Canvas Backpack

There are a few tips you can take to keep your canvas backpack look newer, longer. You can spot clean your backpack to prevent staining, or you can clean your whole backpack when a spot clean just won’t do. Here are the things you will need, and how to clean your backpack What you’ll need:

• 1.Mild soap like Woolite or other detergents that clean baby clothes and intimate apparel should be used. The more mild the detergent (minimal or no lye), the better it is for keeping any waterproofing sealant or other lamination done by the manufacturer.
• Minimal-Lint cloth like a dye-free microfiber, will not leave behind any ugly lint or change the color of your backpack.
• Fresh clean water, dry air, a vacuum and a clothes hanger

• Spot Clean

  • For the best spot removal without staining, try to spot clean the area immediately. If that is not a possibility, try to follow step 1 to keep they spot or stain from spreading.
    
    
  • Remove any excess debris from the area by scraping it off with your finger or an old plastic bristle brush (like a toothbrush), shake or vacuum off debris. If the spot is wet, dab it with some clean, dry white paper towels until the spot becomes more dry to the touch.
  • Keep a clean dry cloth on the underside of the spot to keep the spot from spreading to other parts of your bag. Then apply a small amount of mild soap to a damp cloth. Start by dabbing the spot with enough pressure to make the spot damp and start to release onto the damp cloth. Repeat this with a clean, damp, mild soapy cloth until you are satisfied with the spot removal.
  • Make sure to remove any soapy residue that might have been left behind by using two more damp clothes, without soap, and dab the spot on the post side and the underside at the same time.
  • Hang to dry on a clothes hanger underneath a porch overhand or a tree branch until the spot is dry.

  Whole Bag Clean

  Most backpack manufacturers recommend that a backpack be spot cleaned by hand. But sometimes, the whole backpack needs to be cleaned. Either juice was spilled on it, or it starts to smell bad. The backpack should not be put in a washing machine. The washer’s agitator and strong detergent can break down the fabric’s sealant and damage any padding or zippers on the bag. The best way to clean your whole backpack is to follow the spot cleaning steps on any noticeable spots. Then follow the steps bellow until your bag looks clean.

  1. In your clean bathtub or shower, rinse your backpack with cold clean water. Make sure to rinse out the insides of every pocket until the water runs clear.

  2. If your backpack still looks dirty or smells, take a damp minimal lint-cloth with mild soap and start to blot your whole backpack. Rinse and repeat.

  3. If blotting just isn’t doing it, use light pressure and a circular motion to gently release any debris and scent that may have lodged themselves in between the fibers. Rinse and repeat until your backpack smells fresh and looks more like new.

  4. Hang dry outside preferably on a windy day, but if that isn’t possible, you can drape over a chair and point a fan to dry the bag and its bulky padding. This might take a day or two, so give it some time and your wait will be paid off.