You can find all sorts of things in a school bag - books, liquids, food and even sweaty gym clothes. So it is inevitable that they will get dirty. However, knowing how to clean a school bag can help protect it from germs and odors.
Over time, every school backpack wears out. In addition to ink stains, food and liquids, moisture and daily wear and tear also play a role. However, there are measures you can take to extend the life of a school bag, and one of them is proper cleaning. While most of them can be washed in the washing machine or even in the dishwasher, others need to be washed by hand due to the material they are made of. In this article we will tell you how to treat a school bag correctly in all cases.
Cleaning school bags – what should you consider first?
Before washing a satchel, look at the care label, likely located in the main compartment. If the label says not to submerge the backpack in water, use a cloth and a little detergent to clean the dirty areas. If there is no label, test clean a small portion of the backpack's interior surface before washing the whole thing.
In addition, you must do the following:
- Empty the backpack. Use a handheld vacuum to remove any remaining dirt, dust, and crumbs in the corners.
- Clean or, if necessary, replace anything you removed from the backpack that is dirty. There's no point in cleaning a school bag if you then put dirty pencil cases back in it, right?
How often should you wash a school bag?? Wash your backpacks once or twice a year, with long holidays being a very good time to do this. However, backpacks used as gym bags for workout supplies and clothing may need to be cleaned more frequently.
Can you wash school bags in the washing machine – It depends on the fabric
Most backpacks made of nylon or canvas can be safely washed in the washing machine. If the backpack is covered with leather, you should not machine wash it.
Preparation for washing: If there are external or internal stains, gently apply some stain remover to the affected areas with a soft brush or toothbrush and leave it for about 30 minutes. Then turn the satchel on its back and put it in a laundry bag to prevent the zippers from getting caught in the machine.
Wash: Use a small amount of detergent and run the washing machine on a gentle cycle with cold water.
Air dried: Leave all zippers open and hang the backpack upside down to dry. We recommend air drying as tumble drying can damage the lining of the bag and cause cracks at the corners.
Dishwasher is a better alternative
How to clean school bags? The dishwasher is perfect for this, but be careful - this method is only applicable under the following conditions:
- Your dishwasher has a cold wash program with a maximum temperature of 55 degrees Celsius.
- The school bag does not contain any materials that are not waterproof, such as cardboard and leather.
Notice: Please note that cleaning in the dishwasher may result in you losing your right to the school bag guarantee.
Cleaning school bags in the dishwasher – step-by-step instructions:
- Unless there are good reasons against it, you can clean the school bag in the dishwasher. The best way to do this is as follows:
- Empty the satchel completely and place it upside down in the bottom compartment of the machine.
- Start the program at the lowest temperature (a cold wash program at 20 or 30 °C is completely sufficient).
- Use the mildest detergent possible.Notice: Before use, test in an inconspicuous place inside whether the school backpack material can tolerate the dishwashing detergent used.
Cleaning school bags by hand – this is how it works!
For backpacks that cannot be washed in the washing machine or dishwasher due to their material, a good, old-fashioned hand wash will suffice.
- Using a soft brush or toothbrush, carefully apply some stain remover (or soap) to the external and internal dirt and leave it to act for about 30 minutes.
- Fill the sink with approximately lukewarm water. Hot water can damage the colors of the fabric. Add a small amount of mild detergent.
- Dip a soft brush into the detergent water and begin scrubbing the backpack, focusing on the stained areas. Turn the satchel over and clean the inside too.Tipp: A toothbrush is good for removing stains and hard-to-reach crevices. A sponge may be better for mesh areas.
- When finished, rinse the bag in cold water and squeeze well. Wrap it in a thick towel to absorb excess moisture.
- Allow the backpack to air dry thoroughly with the zippers open and upside down.
What 10 things around the house should you clean every week to keep your house bacteria-free and inviting!You can find out here!
