How Some of the Body Works

SKIN GLANDS

SEBACEOUS GLANDS (oil) glands produce an oily substance, sebum, that lubricates hairs and the surface of the skin. This prevents the hair from drying out and reduces water loss from the skin, too. Sebum also plays a part in preventing bacteria and fungi from infecting the skin. SEBUM is a Latin word that means “GREASE”.

SOURCE; Concise encyclopedia of the Human Body.

Here we have two subjects, oil in sleeping bags. We now know where the oil comes from and why it so readily moves into the lining and insulation of a sleeping bag. The human body is continuing to produce the oil so as soon as it is removed from the skin surface more appears to take its place.

I was unaware of this fact about oil coming out all over the body but did know of it getting into the insulation of sleeping bags causing the insulation to stick to itself and therefore, cause the insulation to lose its loft. While other companies that sell sleeping bags do know this occurs they still shy away advising their customers to wash the bags. The reason for not wanting their customers to wash the bags is because these companies know that the washing process destroys the insulation. The end result for the customer is a sleeping bag that in my opinion did not work as advertised to begin with works even less than it did when new.

As an aside the only places on the human body we do not exude the sebum (oil) is from our palms and the bottom of our feet. If we did we couldn’t grab anything or stand up.

Since I was also aware of this problem and knowing that the Lamilite insulation could be laundered easily. I always have recommended that my bags be laundered when they get dirty. Many people who have called and ordered bags have been told by me to make sure to periodically launder them and if they did not intend to launder the bag when it got dirty they shouldn’t buy one because after a while it too would not work as well as it should.

Washing my bags is easy; any temperature water, any detergent, low water level, and most importantly GENTLE CYCLE. Sleeping bags are large items so the gentle cycle is necessary. As for drying fluff cycle or no heat at all or line dry.

The second subject the definition deals with is bacteria and fungi. I was not knowledgeable of the fact that the sebum “plays a part in preventing bacteria and fungi from infecting” us. I wonder if any of the makers of the pesticides that are sold to fabric companies to put on their fabrics called “antimicrobials” have this knowledge? Of course if they do have the knowledge they ignore it otherwise they wouldn’t sell the pesticide chemicals.

Do these pesticide chemicals actually offer any benefit, I personally think not. Do they have any negative effect, I think so. After all if the chemical is active or activated as a direct result of the sweat one produces it is a pesticide and as such it cannot be good for you if it somehow gets into your body. The other question I have has to do with whether or not the pesticide stops body order from developing? Offering an opinion I suspect that it does not.

If the general public were to let these pesticide laced garments stay on the racks maybe the companies that have either had them manufactured or did manufacture them in their own factories would wake up.