A school backpack is an essential attribute of most students. Daily use by a child cannot but affect the appearance of the bag.
Even expensive and very high-quality backpack models need to be washed over time. There are rules by following which you can refresh its appearance and extend its service life.
Is it possible and how to wash a school backpack (frame, with an orthopedic back, etc.) in an automatic washing machine and by hand? Details are in the article.
Is it possible or not?
There should be a label on the inside of the backpack indicating whether the backpack can be washed and what types of processing of the product are allowed.
Depending on the model, the following types of cleaning are possible:
- manual;
- in the washing machine;
- dry;
- dry cleaning
The latter option involves completely eliminating self-processing and transferring washing to professionals.
Dry cleaning is often used as an intermediate step before the main wash . But for some types of backpacks, it is the only way to put things in order.
To maintain a school backpack in hygienic condition, it is recommended to wash it once every 3 months.
Preparing for washing
Preparing to process a child's backpack begins with completely emptying it of its contents. After this, you need to shake it out, turning it upside down with the locks open.
If possible, clean the inside with a vacuum cleaner. It would be a good idea to inspect your backpack for damage.
If they exist, they must be eliminated in advance:
- fix zippers;
- trim hanging threads;
- sew up torn areas.
For dusty backpacks, the top layer of dirt can be removed by walking along the outside with a damp sponge.
Pronounced stains from food, grass, ink, etc. deserve special attention. They must be processed before the main wash cycle. This can be done with a stain remover that does not contain chlorine.
The product is applied with a brush with soft bristles and rubbed gently. If the stains are small, an old toothbrush will help to rub them out.
All removable elements, including keychains, must be removed before washing . They are cleaned separately.
If the backpack is then sent into the drum of the washing machine, the zippers of the compartments should be fastened. For hand washing, on the contrary, it is advisable to unfasten them.
Features of washing backpacks
Preparing for washing
Periodically, any product, including a backpack, needs care and washing, since after precipitation, city dust, or contact with the ground, the product gets dirty. Many representatives of the fair sex are convinced that backpacks can only be washed by hand, and they are not suitable for machine washing. Professionals destroy such stereotypes, but warn about the importance of following certain rules. Let's take a closer look at the recommendations of experts.
Let us highlight the general rules regarding the care of backpacks:
- It is advisable to wash the product no more than twice a year (with more frequent washing, the accessory will quickly wear out and the water-repellent impregnation will be damaged).
- It is advisable to wash the backpack annually, since over such a long period of time dust and dirt accumulate in it (if washing is neglected, the product will lose its original appearance); instead of complementing the image created by a woman, the backpack will hopelessly ruin the style.
- Before cleaning in the washing machine, you need to remove all items from the backpack. We advise you to carefully check the internal and side pockets, small compartments (it is in them that small change, pens, candies, and chewing gums often accumulate). If you leave any item inside the accessory, when washing the backpack in the machine, you can stain the product even more (in some cases, even a high-quality stain remover will not be able to remove stains from chemical dyes after washing).
- Before placing the backpack in the washing machine, you need to remove the main dirt from it (we recommend moistening a soft rag and walking over large stains with a rag). Rough material can be cleaned with a stiff brush.
- During pre-washing, close attention should be paid to the seams, since most of the dust and debris accumulate there. Professionals recommend high-quality cleaning of the seams of the backpack using an ordinary vacuum cleaner (first you need to go over all the seams with the vacuum cleaner brush, then put the backpack in the washing machine).
- Before washing the accessory in an automatic washing machine, we advise you to remove all existing accessories and decorative elements from the backpacks (otherwise they may cause snags on the product).
- To wash in an automatic washing machine, professionals recommend that you first completely fasten all the buttons, zippers, and Velcro (if you neglect this rule, the backpack will be cleaned of dirt, but some of the fasteners and Velcro will be hopelessly damaged).
Selecting a mode for washing backpacks
It is important to choose the right washing mode.
