Backpacks go through a lot of rough and tumble. And because the very best backpacks are built to last, it’s probably a matter of time before you start wondering how to wash a backpack.
Rest assured, the process is quite straightforward and you don’t need special tools. We’ll walk you through all the steps.
But First: Establish You *Can* Wash Your Backpack
Most backpacks are okay to wash, but it’s good to check the care label first just to be 100% sure. If your care label has been cut off or is faded, visit the manufacturer’s site and double check it’s okay to wash the pack.
As mentioned, most backpacks are totally washable. So odds are you’re good to proceed!
Washing Your Backpack: Hand Wash or Machine Wash?
Once you’ve established it’s okay to wash your pack, you might wonder how to actually wash it — machine or hand?
You can choose either approach. If you have a smaller washing machine and a bigger backpack, you might find a hand wash is safer.
We generally prefer hand-washing your pack in the bath-tub so you can given any problem areas extra attention but still be gentle with your pack.
How to Wash a Backpack: Tools You’ll Need
Before any (potentially) messy job, it’s helpful to assemble the tools for the job. We recommend grabbing the following:
- Stain remover
- Gentle laundry detergent: Preferably free of fragrances, dyes
- Soft nail brush / toothbrush
- Sponge / old washcloth
- Old towel
- Old pillowcase or mesh laundry bag (if machine washing)
Pre-Clean Your Backpack Before Washing
1. Dry Brush You Backpack
You might be tempted to just fill the tub and get going. Or toss your pack in the machine and let the wash cycle do the work.
But there’s probably a lot of loose dirt, grit, dust and crumbs that are easier to shake off when the pack is dry. Take it outside, empty it completely and shake out all that dirt and debris.
If you pack has been muddy or extra dirty, you’ll just make dirty water and have to rinse and rinse. So, instead, try to brush that caked on dirt off before you add water.
Once you’ve precleaned your backpack, you’re ready to treat stains.
2. Treat Stains
If your backpack is stained (e.g. with ink, grease or food stains) you’ll want to treat the stain before you wash the backpack. You can use a gentle stain remover. Or you can use a more concentrated mix of your laundry detergent and water.
Focus the stain remover on the stained ares and work it in with a gentle nail brush or used toothbrush. Don’t scrub so hard that you could cause the fibres to break. Blot the stain with a rag and you should see the stain transfer to a rag. Repeat this step until the stain is removed.
As with clothing, some stains are more difficult to remove than others. Timely stain removal will always have better odds of success!
Now you’re ready to wash your backpack, either by hand or machine! Here’s how:
How to Hand Wash a Backpack
Step 1: Fill Tub & Add Detergent
Fill your tub with lukewarm (not hot!) water and add the detergent, making sure it dissolves completely.
Step 2: Submerge the Backpack and Wash
Submerge the backpack in water. Agitate the backpack in the water and gentle scrub it with the sponge. Give it a solid going-over both on the inside and outside, paying particular attention to any areas grime and dirt has accumulated.
If there are any tougher areas, get in there with the gentle nail brush or toothbrush. Again, don’t scrub too hard! A toothbrush will help you get into the seams and smaller pockets and get all that grit and debris out.
Revisit any of the stained spots and treat them similarly with some extra sponging / brushing attention. Keep working on the backpack until you feel like you’ve given it a thorough wash!
Be extra careful not to scrub zippers too hard. Most of them have a water resistant coating and you won’t want to scrub this off or you’ll compromise your bag’s water-resistance.
Step 3: Rinse Thoroughly
Nearly there! You want to make sure you now really rinse the backpack. So drain the tub thoroughly (relish in the satisfaction of watching all that dirty water go down the drain).
You can either fill the tub again with clear, cool water. Or use your showerhead to hose down the backpack. Again get into all the pockets and seams to really wash away any dirt or debris that might be cleaning on.
Repeat this step until the water runs clear!
Step 4: Hang to Air Dry
You’re done! Now you need to let the pack dry. Once you’ve patted away excess water with an old towel, leave the backpack to dry.
Ideally hang it indoors to air dry (over a tub where it can safely drip is ideal). Many people like to dry outdoors to get that fresh-air feel. But UV light can degrade the fabric, so you might want to err on the side of caution!
Ideally hang it indoors to air dry (over a tub where it can safely drip is ideal). Many people like to dry outdoors to get that fresh-air feel. But UV light can degrade the fabric, so you might want to err on the side of caution!
How to Machine Wash a Backpack
Follow the same pre-cleaning steps listed above and then move to your laundry room!
Step 1: Place Pack in a Pillowcase
You’ll want to place the pack in an old pillowcase or mesh laundry back. This keeps the backpack safe from catching and pulling on machine parts so it doesn’t get damaged in your washing machine.
Step 3: Put Machine on Gentle Cycle
Choose a gentle or delicate laundry cycle and add your gentle laundry detergent to the wash, as normal. Don’t use any fabric softener.
Step 4: Hang to Air Dry
Don’t be tempted by the dryer! Again, you want to allow the pack to air dry. Leave the backpack wide open, hanging in a well-ventilated room. You can even turn it inside-out first to make sure all those inner compartments get dried properly (especially a padded laptop sleeve).
Again, it’s best to avoid drying outdoors as sunlight on a wet pack can degrade your fabrics.
Less Intense Ways to Clean Your Backpack
Clean Your Backpack with Disinfectant Wipes
If your backpack is less dirty you can follow the steps to pre-clean the pack and then give it a wipe-down with some disinfectant wipes. This is a great way to maintain a clean backpack between deeper washes.
Deodorize Your Backpack
Let’s face it… backpacks can become stinky places. If you’re using your backpack for sweaty sports gear or have a food accident in your pack, you’ll want to deodorize your pack.
You can, of course, wash it. But you can also wipe it down with antiseptic wipes and then use deodorizers to neutralize any stench. There are a wide range of “natural” deodorizers on the market that are sold for use with shoes. These could work equally well for backpacks!
Alternatively, make your own deodorizer using the following hack found on Buzzfeed.
Conclusion
A good backpack can be an investment that will last you a loooong time. We’ve read reviews of backpacks that have been going for 25-30 years, which is astounding!
But imagine the dirt! No matter how caring you are, a well-used, well-loved backpack will get dirty. That’s part of the rough-and-tumble of life, after all.
The good news is you don’t have to be worried about washing your backpack. Follow the steps above and your beloved backpack will live on for many more years!
