It is not unusual to find yourself in a lull while at home.
However, this is often the optimal time to explore your creativity and work on your garden or have a restful place such as a hammock to spend some time.
Hammocks are an incredible addition to any outdoor space.
I mean, hammocks are visually appealing, delightful to spend time in, and best of all, they allow for some outstanding sleep because they put you in the optimal position for rest.
On a great note, hammocks are portable, too, and you can take it with you, to a beach or a mountain and place it anywhere you choose.
That being said, you have to clean your hammock regularly to maintain that pristine condition.
Getting Started: Most hammocks can endure a fair share of rain and dirt, they require a little maintenance. You won’t want your hammock to shorten its life and become unusable. Here are some things to think about when caring for your hammock:
How to Clean a Fabric Hammock
When you want to clean a fabric hammock, first lay it out flat. If possible, lay it out on the ground.
Setting the hammock like this makes it easier to scrub:
- Use a dry bristle brush to scrub both sides, this removes the dirt, mildew spores and pollen embedded in the fabric.
- Be sure that you are not inhaling the mildew spores while you are cleaning by wearing a protective mask.
- To make the cleaning solution, mix one cup of borax with eight cups of water.
It’s a good idea to use liquid soap for a more effective solution.
If your hammock has a lot of mildew buildup, it’s advisable to apply hydrogen peroxide to the spot.
You will want to clean both sides of the hammock:
- Scrub both sides and make sure to rinse very thoroughly and completely before drying!
- Then dry in an elevated position to minimize the possibility of mildew growth.
- Once it is completely dry, apply a protectant on both sides of the hammock that is made for outdoor use to protect the fabric from UV rays, to minimize staining, and for waterproofing!
If you’re allergic, use a cordless vacuum to remove pollen before you start using your hammock.
How to Clean a Rope Hammock
Rope hammocks usually weigh more than a fabric hammock.
Rope hammocks also have wooden spreader bars on each end, which you are not able to machine wash.
However, you can clean them using your hands:
- To begin, set your hammock in a child’s wading pool filled with water, but make sure that the spreader bars are resting on the edges (out of the water, if possible).
- Once placed in the pool, allow the hammock to soak in water completely.
- Next, add oxygenated bleach to the water and follow the instructions on the bleach, determining the amount to put in.
- Let the hammock soak in the soapy water for at least one hour; while it is soaking, grab as much of the rope as you can, use your hands to rub them together until clean, and once you do that to several pieces of rope, rinse and repeat. If you come across mildew or stain, be intentional to clean that portion.
- Rinse hammock with a clean garden hose and wipe the spreaders with a clean cloth.
- Finally, dry the hammock flat somewhere dry after cleanup.
Depending on the weather conditions (temp, humidity, and wind) drying typically takes two days.
Don’t Do This: You can dry this hammock as if you were going to use it but it is not recommended since it stretches the ropes.
How to Clean a Canvas Hammock
It is important to understand that there are two types of canvas hammocks:
- one with removable spreader bars
- and the one with non-removable spreader bars.
This is the feature that determines how best to clean your hammock.
If your hammock has removable spreader bars, you can use a washing machine to clean the box.
However, the washing machine has to be large enough to hold it. If not, you will have to take it to a laundromat.
Before you start to clean:
- Join by using a piece of string to tie together both ends of the hammock. This will avoid you getting tangled up.
- As an alternative, It is possible to clean a canvas hammock through hand-washing. In this, you will first fold it in half and the tie the two ends together.
- You will then place the hammock in a tub with water and soap. Be sure to avoid the use of bleach as that will ruin your hammock.
- Use your hands to clean the canvas. If it has a stain that is stubborn, you can use a scrub brush. Just be sure the spreader bars don’t touch the water.
If you’re cleaning a canvas hammock that has spreader bars that cannot be removed, the best way to set it up for cleaning is to lay it down on a flat surface.
Lay it down on a flat surface and scrub both sides with a soft bristle brush, paying particular attention to any stains or mildew. Then you can hang it back up in the original position to dry.
