You tried, after that last hiking "incident" you swore it would never happen
again. But who could have guessed that the rock would have been so slippery?
Now, your best backpack is filthy, dirty both inside and out. And it's still
sitting outdoors because of the spoiled food smells. What should you do now:
clean it or throw it away? Once you know how to clean a backpack using the
following tips, you never have to worry about throwing a "nasty" backpack ever
again.
Cleaning a Backpack Inside
Turn the backpack completely
inside out. If it has metal stays, remove them and set them aside. Dump any
debris out onto a newspaper. Use a soft brush to clean off any dried dirt or
residue. If you have one available you can always, use a vacuum with a brush
attachment.
Wash off the interior using a little mild detergent with a
damp sponge or cloth.
Be sure to clean in all the nooks and crannies and
seams. Use an old toothbrush to dig in deep.
Rinse using cold water and
clean sponge or cloth.
Use paper towels to dry the interior of the bag
completely.
Cleaning a Backpack Outside
1. Turn the backpack
right side out now. Use a dry brush to remove any loose dirt or dried mud.
2. Wash off the exterior using a little mild detergent (dishwashing
liquid with degreaser) with a damp sponge or cloth.
3. Be sure to clean
in all the pockets, flaps and seams. Use an old toothbrush to clean around the
edging.
4. Rinse using cold water and clean sponge or cloth. You can
submerge the whole pack into tub of cold water or use a hand held shower head or
hose to remove all traces of soap both inside and out.
5. Hang the
backpack upside down to air dry for several days, preferably outdoors. DO NOT
use the dryer.
6. If the backpack is still funky smelling, spray with
Fabreze or hunters' Scent-A-Way. But be careful because these may remove
waterproofing chemicals like Scotch-Guard
7. Store in a cool dry place.
Don't cover with plastic.
Cleaning a Camping Backpack in the Washer (if
all else fails)
DO NOT soak in soapy water. This could cause the layers
of the backpack to delaminate or any waterproofing to deteriorate.
Follow the steps 1-3 from above.
Place the backpack in the
washer. Wash with cold water only on the delicate cycle with a very mild laundry
detergent (Ivory Flakes or Woolite). Rinse and let air dry for several days.
NOTE: This method is for using at the last resort ONLY. Cleaning a
camping backpack in the washer can cause the materials in the pack to fall
apart. So machine wash at your own risk!
Backpack Zipper Care
Clean a backpack zipper is really easy. First, use an old toothbrush to
clean out any sand, salt or dirt and mud from the zipper teeth. Vacuum if
necessary to remove debris. Trim any stray or loose threads to prevent tangling.
Spray very lightly with a silicone spray, occasionally to lube.
Now that
you know how to clean a backpack, you never have to toss out a malodorous
backpack again.
In-depth information and a complete guide to selecting
the best backpack . Providing you with
all you need to know in regards to a vast array of backpacks from rolling
backpacks to office backpacks and plenty more.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
