The new school year has arrived. “Can I put my school backpack in the washing machine?”
Yes, but only if you do it correctly. Before you begin, make sure to check the care label.
Some fabrics like suede or leather require special care. If there is no tag available, but you feel confident that the fabric is washable then it is easy to do the rest!
Wash a school backpack
Follow these steps to learn how to wash your backpack in the washing machine.
Step 1 – Empty the Backpack
Always check all pockets before you put a school backpack into the washing machine. In the seams and pockets of school backpacks, coins, hairpins, and pens can hide. These items can lodge in your washing machine, causing problems later. Empty your backpack and put any remaining items in a bag to be sorted later.
Step 2 – Disassemble Removable Pieces
You can wash a backpack with removable parts in the washing machine. Yep! Simply remove any attachable pieces, such as straps or frame stays, and accessories.
You should determine whether these items can be washed in the washing machine or if they must be handled by someone. Suede straps, on the other hand, need special care. Standard nylon straps, however, can go in the washing machine.
Step 3 – Pre-Treat Stains & Soak
Check the backpack and its detached parts. You can treat stains with detergent and a toothbrush dipped in water. Take a look in the backpack to find any residue or stuck-on substances and scrub them with a sponge.
Step 4 – Place all washable items into mesh laundry bags
Mesh laundry bags are versatile and protect fabrics during washing. The laundry bag protects your washing machine from being damaged by zippers and buckles that get stuck in the drum. A top load washing machine will require a bag to prevent the backpack from getting caught in the agitator.
Place the backpack inside a large mesh laundry bag. Other washable parts can be stored in separate laundry bags. Both bags can be washed together.
Step 5 – Adjust wash cycle settings
Your backpack’s care tags will instruct you on how to set the wash cycles. If your backpack does not have a care tag, warm water should be used and the gentle wash cycle will be used. You can choose to rinse with extra water if you want to get rid of any residues or grime.
Step 6 – Wash & Disinfect the Backpack
It may not be necessary to clean a backpack more than once a year. It is possible that the backpack may contain bacteria, germs, or fungus if it has been used to store shoes, wet, or sweaty clothing, food, or drinks. In this case, it is best to wash and dry the backpack.
A pine oil disinfectant can be added to your wash water to disinfect a backpack. Lysol Pine Action, PineSol, and Lysol Pine Action both contain at least 80% of the required pine oil for disinfection. Refer to the label for exact amounts to add to the machine to wash your backpack.
Step 7 – Airdry
Never dry your backpack in the tumble dryer. After washing a backpack for school, dry it with a towel. Open it up and allow it to dry completely. Add your laundry detergent and bags to the washing machine. The washing machine should be run through a complete wash and rinse cycle.