How to Clean a Mayan (Mexican) Hammocks
Steps to be taken:
- Bend the hammock in half and grab onto the two hanging rings with your hands
- Add some strings below the rings to keep the hammock from tangling.
- Finally, place the hammock in a bathtub or large sink and fill it with water and mild detergent to the top.
Once you have washed the hammock, untie it carefully and spread it out to dry.
One last time: do not store the hammock before it is dry. Even if you do fold it, please make sure to place it in a breathable waterproof bag when you do not feel like hanging it back up.
The folding will take up less space when you store it also if you have limited hanging space.
How to Wash a Nylon Hammock
Nylon is a thin material that can get damaged by rough cleaners.
You should also keep in mind to remove any attached ropes and carabiners before you start the cleaning.
If you decide to work with a machine:
- Be sure to always work with cold water and a mild detergent.
- Fabric softeners are to be avoided as they damage nylon.
- Do not brush the hammock; if there are stains or heavier dirt, agitate the soapy water with your hands.
Another thing to avoid is tossing your nylon hammock into a dryer.
Because they dry quickly anyway, you’ll be able to hang your hammock up to dry indoors and be ready to use it in less than an hour.
What to Avoid When Cleaning a Garden Hammock
Here are some practices you need to avoid when cleaning your garden hammock.
Using a Pressure Washer
Some individuals opt to clean their hammocks with pressure washers, thinking it’s quicker, and gets the job done better.
This is not the case, in fact.
You can read our review of the Bosch Aquatak pressure washer that is probably ending up being the best pressure washer for the job. A User’s Review
Most hammocks are made of heavy-duty materials that support the weight. However, using a tremendous amount of pressure, that isn’t evenly distributed often leads damage.
This is why we would recommend using a garden hose.
If your hose accelerates water to high pressures and you have a bathtub, a large sink, or a wading pool, you can clean your hammock without the higher hose pressure.
Configuring Your Washing Machine Wrongly
Another error that may wreck your hammock is misusing your washing machine.
Even though most hammocks support machine washing, improper settings can lead to wear and tear on your hammock.
These settings may include ultra-fast spinning and high temperatures.
By the way: when using any bleach or fabric softener on your hammock, this may cause damages because such products will destroy the structure of the material used to manufacture your hammock.
Machine Washing with Other Items
No matter what you do, do not mix other clothing in the washing machine with your hammock.
You could damage the hammock and your clothes.
For example, a knitted hammock could get tangled and catch on your clothing and tear it, or rip the clothing into small bits.
Also, if you’re washing colored clothing, the clothes could bleed dye and stain the hammock, especially if it is a white hammock.
Folding Wet Hammocks
Always make sure your hammock is dry before packing it and putting it away.
If your hammock doesn’t have a breathable storage bag, use a plastic bag instead.
Plastic is better than other materials because it will keep the hammock from growing any moisture.
Folding a wet hammock not only has the potential to create an unpleasant smell but may also promote mildew growth.
Using ‘Hard’ Brushes
As with bleach and fabric softeners, hard brushes can ruin your hammock. For this reason, it is recommended to use a soft bristle brush for cleaning.
Additionally: You want to make sure the hammock is wet on both sides prior to washing.
Wrapping Up
Adding a swimming pool is a huge bang for your dollar when it comes to enhancing the experience in your answer, but swimming is not the most desirable activity every time you go outside.
This is exactly why a hammock can be a worthwhile investment. A hammock gives you another means to relax and spend more time in your backyard, besides swimming.
The main concern people have when using a hammock is keeping it clean. Most models are versatile enough that you can clean them yourself with your hands or in the washing machine.
However, the downside is using the wrong method and equipment means the next time you go to use the hammock, it is shrunk, torn, and unusable.
Normally, you should wash your hammock at least once a week, at least that is what I would recommend to keep the fabric in top condition.
When cleaning your hammock, do not use bleach or fabric softener to prevent damage and maintain the condition of the fabric. Be careful not to expose the hammock to the sun or you will be left with an unusable item due to fading.
Finally, make sure the hammock is completely dry before storing it in a dry place where moisture will not form and degrade the fabric and smell.