Back home, use a damp cloth to remove anything that has stuck to the mat such as dirt, insect repellent, or sunscreen. If left on for longer periods, these can cause damage to the material, particularly if chemicals such as DEET are in insect repellent. For stubborn stains, use biodegradable soap. Once a season, completely clean the sleeping mat to remove body sweat and dirt, as they can transfer to a sleeping bag and compromise performance. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for washing. When cleaning inflatable sleeping mats, take care to ensure that the valve is closed; drying the inside is tricky and it should not need cleaning.
After cleaning, dry the sleeping mat thoroughly (but avoid prolonged periods of direct sunlight), and open the valve. Take care to dry both the interior and exterior of the sleeping mat. Interior moisture can lead to mould and degradation of the material. Dry the interior with a hair dryer on a low setting to partially inflate the sleeping mat, then deflate and repeat a few times.
For long-term storage, follow instructions for your sleeping mat; some need to be inflated (e.g. Therm-a-Rest©), while others can be left deflated (e.g. NeoAir©). In general, self-inflating mats should be stored semi-inflated for good air circulation, whereas air mats should be stored loosely and not folded along the same crease lines each time. Choose a cool, dry place that doesn’t have extremely hot temperatures.

• Repairs at home

  Repairing sleeping mats at home is far easier than in the field. At home you can focus on getting the job done well, with the right gear for long-lasting results.
  If you can’t find the hole, fill a tub or bath with water, inflate the sleeping mat as much as possible, and look for tiny bubbles to appear from the leak. Another way is to splash water with dish washing detergent or soap onto the surface of the mat. This works best when the location is believed to be known. If you still can’t see bubbles, try gently squeezing the mat. Dry the area thoroughly with a towel, and mark the leak by drawing a circle around it with a marker pen or chalk. It is possible to have more than one leak, so keep looking even after you have found the first leak.
  After finding the leak(s) follow the instructions in the paragraph above the Care and maintenance at home heading on this page.