Many backpacks outwardly seem to be quite durable products against mechanical deformation, which can be cleaned of dirt and dust in washing machines. In practice, everything is not so rosy. The products have many parts and compartments, so during intensive washing, some parts may be deformed (the backpack will lose its aesthetic appearance).
Various fasteners on the accessory do not hold up well in the washing machine. If you wash your backpack using a high-speed cycle with a spin function, this can lead to serious problems with unfastening and fastening the zippers.
Professionals recommend choosing a manual or delicate wash mode for washing backpacks.
The number of revolutions should not be more than 600 (the optimal option would be 300-400 revolutions). In order to preserve the original appearance of the backpack, it is advisable to use a gentle spin mode, or completely abandon it.
We recommend using an additional rinse when washing the backpack, since washing powder from coarse fabric is difficult to rinse out.
Question to the expert
What temperature should I choose when machine washing backpacks?
Professionals advise choosing the minimum temperature values.
Washing temperature
40 degrees is the optimal temperature for washing.
Washing thick synthetic and cotton backpacks is theoretically permissible at a temperature of 60 °C. In practice, we do not recommend choosing such a temperature regime, since the product may change its appearance during the washing process (the paint will fade, the water-repellent impregnation will be damaged, and individual parts of the product may become deformed).
We recommend choosing a temperature of no more than 40 °C for washing the backpack in an automatic washing machine (for products made of thin fabric, it is better to choose a temperature below this value).
FAQ
Which detergent option is best to choose for backpacks?
The best option would be to choose special gels.
Products suitable for caring for backpacks
Washing with Nikwax
We recommend purchasing granular laundry detergent for washing backpacks only in emergency situations. Since backpacks are made from dense fabrics, it will be quite difficult to wash out ordinary powder from dense fabrics.
Currently, manufacturers of household chemicals offer special care products for backpacks and bags.
For example, you can use the media: Nikwax, Domol. Such products contribute to high-quality cleaning of the fabric (the material is cleaned of dirt and dust, while the moisture-resistant impregnation is retained even in an automatic washing machine).
In cases where specialized care products are not available, it is quite possible to use liquid gels or soap shavings (these products are relevant for hand washing). You can use gentle bleaches to remove stains on your backpack, but it is important to ensure that they are safe for the fabric (we recommend applying a drop of bleach to an inconspicuous area of the material first to ensure that the bleach will not harm the color of the item).
Manually
Hand washing a child's school bag is less common than washing it in a machine. If there are difficult stains on the outside or inside, they are treated with a stain remover.
After half an hour, proceed to the main processing:
- Warm water is drawn into a large basin or directly into the bathtub.
- Dilute the detergent.
- Dipping a backpack into the water.
- Using a sponge, clean the briefcase from the outside and inside. It is necessary to act methodically, treating zone by zone.
- After finishing cleaning, you need to rinse the bag on both sides with non-hot water to completely remove any remaining detergent.
- Dry.
How to hand wash a travel backpack
Products that are constant companions of tourists in difficult hiking conditions especially often need cleaning. It is not recommended to machine wash tourist backpack models: this may negatively affect the waterproof layer with which the product is treated, and the fabric will begin to let moisture through. In addition, intensive washing deteriorates the quality of the seams of the product. Hand washing according to the rules common to all types of backpacks, using mild cleaning agents, is the best option for cleaning hiking accessories.
In the washing machine
Washing in a washing machine is a very convenient option that allows you to quickly and effectively remove dirt from your backpack and refresh the appearance of the item.
Such processing must be carried out in compliance with all rules:
Prepare the bag for washing. Make sure all zippers are closed.- Pour the prepared detergent into the washing powder compartment.
- Set the “delicate wash” mode.
- Make sure that the water heating temperature is no more than +40ºС.
- For backpacks of complex shape, with seals on the back, it is advisable to exclude spinning.
- Start the wash.
- At the end of the wash cycle, remove the backpack from the drum.
