to dry, find whatever you can to keep the hammock off the ground to encourage air circulation (and cleaner, faster drying).

Are any large rocks nearby? Could you use a combination of, say, your pack (with the rainfly on!), a collapsible chair, and a trekking pole?

If you’re someplace more “civilized,” is there a picnic bench or lean-to (or similar shelter) where you could spread the hammock? (Again, a tarp comes in handy here!) Are you in an RV? Maybe you can spread the hammock (to dry, at least) across the roof of the rig or the passenger vehicle you’re towing.

You could even drape part of the clean hammock on the roof of your rig and tie the other side off on a nearby tree, creating some porch-like shade (though, be prepared for the occasional drop of water from your makeshift ceiling until your clean hammock is dry)!

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Remove Dust and Debris

Shake out the hammock to remove any leaves, twigs, or dirt, then use a soft or medium-bristle brush to remove leftover debris. If you have one available, you can also use a vacuum to suck up as much debris as possible.

Pay attention to both sides of the hammock, focusing on areas with visible dirt or stains. Check inside any folds for trapped debris, as well.

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Washing Methods

Different hammock fabrics call for different approaches when washing. And, of course, your environment also plays a part in how you clean a hammock–if you’re doing an emergency clean at the campsite, you won’t be able to do a machine wash on site, regardless of your hammock’s material.

Handwash

If you need to hand wash at your campsite, start by filling a large bucket or tub with warm water, if you can access it. Add a small amount of mild detergent or a hammock-specific cleaner to the tub, then submerge the hammock in the water and gently agitate it.

If you have one, use a soft brush or sponge to scrub any spills or spots on the fabric (a toothbrush works, too–but not one you plan to use in your mouth afterward!).

Rinse the hammock thoroughly with clean water until no soap residue remains. Squeeze out excess water and let the clean hammock air dry completely.

Cleaning your hammock is a bit easier if you’re handwashing at home! Follow the same steps as a campsite wash, but take more time to treat set-in stains. Apply a stain remover, let it sit overnight, and then proceed with the washing as described above.

Machine wash (if applicable)

First, check the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure the hammock is machine washable and to see if there are any specific instructions on what to–and what not to–do.

Once you have determined that your hammock is safe to machine wash, take a look and make sure there are no stray threads or frayed edges; these can lead to even more damage if they are left loose when the hammock goes through a machine wash cycle. Remove any detachable parts (spreaders, ropes), and place the hammock in a mesh laundry bag to protect it from tangling or stretching.

Unless the manufacturer directs otherwise, use a gentle wash cycle with cold water and a mild detergent.

After the cycle is complete, remove the clean hammock from the bag and inspect for any damage. This way, you can catch any problem areas that need fixing before your next use, like small tears that you can stitch up.

Air dry the clean hammock completely–outside, if possible–before reattaching any removable parts.

Once dry

Once your hammock is completely dry, apply a weather-proofing water-repellent spray to protect it from the effects of UV light and weather exposure.

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Dealing with Stains and Mildew

Spot treating stains

Spot treating stains while camping is difficult; however, if you spill something on your hammock that you know will set into a stain by the time you get home, there are some things you can do.

First, rinse the spot with clean water. Then, gently rub a small amount into the stain with mild detergent (dish and bar soaps also work). If you have a toothbrush (that you don’t plan to use again) or a soft-bristled scrub brush, gently scrub the spot until it starts to fade. Rinse the area again with clean water, and leave your clean hammock to dry in the fresh air.

Spot treating at home follows the same basic steps, only you probably have the luxury of letting your color-safe bleach or detergent sit on the stain for a longer period of time before scrubbing.

Removing mildew

If you find that your hammock has been marred by mildew in the off-season, worry not! You can still restore your hammock to its former beauty. (Unfortunately, this process isn’t very practical when you’re outdoors and will have to wait until you get home.)

Once you have located all the mildew spots on your hammock, lay it out as flat as possible. Create a solution of one part bleach to four parts water, and apply the solution to the affected areas.

After a few minutes, scrub the area with a soft brush until the mildew is gone, then rinse the area thoroughly with clean water to remove any bleach residue.

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Regular Maintenance

Most of us aren’t fortunate enough to leave our hammocks up year-round and must, at some point, store them away in the off-season. Leaving your hammock out in the elements throughout the year will greatly shorten its life. Properly storing your clean hammock can prolong your enjoyment of this most relaxing outdoor gear.

First and foremost, make sure your hammock is completely dry. If you are storing your clean hammock outside (say, in a shed), you will need to protect it from animals that might like to munch on it over the winter–especially if it’s made of a material like cotton! Put your clean hammock in a critter-proof storage bin or bag to keep it safe from animal interference.

Some hammock owners prefer to hang their hammocks during the off-season. This is a great way to lessen the chance of mildew or funky odors taking up residence; however, it doesn’t do much to deter hammock predators. Hang a windchime or two next to your hanging hammock to spook any animals that might like to snack on it.

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How to Clean a Hammock FAQs

Can I wash my hammock in a river or lake?

The short answer is yes! But only if you absolutely have to. And, of course, check local rules and regulations, too. Some state, national, and tribal rules prohibit washing anything in natural water on their land.

Rivers and lakes can contain harmful bacteria that you don’t necessarily want to hang out with once the hammock is clean, and it’s difficult to get rid of any microorganisms without a long dose of bright sunlight (and sometimes that’s not even enough).

The added danger of washing in a river is losing your hammock to a strong current (or getting swept away yourself).

Finally, but importantly, you should avoid using any soaps or other chemicals to clean a hammock in natural water sources, even if they claim to be safe. Some hammocks may also have chemical coatings that may come off in a river or lake. You don’t want to stress the natural habitat around where you like to hang your clean hammock.

When is it time to throw in the towel and get a new hammock?

Proper care and maintenance ensure a good hammock lasts up to 20 years! So, how do you know when it’s time to part ways and invest in a new hammock?

When your hammock starts fraying or sprouting holes that you can no longer keep up with mending, that may be your first clue that it’s time to start shopping around. Another indication that it’s time to move on is when your clean hammock consistently sags and you’ve tried all the tricks you can find to stop the drooping (knots, adjusting chain lengths, wrapping the support ropes).

The third red flag alerting you to the need for a new hammock is if your hammock is sporting mold or mildew stains that just won’t budge. Extended exposure to molds and mildew can be very detrimental to human health.

What’s the easiest hammock fabric to keep clean?

Polyester and nylon are the easiest hammock fabrics to keep clean by far. They are quick to dry and slow to mold. These synthetic materials are also great for camping, given they are lightweight.

That being said, cotton or rope is probably the most comfortable option, but cotton is hard to keep mold-free and is a good attractor of rodents when it’s in storage, and rope, with all its surface area, is difficult to really get clean.

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Happy Hammocking

It isn’t hard to clean a hammock, and your effort is worth it every time you hang it up for the season or even just for a night. You will get many years of comfortable use out of these simple steps to clean and maintain your hammock.

Stoked to start taking your clean hammock on the road? Check out more of our tips on our Hammocking page!