4 Simple Ways to Maintain a Hammock

Hammocks need some tender love and care to keep them in top working condition. It doesn’t take much to keep your hammock working flawlessly, but it also only takes a small amount of negligence to end up with a worn out, ripped up, hammock. Below are some tips to maintain the quality of your hammock so you can keep on swinging for years to come.

• Cleaning 

No matter how well you take care of your hammock, a good cleaning is never a bad idea. For outside, cotton hammocks, it's recommended that you give them a good wash once or twice a season. A thorough cleaning will keep dirt build-up under control and your hammocks will smell fresh. Nylon hammocks don't require such frequent washings, but it certainly will not hurt either. The better care you take of your hammock, the longer it will last.

There are two ways to clean both nylon and cotton hammocks. The first is a good old-fashioned hand washing – some elbow grease will be needed here.

1. First, soak the hammock in warm water with a little bit of shampoo or a mild detergent and a handful of salt thrown in.

2. Then, start scrubbing. Make sure to give special attention to areas with tree sap, food stains, or any type of dirt buildup.

3. Finally, hang the hammock up to dry in a place where it won’t accrue more dirt while it’s drying.

The second method of washing requires no elbow grease and little effort on your part.

1. Loosely tie up the ends of your hammock.

2. Throw it into a pillowcase and tie up the open end.

3. Toss it in the washer on a cold delicate cycle with a gentle detergent 4. Hang up and air-dry your hammock all the way before use again.



• Storage 

Proper hammock storage is another essential way to prolonging the life of your hammock. There are some things to keep in mind before storing your hammock for the harsher months to ensure it’s in top shape for many more months of hanging. You will want to follow the instructions above to clean your hammock and dry it completely. This will prevent mold, mildew, or any type of rot from happening to your hammock when it is out of site. Locate a dry area where you can take both ends of the hammock and hang them up together on the same hook. Hammocks don’t take up much room and they are fairly easy to store as long as they remain dry. Now all you have to do is leave it there until you’re ready to use it again!

• Repair 

Some woven hammocks can get pulls in them because they snag on something. It is important to repair theses pulls before they do some serious damage to your hammock. Pulls are pretty easy to fix, but take a little bit of patience. What you want to do is essentially follow the string that has the pull in it and pull it in the opposite directions getting farther and farther away from the pull. This will even out the material and the pull will settle. If there is a break in the material you will want to tie the two ends together and follow the steps above until it settles.

• Exposure 

Are you conscious of how much your hammock is exposed to the elements? If not, this is something you may want to start taking in consideration – especially for cotton hammocks. Sun exposure can fade colors and leave your hammock looking ratty. Also, if a hammock is left out in the rain and not properly cleaned and dried, it can start to grow mildew and lose the appeal it once had. As long as you keep your hammock out of the sun for extended periods of time and you make sure to keep it safe from the elements, your hammock with look beautiful for years.

You want to get the best out of your hammock and all it takes is a little thought and effort to ensure it stays looking brand new. Regular cleanings, proper storage, timely repairs, and shelter from extended time in the elements will yield great results. Your hammock will hold up for many seasons to come.