Can I microwave a sleeping bag liner to kill bed bugs (for mountain hut use)?

Background: 

Mountain Hut associations in Switzerland and Austria are requiring that sleeping bag liners to be used in their huts be microwaved at a power setting of 600W for 60 seconds to kill bed bugs.

Is it safe to microwave a Sea to Summit liner?

Short answer - no.

• All Sea to Summit liners currently use barrel-lock closures on the drawcords which have metal springs. 

  If a barrel lock is placed in a microwave, the metal spring will discharge ('spark') which may melt the barrel lock and damage the surrounding material. Sea to Summit liners should not be placed in a microwave.

Longer answer:

• Any liners (regardless of brand) which have zippers will also discharge from the zipper slider. They should not be placed in a microwave.
• If a liner is damp, the moisture will heat up during the one minute / 600W. exposure and may damage the liner. Dampness may also include liners which have been used/stored in humid climates.
  • It is essential to ensure that a liner is dried thoroughly before being placed in a microwave.
• Sleeping bags will have zippers with metal sliders. They should not be placed in a microwave.

Sea to Summit conducted thorough microwave testing on all of the liners in its range. If you have questions about our test protocol or conclusions, please contact us.