About 12 years ago, I went on a backpack trek in Tennessee in August. Stupid time to go for a weeklong trek. I had a brand new sleeping bag and to say it absolutely reeked at the end would be an understatement.
I don’t like to wash sleeping bags and even considered throwing it away. (it wasn’t expensive)
Instead, I opened it up and hung it on a clothesline for a day or two. The sun disinfected it and removed all of the smell.
I’ve probably used it fifty or more nights since then and never once washed it.
Sunlight truly is the best disinfectant.
Our whole government needs to be forced into the sunlight too!