How to clean a backpack by hand (and when the washer is OK)

Step by step: how to clean a backpack by hand

1. 1

   Empty every pocket

   Take everything out, including the laptop sleeve, water bottle pocket and the small zip pockets where pens, gum and old snacks hide. Remove any detachable straps or hip belts, and a frame sheet only if the maker says it is meant to come out. Check the care label sewn inside for the maker’s instructions.

2. 2

   Shake it out and vacuum the inside

   Turn the bag upside down over a trash can or outside and shake it hard. Then run a vacuum crevice tool into the corners and seams of each compartment to pull out sand, crumbs and pencil shavings. Brush loose dried mud off the outside with a dry soft brush.

3. 3

   Mix a mild soap solution

   Stir a teaspoon of mild, unscented dish soap into a bucket or sink of cool to lukewarm water. Dissolve it fully before it touches the bag; do not pour soap straight onto the fabric. Skip bleach, fabric softener and powder detergent.

4. 4

   Spot clean the stains first

   Dip a soft brush or toothbrush in the soapy water and work it into stains with small circles, then blot with a towel. For greasy marks, let the diluted dish soap sit for 5 minutes before you scrub. Scrub gently so you do not fuzz the fabric or wear off its water-repellent coating.

5. 5

   Wipe down the whole bag

   Wring out a sponge in the soapy water and wipe the entire outside, the straps and the back panel, where sweat builds up. Do the inside lining the same way. Avoid soaking leather or suede trim; wipe around it with a barely damp cloth.

6. 6

   Rinse the soap off with a clean damp cloth

   Wipe everything again with a second sponge dampened in clean water, rinsing it often. Repeat once or twice until the fabric no longer feels slick. Leftover detergent attracts dirt and can weaken the water repellency.

7. 7

   Clean the zippers

   Brush grit out of the zipper teeth with the dry toothbrush and wipe them with a damp cloth. Open and close each zipper a few times. A sticky zipper usually just needs the dirt removed.

8. 8

   Air dry it open and upside down

   Unzip every pocket, stuff the main compartment loosely with a dry towel for the first hour, and hang the bag upside down in a shady, airy spot. Let it dry for 24 to 48 hours, until the foam straps and back panel are dry all the way through. Keep it out of the dryer and away from heaters.

Can you put a backpack in the washing machine?

Usually not: most backpack makers recommend hand washing, because the washer can tear straps, crush foam padding and strip coatings. Check the care label, since some simple canvas or polyester school bags allow a gentle cycle.

JanSport recommends against washing its backpacks in the machine: a strap can catch in the agitator and stretch or tear, the bag can lose its shape and finish, and suede or leather trim gets damaged by the water. It also says to keep bleach and washing machine detergents off the bag and never use a dryer. Bellroy strongly recommends against the washing machine too, and says not to submerge or soak its bags.

If your label does allow machine washing, use this routine:

• Empty it, take off any removable hip belt, and close all zippers and buckles.
• Turn it inside out and put it in a pillowcase or large mesh laundry bag so straps cannot snag.
• Wash alone on the gentle or delicate cycle in cold water with a small amount of liquid detergent.
• Air dry it upside down and open. Never tumble dry a backpack.

For other bulky items that people try in the washer, our guide on washing shoes in the washing machine uses the same pillowcase and cold-cycle approach.

How to clean a backpack by material

Match the method to the fabric: most packs are coated nylon or polyester, which want gentle soap and no soaking, while leather and suede trim need to stay dry.

For hiking packs, Deuter says never to use a washing machine, because the abrasion damages the fabric and its coating. It suggests a tub of lukewarm water with a pH-neutral soap, a brush for dirty spots, and squeezing the sweaty harness several times with soap and plenty of water. It also advises leaving a built-in frame in place, since removing it can damage the pack.

For a leather backpack, follow our leather purse guide instead, since the same cleaner and conditioner steps apply.

How to get stains and smells out of a backpack

Treat food and grease with diluted dish soap, sweat and odor with a full wipe-down and a long air dry, and mildew with a vinegar wipe and sunshine.

• Grease, food and makeup. Bellroy suggests a dish or laundry detergent that targets grease, and notes that enzyme detergents help with protein stains such as sweat and dairy. Dilute it in water first, then work it in with a cloth.
• Ink. Dab ballpoint ink with a cotton swab dampened in rubbing alcohol, test first on a hidden seam, then wipe with soapy water. Our ink stain guide has more options.
• Sweaty straps. Scrub the shoulder straps and back panel with soapy water and a brush, rinse with a damp cloth, and dry them fully. Most backpack odor lives in the foam.
• Musty or mildew smell. Wipe the inside with a cloth dampened in equal parts white vinegar and water, then dry the bag in fresh air. A bag put away damp will smell again, so make sure it is fully dry before storage.
• Spilled drinks or a leaked lunch. Clean it the same day. Sugar and milk get sticky and sour fast, and dried spills are harder to lift.

Mistakes to avoid

• Putting a backpack in the dryer, which can melt coatings, shrink fabric and warp foam.
• Pouring detergent straight onto the fabric instead of diluting it in water first.
• Using bleach or a strong stain remover on colored nylon, which leaves pale blotches.
• Storing the bag before the foam straps and back panel are dry inside, which brings back a musty smell.
• Soaking leather or suede trim along with the fabric.
• Forgetting the small pockets, where crumbs and leaked pens keep staining after the wash.