- Wipe the inside and outside of the product. This will allow the bag to dry faster and prevent mold from forming.
- Dry.
Washing in a special mesh will help prevent damage to the backpack and drum.
Dry cleaning
Dry cleaning will help tidy up a backpack that cannot be washed in water. The following products fall into this category:
- made of natural or artificial leather;
- vinyl;
- containing special impregnations;
- having non-removable elements that are prohibited from getting wet.
For bags that cannot be immersed in water, cleaning can be done with a soft brush and a mild soap solution. If the material is leather, then it may be enough to refresh the surface with a damp cloth.
A good assistant in cleaning a backpack made of suede, leather or textiles are cleaning foams, which can be purchased in specialized departments of household chemicals.
Among them worthy of attention:
- Silver;
- Liqui Moly;
- Saphir;
- Salton;
- Twist and others.
The main requirement is to avoid excessive moisture in the material.
How does the material affect the process?
School bags can be made from various materials and have a complex design . For example, a compacted back, a large number of small parts. Most models are made from several types of materials, the features of which must be taken into account when choosing a washing method:
- Leather, suede, vinyl .
School backpacks made of vinyl, artificial or natural leather, as well as suede ones are prohibited from being washed. Their cleaning should be as gentle as possible - without significant moisture and intense exposure. - Denim . This type of bag should be washed separately from other items, as denim fades easily. The spin cycle in the washing machine should be set to minimum.
- Synthetics. Synthetic material is used very often for school bags and backpacks. In most cases, such fabric tolerates washing well.
Features of processing frame backpacks with an orthopedic back
Many backpack models, especially those designed for younger schoolchildren, have special seals on the back. These may include plastic and metal plates. The complex design is designed to ensure that the backpack maintains its shape.
If all these elements are removable, then they are removed before washing in the machine. Otherwise, the backpack cannot be placed in the drum.
Frame seals require careful handling. For them, spinning and twisting should be excluded.
The video will show you how to wash a frame backpack:
Proper drying
The backpack is dried in a well-ventilated area or outside. It is prohibited to use hair dryers or heating devices for drying.
If there is a risk that the backpack will change its shape when hanging, then while drying it is better to place it on a stool, which is placed in the bathroom. It is recommended to open all compartments, zippers, and pockets so that air can penetrate inside and the briefcase dries faster, but this should not be done immediately, but after most of the moisture has gone. This will avoid distortion of the zippers and the entire structure.
Proper drying
After washing by any method, the briefcase needs to be dried. The best choice is to do it in natural conditions.
Procedure:
- After washing, turn the bag over so that the remaining water pours out from the inside;
- Use a moisture-absorbing cloth to blot the outside and inside;
- turn the product upside down and use clothespins or straps to secure the bag in this position on the rope.
During the drying process, the pockets should remain open to allow faster drying.
If you need to dry the bag faster, you can fill it with crumpled paper that absorbs moisture . You need to do the same with pockets. As the paper gets wet, it is recommended to replace it with a new one.
The drying process must be carried out thoroughly. A poorly dried item can not only acquire an unpleasant odor, but also become a source of mold.
How to wash a school backpack
School bags get dirty more often than others due to carrying writing instruments and food, regular exposure to the floor, ground or asphalt, and numerous mechanical impacts.
Taking good care of such things will help maintain their appearance and maintain useful characteristics. To prevent stains from becoming embedded in the fabric, the item must be cleaned immediately after contamination appears. School bags should be washed and dried according to the same rules as others. Particular attention should be paid to washing models with a hard back, which helps to develop correct posture. If the frame is removed, this must be done before washing. If it is impossible to remove the orthopedic base, everything must be done to have minimal impact on it during the procedure, otherwise this important part of the product may lose its healing properties. Under no circumstances should such a backpack be twisted or squeezed too much. We recommend:
How to wash white clothes
The briefcase can be washed either using powder detergents, without aggressive ingredients, or using liquid washing gels.
